New Catholic Feminism: Theology and Theory: Theology, Gender Theory and Dialogue - Softcover

Beattie, Tina

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0415301483 ISBN 13: 9780415301480

Publisher: Routledge, 2005

Synopsis

It is hard to over-estimate the challenge that feminism poses to Roman Catholicism. Pope John Paul II's call for a 'new feminism' has led to the development of a Catholic theological response to the so-called 'old feminism'. The New Catholic Feminism sets up a dramatic encounter between the orthodox Catholic establishment and contemporary critical theory, including feminist theology and philosophy, queer theory, and French psycholinguistics, in order to explore fundamental questions about human identity, personhood and gender. From the naked bodies of Eden to the 'gay nuptials' of liturgy, it argues that the strange and volatile world of Catholic sexual symbolism cannot be 'tamed' to meet the ideological agendas of either feminist theology or conservative Catholicism. Only through a radical re-evaluation of the sacramental significance of the sexed human body might the Catholic Church provide a redemptive response to the sexual politics of contemporary society.

About this title

Review:

"It is only right that a theologian of Von Balthasar's influence should have a "Devil's Advocate." Tina Beattie's animated discussion will surely be read by all who are interested in his work and in the sexual dynamics of Catholic Christianity."
-Dr. Janet Martin Soskice, Reader in Philosophical Theology, University of Cambridge
"The centrality of gendered, sexual bodies to the life of faith and traditional theology's repression of such have long been the focus of feminist theology. Beattie's book takes the conversation to new levels with her exploration of the crucial role of the psychological - desire, pleasure, fear, terror - in the workings of faith and theology."
-Mary McClintock Fulkerson, Associate Professor of Theology, Divinity School, Duke University
"Beattie insightfully exposes false paths in the all-important quest in religion, as elsewhere, to realize the profound implications of sexuate difference. This timely book is acutely necessary for the efforts to recover a sacramental sense of language, symbol and the female."
-Charlene Spretnak, author of" Missing Mary

Synopsis:

Presenting a fresh look at the contemporary issue of women's place in the Catholic church, Tina Beattie explores controversial, yet topical subjects, such as sex and homosexuality in the Church; women's rights in Catholicism and the future of the Church. Setting up a dramatic encounter between the orthodox Catholic establishment and contemporary critical theory, including feminist theology and philosophy, queer theory, and French psycholinguistics, Tina Beattie examines fundamental questions about human identity, personhood and gender. From the naked bodies of Eden to the 'gay nuptials' of liturgy, she argues that the strange and volatile world of Catholic sexual symbolism cannot be 'tamed' to meet the ideological agendas of either feminist theology or conservative Catholicism. Only through a radical re-evaluation of the sacramental significance of the sexed human body might the Catholic Church provide a redemptive response to the sexual politics of contemporary society.

About this edition

• Publisher: Routledge
• Publication date: 2005
• ISBN 10: 0415301483
• ISBN 13: 9780415301480
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 392