THST Class Notes

1/27/14:
Thinking About Experience:
Experience is always going to be present in Christian ethical reflection,
and is generally understood as religious experience.
Post WW2 took on a new importance; liberation theologies and ethics
are key to this turn.
Experience is always a part of the other sources (Scripture, tradition,
reason) Experience is always there.
Emergence is liberation and resistance movements throughout world
post world war two
The 1960s in the US- emergence of civil rights, black power, feminist
movements with later emergence of Latinos, lgbt movements, etc. (all
of these groups wanted to resist the dominant/oppressive system
Naming- you are establishing authority over that being or thing, even
in scripture, god names and has the authority over humans.
Insistence on Experience: Recognition that traditional theology has
itself depended on experience on a source, but the experiences of a
limited group
Liberation theology is quite active now, you need a god that is going to
empower them to resist, or else oppression will remain present, people
no longer want to be victims, freedom is not free, you have to take it.
You have to expect that people are going to resist you when you try to
take freedom.
Why experience as a source? It suggests the need to recognize the
social dimension of virtually all forms of knowledge.
Experience is a complex term, there are a multitude of usages
1/29/14
Privileged vs. under-privileged
Your own experiences in life are always with you, and will always be
there to influence you.
Be self reflexive about where you are coming from and why
Complexities of Experience
o What kinds of moral evidence does experience offer?
o Generalizability? Experience is always private but that doesnt
mean that you cant have shared or similar experiences with one
another
Criteria for generalizability:
Coherence of the conclusions of experience with general
moral norms
Intelligibility of accounts of experience in relation to
fundamental moral beliefs

Mutual illumination when measured with other sources of

moral insight
Manifest integrity in the testimony of the one who is
experiencing
Harmful or helpful consequences of interpretations of
experience
Gustafson: Human experience is plural, people have different views
and experiences
o It is always in a different context depending on the individual
o All experiences are not created equal
Experience in feminist thought
o Womens experiences have been excluded and denied, and
recovering these experiences was attempted
Lebacqz- Hermeneutics of Suspicion key to interpretation of any
source- a way of approaching something
o She suggests that we approach text carefully, not as if it
is subjective, look for things that might be a little bit off
and oppressive. It is refusing to assume the objectivity of
any text, it is suspicious interpretation, always asking
questions. It is a method of approaching a particular text
or tradition in a way that refuses to assume objectivyt of
that text or tradition. Very important

1/30/14
1) Experience is private, but there are shared experiences. Actual living of
events and relationships along with the sensation of things, images,
emotions, insights, and understandings that are a part of this lived
reality.
2) She might have chosen this reading because it was a great example of
a marginalized experience, it gave an in depth look to a private
experience of the marginalized.
3) She mainly talks about the women in her life, and about their lives. It is
concerned with a womens perspective rather than mens. womanists
believe that their voices are not heard
4) Charity is working for, whereas solidarity is working with. Solidarity is
openness to new experience, whereas charity is more about reinforcing
experience. Charity and solidarity have become to be understood as
equal to each other. Giving charity never changes the underlying
problems. When you begin to question what is going on, then you can
begin to move towards solidarty. We need to recognize that
experiences exist.
2/3/14

Reason Part 1- Natural Law

Roman Catholicism and the natural law

o Much official teaching/doctrine grounded in or references the
natural law tradition of Aquinas
o Prior to Vatican 2 utilized explicit N law argumentation re:
right/wrong good/evil
o After Vatican 2- implicit natural law reasoning, though still
present
Thepry of Natural Law
o Several levels of types of laws
Divine/external Law (god governs world with reason & is
cause of its being)
Natural Law (all od nature has the external law imprinted
upon them in their essence, act according to their essence,
gods order reflected in each being, inclinations, telos)
o Old Law (10 commandments); New Law
o Human/Civic Law
So What is natural law?
o Humans are inclined by nature to act according to their proper
ends
o Human have the capacity for reason
o Natural law is humans participation in the divine/external law
through the exercise of their reason and free will
o Through reason, humans can discern what is good and what is
evil
o Ultimate end is the good
Three levels of natural law
o Primary, secondary, tertiary
Primary- common to all created reality, the good to be
purused is toward self-preservation
Secondary- generic to animals (including humans), good is
towards procreation and education of offspring, according
to Order of Nature: source of moral precepts based on the
natural order/natural ends
Tertiary- only human, good of knowledge, truth, and social
cooperation, order of reason: capacity to discover what
fulfills human need and actualizes human potential
fourishment, virtue is necessary for right reason: justice,
temperance, prudence, courage, reason can be perfected
by the virtuesthen Nlaw moral precepts can help us to
make everyday choices
Protestantism and the natural law
Anthropology tends to be less positive
Humans were corrupted by the original sin
Corruption prevents the reliabily on human reason

