Description
For this paper i have included the rubric and directions, as stated in the directions you are to chose one of the women listed on the study guide. Down below i have attached two essays, (which were taken from notes in class) in which you can base most of the information off of. You can choose between eve and Sr. Elizabeth Johnston (Sr. Elizabeth Johnston contains more information and analysis). Whichever women you decide, you may use the essays down below to go to for information. Please be deailed and specific according to the information provided. Follow all directions.
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Part 1: Essay Reflection
Despite the challenges that women in the Church may face, there is much to celebrate regarding the
vast contributions women have made to the Catholic Church over the centuries. In this essay, you will
have the opportunity to celebrate the work of those women, and reflect on how you may personally
contribute to the life and mission of the Church.
Directions: You are to create a final essay (3-4 pages) celebrating the life and contributions of women
in the Church. This essay should be based on both of the following prompts:
1. How have women contributed to the life and mission of the Church both in the past and
in the present?
a. Be specific. Use names and real examples. Examples may include women in scripture,
the woman you featured in your prayer presentation, women you know personally,
women we have discussed in class, CSJ Sisters, women you have heard of, etc.
i. Women/Topics we have covered in Class (at least two of these must be
discussed in your essay, referencing specific details we discussed in class,
assigned readings, or projects):
1. Sr. Elizabeth Johnson
2. Eve and/or Phyllis Trible
3. Ruth
4. Esther
5. Unnamed Women in the Gospels
6. Mary Magdalene
7. Mary
b. You are welcome to share about women who have impacted you personally in your faith
development that we have not discussed in class. NOTE: If you choose to do this, you
must still include at least two women we have covered in class (from part a above).
2. How do you plan on contributing to the life of the Church as a woman today and in the
future? What hopes do you have for the future of women in the Church?
** If you do not identify as particularly religious or a part of the Church, you may reflect
instead on how the role of women in any faith have influenced you, and what hopes you
have for the future of women in the Church.
This essay is worth 45 points and is graded based on effort, word count, thoughtfulness, punctuality,
proper grammar, and the use of concrete examples regarding the mission of the Church and active
contributions to the Church that we discussed in class this semester. This essay is due at the end
of class on December 20th. It must be submitted on Schoology before 12 pm that day. You should
come to class with the essay finished. You will likely have some time at the end of class to read
through your essay one final time and fix spelling, grammar, etc. Do not plan on making major
changes or additions to your essay during class that day.
Part 2: Casual Presentation
On the date of your final, you will briefly share about the celebrations you reflected on in your essay.
You will verbally summarize and reflect on (1) How women have contributed to the life of the Church
(specifically who you featured in your essay), (2) How you hope to contribute to the life of the Church
and/or your hopes for the future of women in the Church, and (3) One specific takeaway from this
semester of Women in the Church. Please share in that order to make your presentation clear.
Sharing your perspective is worth 5 points towards your grade. Presentations will be limited to 2-3
minutes each – these are simply spoken reflections, do not prepare a powerpoint. However, you
should practice what you are going to say before coming to class that day.
*Please note that if you are not present in class on December 20th, there is no option to make up the
5 points for the casual presentation.
Final Grade:
Essay: 45 points
Presentation: 5 points
Total: 50 points
Worth 20% of your semester grade
Sr. Elizabeth in her own words:
The following excerpt is taken from Sr. Elizabeth’s acceptance speech for a leadership award given to her by the
Leadership Conference for Women Religious (LCWR). Read the passage and answer the question that follows.
A word about my own work. I find doing theology an interesting, tough, and wondrous ministry in the church.
One thousand years ago, Anselm defined theology as “faith seeking understanding.” Rooted in the Christian
tradition and equipped with scholarly tools, those of us in the theological guild think about the meaning of faith
and the way it is practiced. The purpose is to shed more light on the gospel, so it can be lived out with deeper
understanding and vibrant love of God and neighbor. My scholarship has engaged a variety of subjects, such as
language about God, the meaning of Jesus, the communion of saints, and evolution and creation, among others.
Whatever the subject, for me teaching, writing, and public lecturing have always been an invitation to students,
readers, and listeners to “Come and see,” as John’s gospel put it (Jn 1:39). Vatican II taught that “The truth
cannot impose itself except by virtue of its own truth, as it makes its entrance into the mind at once quietly and
with power” (DH 1). So come and see, think, raise questions, make connections, learn the tradition, see for
yourselves how beautiful the faith is, as a step toward encountering and living out the love of the holy mystery
of God.
