Do Ruether and Daly show that Christianity is irredeemably patriarchal, or can it be reformed to include feminine images and language about God?
Component 03 Gender and theology: feminist theology and the critique of patriarchy, the reformist theology of Rosemary Radford Ruether and the post-Christian feminism of Mary Daly, and the implications for language about God.
An OCR A-Level Religious Studies Component 03 guide to gender and theology. Covers feminist theology and the critique of patriarchy, Rosemary Radford Ruether's reformist theology and critique of male images of God, Mary Daly's post-Christian feminism, and the implications for language about God, with the AO2 evaluation the exam rewards.
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What this dot point is asking
OCR Component 03 examines gender and theology: the feminist theological critique of Christianity and what it implies for language about God. The core charge is that Christianity is shaped by patriarchy (male rule), embedded in its God-language, its Christology and its structures. Two named theologians give contrasting responses: Rosemary Radford Ruether (a reformist who believes the tradition can be redeemed) and Mary Daly (a post-Christian who concludes it cannot). The exam rewards explaining the critique and both responses precisely and then evaluating whether Christianity is irredeemably patriarchal, treating the question neutrally.
The answer
Feminist theology and the critique of patriarchy
Mary Daly: post-Christian feminism
Rosemary Radford Ruether: reformist theology
Implications for language about God
Examples in context
Try this
Q1. "Christianity can never be freed from its patriarchal roots." Discuss. [40 marks]
- What the marker wants. An AO2 essay weighing Daly's post-Christian view that patriarchy is irredeemable against Ruether's reformist appeal to the prophetic principle and a God beyond gender, judging whether reform is possible. AO1 out of 25, AO2 out of 15. Keep the treatment neutral.
Q2. Assess whether language about God should be changed to include female imagery. [40 marks]
- Cue. Feminists argue male language implies a male God and harms women; traditionalists say it is revealed and analogical. Weigh the harm-and-reform case against the revealed-and-analogical reply and judge.
Exam-style practice questions
Practice questions written in the style of OCR exam questions on this dot point, with worked answer explainers. The year tag is the paper they imitate, not the source.
OCR H573/03 2019 (style)20 marksAssess the view that Christianity is irredeemably patriarchal. (The full OCR tariff for this essay is 40 marks; the worked answer below is scaled to a 20-mark exemplar.)Show worked answer →
A 40-mark Component 03 essay on the six-level scheme (AO1 out of 25, AO2 out of 15). Explaining the feminist theologians earns AO1; the higher levels reward judging the "irredeemable" claim.
Explain (AO1). Mary Daly argues Christianity is so structurally patriarchal ("if God is male, then the male is God") that it cannot be reformed, and moves to a post-Christian position. Rosemary Radford Ruether argues, by contrast, that the tradition can be reformed, recovering the prophetic principle that condemns oppression and using female imagery for God.
Evaluate (AO2). For Daly: the maleness of God-language, Christ and the priesthood runs deep. For Ruether: the same tradition contains liberating resources and a God beyond gender. The question is whether patriarchy is essential to Christianity or a distortion of it.
Judge. A top answer decides whether Christianity is irredeemably patriarchal or reformable, and defends the verdict neutrally.
OCR H573/03 2022 (style)20 marksCritically assess the claim that language about God should not be exclusively male. (The full OCR tariff for this essay is 40 marks; the worked answer below is scaled to a 20-mark exemplar.)Show worked answer →
A levels-of-response essay testing AO1 understanding of God-language and AO2 evaluation of it.
Explain. Feminist theologians argue that calling God "Father", "He", "King" and "Lord" implies God is male and reinforces male authority ("if God is male, then the male is God", Daly). Ruether and others propose female and gender-neutral imagery (God as Mother, the divine Wisdom/Sophia) and stress that God is beyond gender.
Evaluate. For change: exclusively male language distorts a God who transcends gender and marginalises women. Against: traditionalists hold the language is revealed (Jesus called God Father) and analogical rather than literal, so it does not assert that God is male.
Judge. A high-level answer weighs whether male God-language is harmful and reformable or revealed and analogical, and reaches a justified conclusion.
Related dot points
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Sources & how we know this
- OCR A Level Religious Studies (H573) specification — OCR (2016)
- Rosemary Radford Ruether, Sexism and God-Talk (overview) — Encyclopaedia Britannica (2023)