S

S.O.R II Cross Religion Study

Teachers & Interpreters

The nature, role and importance of pivotal individuals or schools of thought: From the period of early foundation; Paul- Christianity and Aisha- IslamPaul

Nature

Saul of Tarsus was the greatest missionary of early Christianity. He was the first Christian interpreter and the 1st New Testament writer.

Saul was totally dedicated to Judaism and the beliefs central to this religion. He was well educated in the law and was so committed that he believed that any threat to Judaisms integrity should be removed. He set out to remove the threat he saw coming from the followers of Jesus

Saul was a Hellenistic Jew of the Diaspora and a citizen of Rome. He was a Pharisee and had never met Jesus but he had an extraordinary conversion experience of Jesus on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:3-9).

Saul was his Jewish name, and Paul was his Roman name.

Paul came to realise that Jesus was the authentic way to salvation. He dedicated his life to spreading the good news of Jesus throughout Asia Minor and Greece.

Role

RoleMeaningEvidence

Apostle to the Gentiles Realisation that Salvation was not the privilege of Jews alone. Jesus brought salvation for all

Paul believed this was for all people, not just confined to an ethnic group

Pauls apostleship to the Gentiles is confirmed by the Council of Jerusalem in 49 CE

Neither gentile nor Jew, servant or free, woman or man Galatians 3:28

Acts 15:1-31

Missionary Paul was an active teacher, but he doesnt directly refer to himself as one. He refers to himself as a builder, envoy, father or nurse

Paul believed he had a divine mission to preach

His 3 journeys ( expanded Christianity in the Mediterranean

Travelled to a town, forming a strong nucleus of Christians before moving on to another townEnvoy: 2 Cor 5:18-20

Builder: 1 Cor 3:9-11

Father: 1 Cor 4:14-15

Nurse: 1 Thess 2:6-8

First Christian theologianIs considered the 1st interpreter of Christianity. His teachings centre around:

Christ is crucified and risen

Gods grace

Justification by faith

The Church as the body of Christ

Love as the new law

Ethics and Moral behaviour (esp. sexual morality)1 Cor 15:12-20

Phil 2:5-11

Rom 8:14-17

Rom 3:27-31

Eph 4:31-32; Col 1:24

1 Cor 13:1-13

1 Cor 12:12-30

Author He wrote his letters before the Gospels were written- around 49-60 CE; Marks gospel was written c. 70 CE

Due to this, his letters were based around foundation beliefs and were for all members of the community

Were written to encourage, correct errors, guide and clarify Christian teaching

Each letter was written with a specific purpose

Second FounderDue to Pauls development of Christianity, he is considered by many as the second founder

Importance

Pauls importance can be divided into 2 areas: the immediate influence and the macro influence

Immediate influence

InfluenceDescription

Pauls journeys energised and consolidated the local churchesPauls journeys illustrate his vision for the Church

Pauls role at the Council of Jerusalem extended Christianity to the GentilesPaul understood that the meaning of Jesus for the lives of Christians meant that it was more than a Jewish sect. He saw the gospel of Jesus more important than keeping Jewish law. Due to Pauls upbringing, he still helped to preserve Christianitys Jewish heritage.

Macro Influence

InfluenceDescription

Pauls 13 letters became sacred texts of ChristianityThese letters demonstrate the high regard with which Paul and his beliefs and teachings were held both in the early church and throughout the formative years if the Christian Church

Pauline teaching has influenced every era of ChristianityPauls teachings have impacted:

1st century Palestine

Origen, a biblical scholar of the 3rd century

St. Augustine in the 5th century

The reformers in the 16th century

Modern Christians today

Especially influential in:

Christology

Ecclesiology

Of grace and salvation

Of sexual morality

Protestant theology and justification by faithMartin Luther and John Calvin based their theologies on Pauls letters. Martin Luther bases his whole theology of Faith Alone on Pauls letter to the Romans

Central use of Paul in Christian liturgyPauls letters are read everyday and Sunday in Christian liturgy

Effects of Pauls views on womenThere is contradictory evidence for the leadership of women in Christianity. His letters have been used to suggest a limited, non-leadership role for women in the Church.