Sola fide- sola scriptura

Reason for protestans-emperical sciencegustafsons
piece

2/10/14
Tradition
Latin- handing over or passing on
Tradtion is a verd, it is not passive, but active within the context of
communities. So respect both content and process
Why is tradtion such a difficult concept for US Protestantism?
o Protestntistm- emerged as a part of the modern period in
eurpoean history- marked by an emphasis on reason and against
the assumed authority of tradition.
o Intensifaction of suspicion and rejection of tradition as protestant
theologians in 16th and 17th century attempted to further distance
themselves from Catholicism
o US Protestantism- lives in a socio historical context marked by te
immigrant heritage of leaving tradition (old country)
o ONE crucial part of the contruction and maintenance of
protestant communcal identity is this rejection of the authority of
tradtion.
o Marin luthersola fidesola scripturavernacularreformation
Kant on modernity (enlightenment)
o Sapere Aude (dare to know) have courage to use your own
understanding motto of enlightenment
o Rejection of authority particularly religious authority- turn to
reliance on individual reason
Equality
o At least in theory, turning away from hierarchy allows for the
greater possibility of equality
Democratic context of us
Council of trent
Catholicism claims a balance between: scripture and tradition, faith
and readon, grace and works
2/12/14
Tradition- Catholic
Beginning of Cathoilic social teaching
o Pope Leo X111 wrote first document
Relationship between capital and labot, the digniy to work,
the right to a living wage, and the right to private property.
All addressing particulat geo-politicl context of western
Europe- shift from early capitalism to late capitalism
Industrial revolution
Countered the socialism of Marx and Engels

Documentary tradition
o Popes and bishops continue to contribute to social tradition of
the church
Cite previous documents, cite scripture, site themes of
catholic social teaching
Themes of cst
o Solidarity, family community participation, dignity of the human
person rights and responsibilities, preferential option for the
poor, care of creation, subsidiarity, common good.
** guiding norms and principles that can then be used to
analyze particular issues.
Econimic justice for all: an example
o Themes & principles
Dignity of the Person
Preferential Option for the Poor
Participation
Solidarity
Common Good
2/17/14
Important thinkers- Augustine, Aquinas, Luther
o Fathers of church, individuals turn to and consider his writings to
be very relavant in christian ethics. 4th and 5th century, cristianity
was already official religion of roman empire during this time.
o Augustine uses the bible, understands in literalistic sense, the
things that happened in the bible are thought to be historical
events. Heavily shapes their understanding of morality and
humanity.
o He understands the fall of humanity as a historical event
Fall of humanity- Adam & Eve eating the forbidden fruit and
ends up punishing humans from then on
Humanity lost its inneocence^^^^
Sets the stage for the rest of human history (the first and
original sin)
It introduces the inclination to sin to all individuals
o Human sin in two ways (lust and pride)
Augustine says- Before the fall of humanity, there would
have been no desire or lust in a sexual act. Since we fell,
we now have these bodily desires
Example of the punishment that continues today
o We are prisoners to sin, but we still have free will, otherwise it is
just a big set up by god.

