Woman in persona Christi: The Redemptive Power of Feminist Hermeneutics in the Christian Tradition

Abstract

In mainstream Christian tradition, women have been systematically disadvantaged, being denied the same rights, privileges and opportunities as men based solely on biological sex. The goal of this paper is to re-examine Christian tradition to see if anything redemptive or empowering for women can be found. Through close reading and analysis of biblical texts and Christian feminist theology, I have come to find that interpreting Christian tradition through a feminist hermeneutical lens can offer redemption to Christianity's patriarchal foundations, and can be useful and empowering to women in Christianity. The broader implication that I make plain is that Christianity can either be affirming or nonaffirming for women depending on the type of hermeneutical lens that is used to interpret the Bible and other Christian texts.