Aisha Bint Abu Bakir

Nature Muhammads third wife and daughter of Abu Bakr. Often called his favourite wife

Aged 6 when she married Muhammad, marriage consummated at the age of 9

Titled Mother of the Faithful - no children of her own

18 when the prophet died

Had a keen intellect, strong will and eloquence model for Muslim children

Became a pupil of the prophet, learning to read and write and studying the Quran. She was a hafizah (a woman who could fully recite the Quran)

Became well versed in theology and acquired knowledge of literature, history and medicine and also wrote poetry

Considered an authority on Islamic Law and tradition with over 2000 sayings in the Hadith being attributed directly to her

Thus she taught and helped develop the tradition of Islam

Aisha is a challenge to contemporary views of purdah and a role model for women in the Islamic society as she did not fit the cultural stereotype of women

She was a:

- teacher and authority on Islamic Law and traditions

warrior: Battle of the Camel

a leader

a scholar as the prophet had stressed the importance of education and women were being lectured by him and could question him in public assemblies

literary figure

RoleMeaning Importance

Theologian Muhammad authorised Aisha in his absence to give religious advice, telling Muslims to take half your religion from this ruddy faced woman She became an eyewitness to a number of revelations

She possessed great knowledge but also was active in education and social reform. She promoted education and in particular, womens education.

Aisha spent her whole life learning the Quran and interpreting them. She created her own analysis of the Quran There are over 2000 hadith attributed to Aisha

If we companions of the messenger of god had any difficulties on an issue, we asked Aisha about it.

Scholarhighly knowledgeable and regarded for her theological studies (as women were allowed to publicly, openly question the prophet). Good role model for women who wanted to be educated provided validation for them

Political ActivistDemonstrated willingness to fight against the wrong in the Battle of the Camel she led men

Catalyst for changeHer faith was questioned when she spent time alone with a man (Necklace story). Muhammad had no proof of infidelity and could not divorce her. She refused punishment for a crime she did not commit and thus the rules for divorce were changed (Sura 24:18-28)

Importance of Aisha

Challenged the tradition:

- the necklace incident succeeded in changing the Law

the Battle of the Camel showed women in position of military leadership

Helped to form Islamic history preserving the tradition:

- a role model to all Muslim children

being described as and accorded the title Mother of the faithful

through her questioning and her scholarship

Impact on the development of the tradition:

- contribution to the hadith

through her poetry and scholarship (in theology)

Active in the tradition:

participation in Muslim rituals

praying with the community

preparing for and participating in key Muslim feasts Aisha led a life of example in all that she did. Her life was one of prayer, simplicity, alms-giving. Her life was that of a devout ascetic. Aishas life illustrates that Muslim women can be teachers of religious knowledge and she continues to inspire all Muslims as she is a leader of men and women alike.

The effect that two pivotal individuals or schools of thought from the contemporary period, one from each of two religious traditions, have had on the everyday lives of believersFEMINIST THEOLOGY IN CHRISTIANITY AND ISLAM

SEE NOTES FROM THE RELIGON AND WOMEN TOPIC: CONTEMPORARY WOMEN

Christian Feminist TheologiansMuslim Christian Theologians

Elisabeth Schussler Fiorenza

Rosemary Radford Ruether

Sallie Mc Fague

Sr. Joan Chittister

Dorothy Lee

Elisabeth Johnson

Sandra Schneiders

Organisations such as WATAC (Women & the Australian Church) Leila Ahmed

Nawal al-Saadawi

Tahera Aftab

Dr. Lois Lamya al Faruqi

Amina Wadud

Dr. Abdulaziz Sachedina

Dr. Naheed Angha

Dr. Jamal Badawi

Feminist Theology in Christianity and Islam:

Challenges the validity of androcentric thinking and practises which take male thinking as the norm

Seeks to identify elements which serve to exclude or marginalise women

Argue that the lived experience is not always parallel with the teachings of their founders

Seek to recover the truth of their traditions and apply it to both men and women

Some challenge contemporary understandings and practises and thus re interpret the current expression of the tradition.

Issues in Christianity:

Womens status

Language and how believers image god

The unequal participation of women in decision making and in the presidency of rituals

Christology

The solution

Argue for a re evaluation of the ways in which Christian churches practise their faith

Aim to critique the way power operates the church on the basis that it contradicts the lived experience of the early Christian communities

Raise awareness of inclusive language

Propose alternative ways of naming womens Christian experience

The effect on the everyday life of the believers

Varies from one denominations perspective to the next

No effectIssues of feminist theology may be irrelevant or the expression of their spirituality does not include an institutionalised church

NegativeE.g. those who converted to Catholicism after women were admitted to the priesthood in some Anglican diocese in Britain or those who are comfortable with the way they are

MajorE.g. Mary Daly now considers herself a post-Christian, others have taken the study of theology and found energy in this study. Others seek to share their experiences through womens groups- especially working for justice.

The Issues in Islam:

Muslim feminists also challenge the validity of androcentric thinking and practices

Seek to identify practiced within Islam that serve to marginalize women

Particularly concerned with the effect that culture has had in the expression on Islam, including western culture

They argue that the current experience of Muslim women is not consistent with the Quran. .