o Jesus had to come and die to pay off the debts created by the sin
of the first couple. Without jesus act, there would be no hope for
humanity.
o If god is good, then why do we have evil?
o Soteriology- the doctrine of salvation
God has an elect, he already has a plan.
Some indiviudals may be able to gain salvation
o City of god- purpose is to claofity that chrisitanity is not to blame
for the fall of the roman empire
o Fall of roman empire was not in the eternal plan of god
o We must choose to either occupy the city of god or city of earth
o Earthly City/heavenly city
two cities have been formed by two loves: the earthly by
the love of self, even to the contempt of God; the heavenly
by the love of God, even to the contempt of self
Earthly city- those in this city are in love with themselves
and material items, they are not concerned with anything
else, and inordinate love for themselves and things around
them, do not posses real faith
Heavenly City- love god at the expense of themselves,
found in those individuals who posses real faith
o Aquinas- on princely government
o Kings task is to guide the community
Must decide how to create the community or kingdom,
analogy of the creation of the world
Preiestly power vs the kind
Sailors duty to sail the ship
Object for which a community is gathered together is
to ive a virtuous life, object of human societ is
virtuous life and to attain to the enjoyment of god.
Government is always the one who has the final
ordering of affairs who directs those who carry out
what pertaints to the attainment of the final aim, just
as the sailor who must navigate the ship advises the
shipwright as to the type of ship which will suit this
purpose.
Under new law, there is a higher priesthood through
which men are led to a heavenly reward, and under
christs law, kings must be subject to priests.
Rulers of the city to be subject to the pontiffs (all
kings in Christendom should be subjects to jesus)
o 2/19/14
Thomas Aquinas- usues scripture quite frequently, but is not
the only source for moral reasoning.

cites from Augustine, uses anthropology.

Sotieriology- salvation. Everything in the natural order is
perfected by gods reason. Gods grace helps you reason
better.

2/24/14
Dominion- god has ultimate supremacy over everyone in the universe,
god has dominion over all things; man has dominion over animals. It is
power and care (in charge of taking care of)
Image of God- man is an image of god, but not physically, moreso in
the mind. The image of god is rationality? It is complicated, only
humans have this trait which suggests a power and authority over all
other organisms
Anthropocentrism- humans are the central being, the most important,
everything revolves around humans; everything should serve around
humans.
Connection between women and environment? Hunter/gatherer idea,
women have been seen as more fit to do things such as gather food.
Women have usually been associated with nature, women were seen
as less rational less intellectual, more emotional, more subject to
ailments of the body (menstration), women are closely associated with
their bodies. Ecofeminism- abuse of womens bodies is closesly related
to the abuse of the environment.
MIDTERM 1

3/10/14 reading notes

o Augustine on suicide
The question of suicide is caused by fear of punishment or
disgrace, women kill themselves to avoid rape, to avoid
crime
If purity is a quality of the mind, it is not lost when the
body is violated.
The violence of another lust cannot take away the chastity
which is preserved by unwavering self-control.en
Just as bodily chasity is lost when mental chastity has been
violated, so bodily chastity is not lost, even when the body
has been ravished, while the minds chastity endures. Rapeshe has no reason to punish herself because it was
anothers sin.
Lucretias suicide- killed herself because she suffered
adulterers embrace, due to weakness of shame. She was
ashamed of anothers foul deed committed on her. Did not
want to be associated with the act.

This was not the behavior of christian women- they

had the glory of chastity withtin them
Chrisitans have no authority to commit suicide in any
circumstance- no permission in scripture. Thou shall not
kill- no cirumstances
All homicide is not murder, certain exceptions made by god
Is suicide ever a mark of greatness of soul? Those who
commit suicde are not praised for sanity or wisdom
Should one commit suicide to avoid sin?- valid reason does
not exist
o Aquinas- fornication and mairrage
The reason why simple fornification is a sin according to
divine law, and that matrimony is matural.
Mairrage is for procreation, heterosexuality, proper roles,
Sex- is it good? Its not evil, sex is good when it is used for
procreation. You should never have sex unless you are
trying to have children.
According to natural law, sexuality has a natural end.
Homosexuals are to live life of abstinence
You cant have sex without procreation and you cant have
procreation without sex.

