In honor of Women's History Month in the United States, the Journal offers this first installment of a two part discussion of Biblical women and of women inspired by the models of womanhood found in the Scriptures. The discussion, adapted from a talk given in 1997, emphasizes the spirituality that gave women of the Bible a spirit of courage and vision and that still can enliven women and men today.
When I was in seminary in the seventies— twelve to fifteen years after the feminist movement had gotten into full swing —movement in the religious field to prepare or make way for women in the churches was just beginning. There were few if any courses designed especially for women, and there was no body of literature on women as they related to religious or Biblical studies. When I recently picked up a catalog listing courses in the nine seminary-type schools in the Boston area, I found full-time faculty whose major subjects are "Women in Ministry," "Feminist Liberation Theologies," and so on, and courses in women's theological studies. Although there are no Biblical titles among these course offerings, a body of literature on the Bible and women's issues has begun to build.
Why was it so slow in coming? Because from the very beginning the Bible and the way it speaks to life, religious life, and church life have been in a male-dominated voice. Its female voice has been largely silent. Women's societal roles, professional roles, and church roles have been modeled on a male interpretation of how the Bible addresses each of these areas. This male view informed theological interpretation as well. Consequently, many women have felt cut off from a Biblical theology that spoke to their heart. Let's just take a moment to see what some of the effects were.
