Everything You Need To Know About Christian Feminist Theology
Everything You Need To Know About Christian Feminist Theology. There is an interesting trend within the realm of Christian fundamentalism that I would like to point out. While most people call themselves “fundamentalists,” this is often an extremely misleading designation since they have very little in common with this label. Instead, when I speak with anyone who considers themselves a “fundamentalist,” I get responses that come from a place that I would classify as “radical ideology.” I would like to show you what I mean by this in order to help you make the distinction between what is considered to be a legitimate conservative movement and radical ideology.
The problem with much “mainstream” fundamentalism – including much of Christian education theory – is that it tends to fall down on the question of interpretation. Conservative movements tend to define their ideologies in terms of strict interpretive rules. They assert that their ideologies are right because God said so, and everyone should believe the same things. Moderate and liberal Christians have a different view of faith and religion because they want to see faith and religion expressed differently.
In fact, it's important to understand the difference between what is considered to be a conservative religious ideology and moderate religious one. Fundamentalism is often seen as the right wing political ideology of our time. The Christian left tends to look at fundamentalism in the opposite way: as a dangerous and unbridled ideology that hurts people. There is a difference between the two. You can say that the Christian left is “inert” while the Christian right is “out of power.”
One of the most common trends within Christian fundamentalism is to attack the values of modernity. This can take on various forms. For instance, there is a trend within fundamentalism to attack modern gender roles. Many in fundamentalism criticize modern sexual activities and argue that they are harmful to the natural order. Some even claim that it's not natural to have sex until one's body is ready for it.
In another common trend within fundamentalism, some fundamentalists claim that everyone gets a free will, and that this frees people from having to obey the Ten Commandments. The argument goes something like this: if you believe that you get a free will, then it's not necessary to obey God. They further point out that if people are obligated to obey God, then they don't have free will, either. This seems like a very silly argument, doesn't it?
What about political ideology, then? Some Christians would say that fundamentalism isn't really a form of political ideology, but rather a kind of religious cult. It's necessary to question every single idea that a religious leader puts forward as his basic belief system. Some of these ideas are not consistent with what the Bible says. The only way to know for sure whether a Christian political movement is true to its underlying philosophy is to read its teachings and look into its followers' actions.
Sometimes things don't always go the way that Christians want them to. Sometimes a political movement makes mistakes that prove unpopular among their coreligionists. Other times, leaders can't keep their words straight. Sometimes a group may split from the rest and decide to stick with its principles even when popular opinion points against it. These problems are the kinds that end up becoming problems for fundamentalism.
At the same time, it can be said that both fundamentalism and feminism are forms of faith. When they are combined, their diversity can cause problems for some Christians who wish to practice gender roles or other such beliefs. But at the same time, it can also mean that all views can be welcome in the larger body of beliefs. In light of all this, Christian feminist theology might be the most viable political ideology in the US right now.
The problem with much “mainstream” fundamentalism – including much of Christian education theory – is that it tends to fall down on the question of interpretation. Conservative movements tend to define their ideologies in terms of strict interpretive rules. They assert that their ideologies are right because God said so, and everyone should believe the same things. Moderate and liberal Christians have a different view of faith and religion because they want to see faith and religion expressed differently.
In fact, it's important to understand the difference between what is considered to be a conservative religious ideology and moderate religious one. Fundamentalism is often seen as the right wing political ideology of our time. The Christian left tends to look at fundamentalism in the opposite way: as a dangerous and unbridled ideology that hurts people. There is a difference between the two. You can say that the Christian left is “inert” while the Christian right is “out of power.”
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| Slee, N: Faith and Feminism: An Introduction to Christian Feminist |
In another common trend within fundamentalism, some fundamentalists claim that everyone gets a free will, and that this frees people from having to obey the Ten Commandments. The argument goes something like this: if you believe that you get a free will, then it's not necessary to obey God. They further point out that if people are obligated to obey God, then they don't have free will, either. This seems like a very silly argument, doesn't it?
What about political ideology, then? Some Christians would say that fundamentalism isn't really a form of political ideology, but rather a kind of religious cult. It's necessary to question every single idea that a religious leader puts forward as his basic belief system. Some of these ideas are not consistent with what the Bible says. The only way to know for sure whether a Christian political movement is true to its underlying philosophy is to read its teachings and look into its followers' actions.
Sometimes things don't always go the way that Christians want them to. Sometimes a political movement makes mistakes that prove unpopular among their coreligionists. Other times, leaders can't keep their words straight. Sometimes a group may split from the rest and decide to stick with its principles even when popular opinion points against it. These problems are the kinds that end up becoming problems for fundamentalism.
At the same time, it can be said that both fundamentalism and feminism are forms of faith. When they are combined, their diversity can cause problems for some Christians who wish to practice gender roles or other such beliefs. But at the same time, it can also mean that all views can be welcome in the larger body of beliefs. In light of all this, Christian feminist theology might be the most viable political ideology in the US right now.
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