o Luther- jews and their lies

Jews are whoring people- no people of god
Do not argue with them- there is no hope until they are
miserable and have to confess to jesus
Blind jews are stupid fools
Be on guard against jews
3/12/14
Spirit of Capitalism
What about that spirit interests us
Long writing of Benjamin franklin
o Illustrates capitalisms ethos
o Time is money, credit is money, money can beget money
o Pay all debts on time
o *** Increasing capital is an end in itself, an ethic, individuals duty
to prosper
Franklins beliefs- promote profit
o Earning more money is seen as an end in itself
o Economic survival of the fittest
Where did it originate from?
o Massachusets 1632
o Spirit of capitalism had to fight its way to dominance
Biggest opponent of capitalist ethic- traditionalism

o Looks at a few cases to define traditionalism

o Laborer- piece rate- pay by amount harvested, increase pay =
increase producticity
o Man wants to live as he is used to living- and to make as much as
he can
o To be effective for capitalism- labor must be performed as an end
in itself- requires education, which is not natural
o Entreprenuer- putting out system- rational capitalistic
organization
3/12/14
Max Werber- father of sociology of religion- wrote the spirit of capitalism
Theory why salvation religions exist
They offer comfort to individuals- they satify certain interests
Carl Marx Understood that history is pushed by material interests
Philosopher and economist- ideas- cumulation of more and more
money becomes an end goal
Communist society
Looks at the economy- material interest- physical tangible stuff,
material realities that make history go
Marx & religion- religion is necessary but it is not real
o Why is it necessary? Because humans have not yet
discovered their own inherent strength and worth
o The idea of god serves a purpose- its a necessary lie
History is driven by material interests
WERBER- disagreed with marx
o Does not completely reject the fact that material interests
can drive history
o But asserts that ideal interests are also a crucial factor in
the movement of history
Ideal and material
o Not only material, but ideal interests move history along as
well
o ** switchman thesis- like a switchman on a track, an idea
can guide history and have very real material effects.
Protestant ethic is a primary example of this

3/17/14 The Nature Of Sin

noteasytodefinesin,complicatedaslifeitself
weareoftenplacesindifficultsituationswithtempttions.Whileexperimenting
withlife,wegoastray.
Moraldilenquenciesareapartofourhumannature

Wehaveimpulsetoliveourlife,expressfreedom,satisfycravings
**twodevelopmentsofsin
o elementofselfishnessemergesasthecharacterofsinmatures
o inthehigherformsofsin,itassumestheaspectofaconflictbetween
selfishegoandcommongoodofhumanity.Conflictbetweenselfandgod
threeformsofsin
o sensuousness,selfishness,godlessness
sinisessentiallyselflishness
o thesinfulmindistheunsocialandantisocialmind
godisnotonlythespiritualrepresentativeofhumanity;heisidentifiedwithit.He
worksthroughhumanitytorealizehispurposes,oursinsblockhimfromrealizing
himself
jesusboundmanandgodtogether
clearrealizationofnatureofsindependsonaclearvisionofthekingdomofgod.

Transmissionofsin

o Howissintransmittedformgenerationtogeneration?
Linesofcommunicationandcontagionbywhichsinsrun
verticallydownthroughhistory,andhorizontallythroughstrataof
contemporarysociety.
Thekingdomofevil
o Evilsofonegenerationarecausedbythewrongsofthegenerations
before.
o Conceptionofsinisbutfragmentaryunlessweseeallmenintheirnatural
groupsboundtogetherinasolidarityofalltimesandalplaces
o Conceptionofsatanhasplaed,heisatheologicaldevil.
o Beliefinoriginalsiniswaningaswell
Thecombinationofthesetwodoctrinescombinedthehereditary
racialunityofsin,andthesupernaturalpowerofevilbehindall
sinfiulhumanactioncreatedasolidaristicconsciousnessofsin
andevil.
Socialconceptionofthekingdomofevilismodermandgrows
spontaneouslyoutofourlivestinterestsandideas
**thedoctrineoforiginalsinwasmeanttobringusallunderthe
senseofguilt,theologyinthepastshowsusthatweareinsome
sensepartakersofadamsguilt,butconciouseofmankindhasnever
beenconvinced.
o Socialgospelandpersonalsalvation
Chiefinterestisconcentratedonthosemanifstationsofsinand
redemptionwhichliebeyondtheindividualsoul
Salvationoftheindividualisanessentialpartofsalvation

