Prof. Joseph Molleur
Prall House 101
Jmolleur@cornellcollege.edu
Office Phone: 895-4237
REL. 359--Issues in Christianity Today: Feminist Theology
Aim of the Course
To use a favorite phrase of Elizabeth Johnson’s, feminist theology (and feminism more generally) has as its central concern “women’s full flourishing.” The aim of this course is to ask, and attempt to answer, the following questions. Is Christianity, as traditionally practiced, conducive to the full flourishing of women? If not, can Christianity be reconceived so as to more fully contribute to women’s flourishing? We will address these questions in the context of reading texts that focus on such issues as feminist reconstruction of Christian origins, more inclusive ways of naming and imaging the Divine, and women’s personal spiritual/faith journeys.
Class Meeting Times
Class meetings will be held on Monday through Friday, from 1:00 to 3:00 P.M.
Course Requirements
1. Class Participation (20% of final grade). Regular attendance at class meetings and regular participation in class discussions are expected. Additionally, each student will take a turn at initiating class discussion by identifying, and raising questions about, a passage in the assigned reading that they find particularly interesting. More than one absence from class will progressively lower this portion of your grade.
2. Midterm Exam (25%), which will take place on the second Thursday of the term. The exam will contain short answer and short essay questions.
3. A 4-5 Page Essay (25%), due on the third Thursday of the term. Late essays will not be accepted without prior consent of the professor.
4. A Final Essay of 5-7 pages (30%), due by 1:00 PM on the fourth Wednesday of the term.
Required Texts
1. Mary Daly, Beyond God the Father.
2. Elisabeth Schüssler Fiorenza, In Memory of Her.
3. Elizabeth Johnson, She Who Is.
4. Dorothee Soelle, Against the Wind.
*On Reserve in Cole Library: Anne Clifford, Introducing Feminist Theology and Elizabeth Cady Stanton, The Woman’s Bible.
Academic Honesty
Consult the COMPASS for the College's policy on cheating and plagiarism. More will be said about plagiarism when your essay assignments are distributed.
Students with Special Needs
Cornell College is committed to providing equal educational opportunities to all students. If you have a documented learning disability and will need any accommodation in this course, you must request the accommodation(s) from the instructor no later than the third day of the term. Additional information about the policies and procedures for accommodation of learning disabilities is available at http://cornellcollege.edu/academic_affairs/disabilities/.
Course Calendar
Note: The reading assignments listed in this course calendar are to be completed PRIOR to that day's meeting of the class.
WEEK 1
Monday: Getting oriented.
Tuesday: Mary Daly, Beyond God the Father, Introduction (“The Problem, the Purpose, and the Method”), chaps. 1-2.
Wednesday: Daly, chaps. 3-4.
Thursday: Daly, chaps. 5-7.
Friday: Elisabeth Schüssler Fiorenza, In Memory of Her, Introduction (“In Search of Women’s Heritage”), Chapter 1 (only the section on “The Woman’s Bible,”) and Chapter 2. Also Anne Clifford, Introducing Feminist Theology, p. 62 (Cole Reserve).
WEEK 2
Monday: Fiorenza, Chapter 4, including the section at the beginning of Part II.
Tuesday: Fiorenza, Chapter 5 (suggestion: read ahead, if you are able).
Wednesday: Fiorenza, Chapter 8 and Epilogue.
Thursday: MID-TERM EXAM.
Friday: Elizabeth Johnson, She Who Is, Part I (including pictures/poems at end). Also Clifford, p. 195 (Cole Reserve).
WEEK 3
Monday: Johnson, Part II.
Tuesday: Johnson, Part III (suggestion: read ahead, if you are able).
Wednesday: Johnson, Part IV, Epilogue.
Thursday: ESSAY DUE, 1:00 P.M.
In-class viewing of the film, Women Serving Religion.
Friday: Dorothee Soelle, Against the Wind, pp. xi-79.
WEEK 4
Monday: Soelle, pp. 80-168.
Tuesday: No class--work on final essay.
Wednesday: FINAL ESSAY DUE BY 1:00 P.M.
A List of Reference Resources Available in the Library
Encyclopedia of Women and World Religion, 2 vols. (Ref 200.82 En19)
The Women’s Bible Commentary (Ref 220.7082 W842)
Women in Scripture (Ref 220.92 W842m)
Dictionary of Feminist Theologies (Ref 230.082 D561)
Women’s Encyclopedia of Myths and Secrets (Ref 291 W151w)
Women of Classical Mythology (Ref 292.13082 B413wo)