Powers and Submissions: Spirituality, Philosophy and Gender (Challenges in Contemporary Theology)

In this book Sarah Coakley confronts a central paradox of theological feminism - what she terms 'the paradox of power and vulnerability'.:.; Confronts a central paradox of theological feminism - what Coakley terms 'paradox of power and vulnerability'.; Explores this issue through the perspective of spiritual practice, philosophical enquiry and doctrinal analysis.; Draws together an essential collection of Sarah Coakley's work in this field.; Offers an original perspective into contemporary feminist theology POWERS AND SUBMISSIONS......Page 1 Contents......Page 9 Acknowledgements......Page 10 Preface......Page 12 Prologue: Powers and Submissions......Page 14 Part I The Contemplative Matrix......Page 23 1 Kenosis and Subversion: On the Repression of 'Vulnerability' in Christian Feminist Writing......Page 25 2 Traditions of Spiritual Guidance: Dom John Chapman OSB (1865-1933) on the Meaning of 'Contemplation'......Page 62 3 Creaturehood Before God: Male and Female......Page 77 Part II Philosophical Interlocutions......Page 91 4 Visions of the Self in Late Medieval Christianity: Some Cross-Disciplinary Reflections......Page 93 5 Gender and Knowledge in Modern Western Philosophy: The 'Man of Reason' and the 'Feminine' 'Other' in Enlightenment and Romantic Thought......Page 111 6 Analytic Philosophy of Religion in Feminist Perspective: Some Questions......Page 120 Part III Doctrinal Implications......Page 129 7 'Persons' in the 'Social' Doctrine of the Trinity: Current Analytic Discussion and 'Cappadocian' Theology......Page 131 8 The Resurrection and the 'Spiritual Senses': On Wittgenstein, Epistemology and the Risen Chnst......Page 152 9 The Eschatological Body: Gender, Transformation and God......Page 175 Index......Page 190 "Gender theory has in recent years given an increasingly nuanced account of the wordly 'powers' that serve to stifle human flourishing. However, feminine theology has been loath to acknowledge that form of surrender to divine 'power' which can alone sustain authentic human freedom, and chasten the abusive will to power in both women and men. Powers and Submissions tackles the questions of how the narratives of divine and human 'powers' should be disentangled. Coakley examines this issue through the lens of spiritual practice, philosophical enquiry and doctoral analysis, arguing that contemplative practice must be the sustaining matrix of any truly liberative human empowerment." "Powers and Submissions will be of interest to those working and studying in the fields of feminist theory, philosophy of religion, systematic theology and spirituality."--Jacket Gender theory has in recent years given an increasingly nuanced account of the worldly 'powers' that serve to stifle human flourishing. However, feminine theology has been loath to acknowledge that form of surrender to divine 'power' which can alone sustain authentic human freedom, and chasten the abusive will to power in both women and men. Powers and Submissions tackles the questions of how the narratives of divine and human 'powers' should be disentangled. Coakley examines this issue through the lens of spiritual practice, philosophical enquiry and doctoral analysis, arguing that contemplative practice must be the sustaining matrix of any truly liberative human empowerment * Confronts a central paradox of theological feminism -- what Coakley terms a paradox of power and vulnerabilitya . * Explores this issue through the perspective of spiritual practice, philosophical enquiry and doctrinal analysis. * Draws together an essential collection of Sarah Coakleya s work in this field. In an important passage in Theology and Feminism, Daphne Hampson tackles the question of christological kenosis, or 'voluntary self-emptying on the part of the second person of the Trinity'.