o KingdomofGod
Thisdoctrineisitselfthesocialgospel
Theologylostitscontactwiththesynopticthoughtofjesus
Churchisprimarilyafellowforworship;kingdomfellowshipof
righteousness
Whenkingdomceasedtobedominatingreligiousreality,the
churchmovedupintopositionofthesupremegood.
o SIN
Essentiallyselfishness
Sinisindividualisticweneedtofocusonitasasocialproblem,
socialsin

Chapter1manandsociety
**collectiveegoismishardtocontrol
menhavenotyetlearnedhowtolivetogetherwithoutcompoundingtheirvices
Manisendowedbynaturewithorganicrelationstohisfellowmen;andnatural
impulsepromptshimtoconsidertheneedsofothersevenwhentheycompete
withhisown.
conflictbetweenthenationalunitsremainsasapermanentratherthanapassing
characteristicoftheirrelationstoeachother;andeachnationalunitfindsit
increasinglydifficulttomaintaineitherpeaceorjusticewithinitscommonlife.
Divergenceofinterest,basedupongeographicandfunctionaldifferenceswithina
society,isboundtocreatedifferentsocialphilosophiesandpoliticalattitudes
whichgoodwillandintelligencemaypartly,butnevercompletely,harmonise.
Power,"saidHenryAdams,"ispoison";anditisapoisonwhichblindstheeyes
ofmoralinsightandlamesthewillofmoralpurpose.
Asindividuals,menbelievethattheyoughttoloveandserveeachotherand
establishjusticebetweeneachother.Asracial,economicandnationalgroupsthey
takeforthemselves,whatevertheirpowercancommand.

Chapter5
Classesmaybeformedonthebasisofcommonfunctionsinsociety,buttheydonot
becomesharplydistinguisheduntilfunctionistranslatedintoprivilege.
inequalitiesofsocialprivilegedevelopineverysociety,andthattheseinequalities
becomethebasisofclassdivisionsandclasssolidarity.
inequalitiesofprivilegeareduechieflytodisproportionsofpower,
Themoralattitudesofdominantandprivilegedgroupsarecharacterisedby
universalselfdeceptionandhypocrisy.
ithasalwaysbeenthehabitofprivilegedgroupstodenytheoppressedclasses
everyopportunityforthecultivationofinnatecapacitiesandthentoaccusethem
oflackingwhattheyhavebeendeniedtherighttoacquire.

Themovementsforuniversaleducationandgeneralsuffrageinthenineteenth
centuryofferperfectillustrationofboththelimitsandthepotentialitiesof
growingrationalityandmoralidealismintheequalisationofprivilegeandpower.
Sincewearelivinginaworldinwhichthereistoomuchcapitalforproduction
andtoolittleforconsumption,theargumentthateconomicinequalityisnecessary
fortheaccumulationofcapitalresourceshaslostevenitseconomicvalidity.Yet
itisstillusedbyprivilegedclassestoestablishaspeciousconnectionbetween
virtueorsocialfunctionandprivilege.
everysocietyhasaninstinctivedesireforharmonyandavoidanceofstrife,thisis
averypotentinstrumentofmaintainingtheunjuststatusquo.
heEnglishword"generous"springsfromaLatinroot(generosus),whichreveals
thatgenerositywasalsoregardedasauniquearistocraticvirtue
ThefearofanarchyofAmericanprivilegedgroupsandtheirselfappointmentas
theguardiansofpeaceandorderissignificantonlybecauseitissoclearly
expressedinanationinwhichtheclasseshavenotbecomeasdistinctasinthe
oldernations.
Evenwhennoanarchyisthreatenedandnoviolenceisusedbytheclasseswhich
seekamoreequalshareintheprocessesofgovernmentandintheprivilegesof
society,itisalwayspossiblefortheprivilegedgroupstopredictanarchyonthe
scorethattheambitiousandadvancingclassesareunfitfortheexerciseofthe
rightswhichtheydesire

