Curious Christian

Tracy J. Trothen writes:

“Jesus’ maleness has often been construed to mean that women ought to accept male authority and dominance, since, it is inferred, the fact of Jesus’ maleness indicates that males are more God-like and vice versa. (Some, such as the Roman Catholic Church, have used this claim to argue that women cannot be ordained since they cannot represent Christ, unlike males.) Such assumptions also imply that Christ, symbolized by Jesus, has no relevance to women.”

“Another long-standing, feminist, Christological concern pertains to the Christ symbol of Jesus as long-suffering, sacrificial, and innocent victim. Such a model has led to the glorification of suffering as an end in itself and, related to this, the glorification of innocence and damaging naiveté.”

More of a question raiser than any definitive answer on the subject, this article examines feminist critiques of traditional western Christology.