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The Marian Tradition and the Reality of Women

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 September 2014

Elizabeth A. Johnson*
Affiliation:
Catholic University of America

Abstract

After a brief explanation of the feminist theological perspective, this essay explores three critiques from that perspective of the marian tradition, highlighting ways in which the symbol of Mary has been used to the detriment of the full humanity and dignity of women. A reinterpretive move than examines three parallel possibilities for a new naming of Mary which would cohere with the full liberation of all human beings. No definitive resting point is arrived at, the conclusion being that a renewed theology of Mary will emerge only with renewed attitude and praxis regarding women in the churches.

Type
Articles
Copyright
Copyright © The College Theology Society 1985

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References

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6 For example of distortion in theory, see Børresen, Kari Elisabeth, Subordination and Equivalence: The Nature and Hole of Woman in Augustine and Thomas Aquinas (Washington, DC: University Press of America, 1981);Google Scholar for analysis of practice, see Daly, Mary, The Church and the Second Sex (New York: Harper & Row, 1975).Google Scholar

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37 Ruether, Rosemary Radford, Mary—The Feminine Face of the Church (Philadelphia: Westminster, 1977), pp. 7688.Google Scholar

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40 See Moltmann-Wendel, Elisabeth, “Motherhood or Friendship” in Küng, and Moltmann, , eds., Mary in the Churches, pp. 1722;Google ScholarRuether, , Sexism and God-Talk, pp. 811;Google Scholar Schüssler Fiorenza, pp. 624-26. See also Elisabeth Schüssler Fiorenza's study of the discipleship of other women {not including Mary of Nazareth), In Memory of Her: A Feminist Theological Reconstruction of Christian Origins (New York: Crossroad, 1983).Google Scholar

41 This is still a partial ideal for it omits reference to adult relationships which are constitutive for wholeness. For discussion, see Bruteau, Beatrice, “The Image of the Virgin Mother” in Plaskow, J. and Romero, J., eds., Women and Religion (Missoula, MT: Scholars Press, 1974), pp. 93104.Google Scholar

42 Tillich, Paul, Theology of Culture (New York: Oxford University Press, 1964), pp. 5458.Google Scholar

43 Rahner, Karl, “Maria und das christiliche Bild der Frau,” p. 800.Google Scholar