3/24/14
o catholicmoraltheology
Aquinasfourlevelsoflaw(eternal,natural,biblical,human)
Generalprinciples(dogoodandavoidevil)arecommontoall
people
Movingtomoreparticularsitatuions,mayhavevaritation,and
greaterchanceforhumansto
Preservecustoms
Corrupthabits
Naturallow
Doesntchange,unlessyouaregod
Youcanneverremoveaparticularprinciplefromthe
naturallaw
Wealwayshavethecapacitytodiscover
Naturallawandtruth
Catholicmoraltheologyassertsthatnaturallaw,as
participationofhumansintheeternallaw,isuniversally
true
Problemoffreedominmodernity

IntroSPOHN
o WhatdoesjesushavetodowithChristianstoday?Everythingornotmuch
Everythinghumanssinsomuchtheycantachievemoralinsight
ontheirown
Mustgotojesusinordertofindoutwhattodoorbecome
Notmuchromancatholics
Humannaturehasnotfallenintodarkness
o Hethinksjesusisnottheexclusiverevelationofgod
o Virtueethicsprovidesthemostcomprehensiveaccountofmoral
experienceandthatitstandsclosertotheissuesofmorallife
o ****dispostitiontoact,desire,andfeelthatinvolvesjudgementand
leadstoarecognizablehumanexcellence,andinstanceofhuman
flourishing.
Disposition,judgenent,humanexcellence,humanflourishing
o Virtuesandvicesarecultivatedwithinthecontextofparticular
communities
o Narrativestructureofcommunity
Pastalwayspresentandorientedtothefuture(thinktradition)
Particularpracticesthathelptocultivatevirtuousdisposition
Spohnplacesemphasisonnarrativeandspiritualpractices
o Individualflourishingcannotbedisembeddedfromsocialflourishing
o Commonfeaturesofvirtuetheories
Focusoncharacter,whichwhengood,canproducesoundmoral
judgement
Virtuesleadtoflourishing*******
o Somecontemporaryvirtuetheoristschalendsthenecessaryrelationship
betweenvirtueandhumanflourishing
Burdenvirtues,virtuesthatareormustbeenactedbutdonotlead
toflourishing
Anger
o Catholicmoraltheologyandvirtueethics
Emphasizesthenaturallaw**asprimarymoraltheory**
Scriptureandthelifeofjesusisrarelyemphasized
Spohnchallengestheseassumptionsandclaimsthatjesisisthe
paradigmforchristianmorallife
o Narrativesinnewtestamentprovidesuswithguidance,anidentity,right
perception
CHAPTER4
o Perceptionistheabilitytonoticethemorallyrelevantfeaturesofa
situationandthereadinesstorespondappropriately
o Whatweperceivedependsonthesortofcharacterwehave
o PerceptionisthefirstaspectofmroalpsychologytoconsiderIrelationto

o
o
o
o

o
o
o

o
o
o
o
o
o

jesus
HistoryofIsraelreachedclimaticmomentgodmakingdefinitivemove
thatrequiresrepentance(reversalofmindandheart)
PeopleofIsraelbeingsummonedtojudgementandgrace
Wheregodreigns,adifferentwayoflifebecomespossibleforthosewho
noticewhatisgoingon
Inordertounderstand,onemustconsider:
Whathesaidwashappening
Compassionasthevirtuethatseesothersinthewaythatgoddoes
Howcontemporaryvirtueethicshelpsunpackwhatthis
compassionatevisioninvolves
Christianlifebeginswithgraciousapproachofgod,nothumaninitiative
Israelwashopingthatgodwouldcomeandstraigtenoutthisworkd
Theannouncementofthereignofgodgeneratesresistance,central
feautyreofgospelparadigm.Whycouldsomepeopleseegodspresencein
jesuswordsandactionswhileotherssawthepowerofevilinone?
**perceivinggodsactionrequiresawillingnesstobeaffectedbywhat
onesees,andinitialdispositiontorespondfavoroablytowhatisgoodand
true
invitingthosewhohaveearstohear,readinesstoperceive
Earlychristiancommunitiesthewordsadnactionsofjesusgiveconsent
togodsreign
Thefinalbattleisjoinedwiththetrueforcesofevil
Lukeemphasizesthegodsreignwillbesociallytransforming.
Imaginationevokesempathy
***makingasamaratintheherobringsadialectaledgetothecommand
togoanddolikewise