The solution:

Argue for a return to Islam found in the Quran and the experience of women in the early Islamic communities

All argue that we need to distinguish between the normative ethical teachings of ilsma and the diverse cultural practices among Muslims

Aims to educate women, both Muslim and non Muslim, so that they are better able to peel back the trappings of culture and understand the essence of Islam which many view as a life giving religion.

The effect on the everyday life of believers

Varies greatly

No effectIssues of feminist theology may be irrelevant and do not touch some women

Raising the IssuesMuslim feminists are raising the issues and giving Muslim women a voice both within their tradition and outside of it in the west.

NegativeThose who feel threatened by their speaking out

Relieving of StereotypesWithin the Islamic community and with western stereotyping/ misinterpretation

Compare and contrast the effects brought about by TWO pivotal individuals or schools of thought from the same period, ONE from each of the TWO religious traditions, with reference to TWO of the following areas:

Challenge to the tradition

Extent and significance of the change

Reaction and response by the religious tradition

Changes in society requiring adaptation of teachings

Continuing impact today. Founding

PaulAisha

Continuing Impact We are inheritors of Pauls theology

Reformation- disunited the church. Luther refers to justification by faith and Calvin explained predestination

Missionary endeavours in Churches

Pauls teachings give ethical guidelines for life

Rituals- Eucharist, Marriage, Funerals- Scriptural quotes used from Pauls writing

The universality of Pauls teaching and some of his writings are used by some Feminist Theologians to argue for greater inclusion of women in ministry The status she held is revealed in the Quran and Hadith

Seen as a role model due to the devotion to the prophet, her spirituality, her knowledge of Islam and the law, her intelligence, and her full participation in her society as a lawyer, doctor, mathematician etc.

As a role model for Islamic women today she challenges any cultural practises that cloud the honour and esteem and role that women were accorded in the Prophets teachings

Adultery laws- the laws on adultery today date back of ifk- slandering of Aisha. Islam still requires 4 witnesses for adultery to be declared

Interpretations of teachings influence women today.

Extent & Significance of change The emerging Jewish sect of Christianity looked beyond the confines of the Palestinian area to the larger world.

Paul set up and founded Christian communities

His missionary journeys established, energised and consolidated gentile Christian communities

He formed the foundation beliefs of Christianity

He debated and defended the acceptance of Gentiles into the Christian group

Pauls teachings stressed that the life, death and resurrection of Jesus had abolished any differences between Jew and Gentile.

Pauls advocacy that non-Jewish converts did not have to follow the law of Moses, including circumcision, at a council in Jerusalem led to an easier compromise that enabled Christianity to spread more widely.

A key feature of his teachings was that Christianity was universal- not elitist and so gentiles were included.

Paul had a dramatic influence on later Christian thought- his teaching has impacted on every era and aspect of Christianity e.g. Martin Luther, John Calvin, Augustine, Thomas Aquinas. Aisha spent 20 years narrating Hadith, indicating how she developed the emerging tradition of Islam

After Muhammad died, her home was open for women and children to learn the Quran and Hadiths. This transformed her home into a centre of learning. This illustrates how women were, after Muhammads laws, were said to be spiritually and intellectually equal to men

Aisha changed and interpreted laws in order to transform the emerging Islam.

By doing this, she rapidly expanded and grew Islam in the Middle East. Essentially by doing this, she transformed Islam into a world religion.

Contemporary

ChristianityIslam

Challenge to the tradition It has challenged the way in which the Christian churches have interpreted the message of Jesus

This interpretation has influenced and directed the practises of Christianity

Such practises have vested power in the hands of men and serve to exclude women from full participation in their respective churches

They include the use of male images of God in art, language, in the lectionary, the exclusion of women from decision-making and ordained ministry (note variants) etc. Muslim feminists argue that the gap between what the Quran teaches and what happens in practise is caused by cultures that have allowed men to formulate law according to their reading of the Quran

Call for more women to gain knowledge of the text in order to establish a balance

Muslim feminists also find themselves challenging the effects of western culture and misunderstanding in their tradition

Extent & Significance of Change As it is a fairly new concept to Christianity, it is difficult to fully appreciate the extent and significance of the change

But there is a growing awareness of the issues regarding the role of women in the church; and there is an increase in the number of women participating in rituals

Some have even gained access to leadership positions in the church (e.g. Uniting and Anglican)

Efforts to use inclusive language

More women are accessing theological studies

Increased womens groups such as WATAC

Lead the way in interfaith dialogue and ecumenism As it is a fairly new concept to Islam, it is difficult to fully appreciate the extent and significance of the change

It has raised awareness of the issues involved and the powerful effect of culture on a religion

Significantly, it has broken down barriers to understanding between Muslim feminists and western feminists.

Interfaith dialogue is another significant change e.g. Sr. Pauline Rae Marist Missionary sister who started the Centre for Christian and Muslim women.