Every cultural era brings new questions which theologians try to address. Early on one key question arose for
me when I realized that all the great thinkers whom I had been exposed to in my studies were men. I loved many
of their insights. But where were the women? I was struck by the absence of their critical insights and spiritual
wisdom. Inspired by a pioneering generation of American women theologians, I grew committed to bringing
women’s voices to the table. This does not mean thinking about women all the time. It does mean using the
human dignity of women as one lens through which to think about other religious and ethical subjects. It means
attending to poverty, lack of education, sexual violence, and other injustices that ruin women’s lives. It means
employing theologically what promotes the flourishing of women in all their diversity.
The year I received my doctorate and began university teaching, this direction grew stronger when four North
American church women were murdered in El Salvador: Ita Ford, Maura Clarke, Dorothy Kazel, and Jean
Donovan. Their courage and commitment had a profound impact on me. The spark of their lives has moved me
to do theology in like spirit, attentive to the struggles and hopes of those most in need and under threat of
violence.
Clearly, my work engages theology done by men and does so with critical appreciation. But I am convinced that
this is not enough for the church of today and tomorrow. The submerged female half of the church, indeed of the
human race, is rising, and the faith we pass on to the next generations will be poorer if women’s insights are
ignored.
In taking this path, I and today’s cohort of women theologians are charting a new path. For centuries the study
of theology was reserved for ordained priests as part of the hierarchy’s office to teach. One cannot overestimate
the impact of Vatican II which opened the doors of theological study to lay persons. While excellent theology
continues to be done by ordained priests, all kinds of new questions, methods, and understandings are now
blossoming, fed by the experience of the laity, women and men alike. I take this leadership award to be in part a
recognition of this seismic development. With gratitude I accept it as also paying tribute to women who do
theology in this vein and to men whose work has an eye for inclusive justice.
Reflect on what we have learned about Sr. Elizabeth’s life and work from the presentation about her life in
class, watching her interview with America Magazine, and from her words quoted above.
. My scholarship has engaged a variety of subjects, such as language about God, the meaning of Jesus, the
communion of saints, and evolution and creation, among others. Whatever the subject, for me teaching, writing,
and public lecturing have always been an invitation to students, readers, and listeners to “Come and see,” as
John’s gospel put it (Jn 1:39).
So come and see, think, raise questions, make connections, learn the tradition, see for yourselves how beautiful
the faith is, as a step toward encountering and living out the love of the holy mystery of God.
Because of the structure and meaning of this text, I highlighted it. I was initially drawn to it since it had
several terminology that I was previously familiar with. After reading it three times, I was extremely moved by
Sr. Elizabeth’s address when she stated, “So come and see, think, raise questions, make connections, learn the
tradition, see for yourselves how beautiful the faith is, as a step toward encountering and living out the love of
the holy mystery of God.” This struck a chord with me because it gives me more freedom to express and
understand my Catholic faith as I wish. Sr. Elizabeth went against the grain and spoke out for what she believed
in, as expressed in the quotation above. Because of this, I no longer feel as though there are rigid laws
controlling the Catholic faith that never seem to change.
#2 Considering all of this, what lesson (or lessons) have you learned from Sr. Elizabeth Johnson? What
about her life, experiences, and/or work resonated with you the most? Please explain your answers
thoroughly in 2-3 paragraphs. (7 points)
Sr. Elizabeth showed great courage when she was exposed to something, stood by it, and spoke out.
When we discussed how a number of bishops attacked Sr. Elizabeth, she still stood up for what she believed in
and fought back, that conversation really struck me positively. Sr. Elizabeth handled it politely but effectively.
She has my respect, and I admire her for having the guts to speak up for what she believes in. Being one of the
first woman to earn a PHD in theology is another instance of Sr. Elizabeth’s bravery. For so many other women
who share her viewpoint, Sr. Elizabeth cleared the road for them to do the same and not feel ashamed of it. She
is an inspiration to all ladies who feel they are unable to practice their faith in the manner in which they would
like to and are more than welcome to.
When someone tells you that you can’t do something, you can, as Sr. Elizabeth has taught me. I
discovered this because despite being publicly shamed and being told by bishops and the general public that her
book did not adhere to Catholic doctrine, she persisted. A 32 page letter by Sr. Elizabeth in response impacted
the public’s perceptions. This demonstrates how you can get respect by remaining steadfast and standing up for
what you believe in. You’ll not only gain respect, but you’ll also build a group of people that agree with you. She
has taught me that doing what is right and following your heart will only lead to wonderful things. I had a great
time learning about Sr. Elizabeth; she is a courageous and kind woman. We don’t often witness people
disagreeing with the religious authorities, especially women, so it surprised me to watch Sr. Elizabeth expresses
her convictions and principles while being rebuffed. Sr. Elizabeth’s profound devotion to God and unwavering
commitment to truth have served as a remarkable source of inspiration for several individuals.
.
The Garden of controversy: Revisiting Adam and Eve Through the Lens of Phyllis Trible
a) how Genesis has been used to say women should be subordinate to men, and
b) how scripture can be read differently if you pay attention to details.
In other words, this prompt asks that for each of the three arguments you
a) describe briefly the negative interpretation of Genesis, and
b) explain Trible’s positive interpretation of the same verse offered in response.
Please number each of the three points to make it easy for me to follow what you are saying.
2. Give your own evaluation of Trible’s analysis.
Include a concluding paragraph describing your personal reaction to Trible’s interpretation of
Genesis 2-3.
Questions to consider as you write this part:
How do you feel about her analysis?
How does it change your perception of the person of Eve, if at all?
Do you feel better equipped to defend the portrayal of women in this creation account?
Do you disagree with any of her conclusions?
Explain your answers.
Give your essay a creative title that you think is appropriate for this assignment.
The essay should be at least one page long, and will likely be longer if you do a good job
of explaining the points and your own reaction. – 3 pages long
MLA Format
1. Genesis 2:7 The Lord Formed the Man; The negative connotation that was suggested
after reading this passage was that Man was created first, making Eve seem subordinate
and “less important”. Because Adam came into existence first, it is simple for this to be
interpreted as though Eve occupies a position of subordination to Adam. Phyllis Trible
takes a different approach; she starts by recommending that we reread the passage so that
we might have a greater understanding of it. She continues by explaining how the word
“Adham”, when interpreted from its Hebrew origins, means “all mankind.” She explains
that this is a wonderful interpretation that is inclusive of not only one gender, but all
mankind.
2. Genesis 2:18 “I will make him a helper fit for him”; The initial impression we get from
the title is that the word “helper” implies that Adam is superior to Eve. A helper makes
Eve appear as if her assistance was unnecessary until God thought Adam needed it.
Phyllis Trible expresses that the word helper translated to Hebrew is “ezer”, she then
explains how God in some parts in the bible was also referred to as this name. Being
referred to by the same name that the Bible uses to refer to God is lovely, she explains.
3. Genesis 2:21:22 Creation of women: The rib; There are many ways to interpret this
passage, but one common interpretation is that Eve was “from man”. The second negative
connotation is the false notion that the man created the women. This is likely to be
perceived because God used a portion of Adam’s rib to create Eve. With her explanation
of how Yaweh, or God, alone created the women, Phyllis Trible takes a wonderful
approach to this passage. This indicates that Adam was not involved in the creation of
Eve. She first explains how God made both of them in his image and from raw materials,
and as a result, they both owe their souls to him. This places Adam and Eve on an equal
footing as they are both held accountable to God, rather than to one another. Lastly, she
explains that Adam was asleep during the creation of Eve, meaning he did not contribute
to it.
In her examination of the creation accounts, Phyllis Trible raises a lot of valid questions.
Being from a culture where Arabic is the primary language, it is simpler for me to comprehend
how words and concepts can be misinterpreted. Due to its similarity to Hebrew, Arabic has a
wide variety of meanings that are distinct from those of English. The fulfillment that I had from
Phyllis Trible’s analysis came from realizing that because the Bible was written in Hebrew and
we read it in English, the parts about women seemed far more equal to men than the passages
from the New American Bible. I appreciate how my understanding of how women are portrayed
in the Bible has expanded. I now have a more optimistic understanding of the creation stories
because of Phyllis Tribles’ study. Before reading her works, I felt that my opinion had been
clouded, primarily because of how the English version portrayed women as inferior to men.
Considering that I have only known one interpretation for so long, this was an exciting
change. I found it impossible to dispute with Phyllis at all since I thought everything she said
was reasonable. This has a significant impact on how I view Adam and Eve in many different
ways. Since Adam was asleep when Eve was created from his rib, he had no involvement in the
process, which is something I found insightful. She provided an in-depth explanation of the
Genesis passages as I read it, which was helpful to me because the Bible may be difficult to
understand at times. I can now state with certainty that I could unquestionably stand up and
utilize Phyllis Trible’s writing to defend Eve against any misunderstanding.
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