4/2/14
Poverty

Poverty,asalackofthegoodsofthisworldnecessarytoliveworthilyasmen,is
initselfevil.
Spiritualpovertyistheattitudeofopeninguptogod,thereadydispositionofone
whohopesforeverythingfromthelord.
Apoorchurch:denouncestheunjustlackofthisworldsgoodsandthesinthat
begetsitPreachesandlivesinspiritualpoverty,asanattitudeofspiritual
childhhodandopennessofthelordIsherselfbounctomaterialpoverty
Thepovertyofthechurchisaconstantfactorinthehistoryofsalvation.
Allmembersofthechurcharecalledtoliveinevangelicalpoverty,theyallhave
aspecialmssiontovitnesswithinthechurch,therewillbedifferencesaccording
topersonalcharisms
Christbeingrichhebecamepoor,heliveinpoverty.Hismissioncenteredon

advisingthepooroftheirliberationandhefoundedhischurchasthesignofthe
povertyamongmen.
Sin

EuropenvsLatinAmericanculturalsituations(verydifferent)
InEuropeendlesstalkaboutthesincrisis,sometimesthereisdenialthatsin
exists,victimsofthisdeathmaybeignoredasbotbelongingtothisworld
InLatinAmerica,vastmajorityarevictims,oppressionofhumansexistsonsuch
alargescale
o Unnecessarysufferingcausedbyhumanresponsibilityandwrongdoing
**DangerinLatinAmericaoverlocalizingofsin,localizingittoopartially
***DangerinEuropeblindnesstoresponsibility
Humanbeingsaresinners
Sinisnotamatterofweakness,butoflyingandblindness
Stresswasonhumanexperienceofweaknessanddividedness
Definitionofsin:oppressingthetruththroughinjustice
o 2waysofbeinghuman
o godsangerisrevealedtowardtheoneandtheothersareinexcusable
o theevilofthepaganofbeinghumanliesinoppressingtruththrough
injustice
o evilinthejewishwayofbeinghumanliesinjudgingtheotherwhile
beingthesameashim
thereligiouspersonsdestroythetruthoftheirownequalitywith
othersthroughtheinjusticeofonepersoncondemningtheother
Themakingofsin
o Jewsandpagansbehavelikethiswithoutrealizing,buttheyarebth
responsibleforthisunawareness,whichmakesthemsinful
o **forpagansexcuseisthatgoddoesnotexistorisnotconcernedwith
whatbecomesofhumans
o **Forjewsexcuseisthatgodisontheirsidebecausetheysaytheyare
ongodsside,orthatgodcannotfailtocondemnthepagans
o Structuralsinonefeels
LiberationEthics
o Liberatondesireofoppressedpeoplesandsocialclasses,emphasizing
theconflictualaspectofeconomic,social,andpoiticalprocessesthatput
thematoddswithwealthynationsandoppressiveclasses
o Developmentplacesalongsideunderdevelopment,characterize
economiesorpeoplesof2/3world
Doesnotundermineabusivepowerrelationshipsbetweenthoseat
thecenterandthoseattheperioheries
Dependency

 Functiontoreinscribenationalistandracistprejudices
o Catholicsocialteachinganddevelopment
Encyclicalpopulorumprogression(onthedevelopmentofpeoples)
moralissuesinvolvedindevelopment
Addintegralsothatthedevelopmentisnotthoughtofin
economicterms
Emphasizestheconintuingimpactofcolonialismand
dependencyofthepooronthewealthy
o Responsemedellin

OnwearingSkirtsWithoutUnderwear
o Includesmarginsofdiolaguewithoutblankettermswithassumptions
aboutthelifeofthepoor,ofwomeninlatinAmerica
o Teologiaindecenteisapostitivetheologythataimstouncoverfalse
hermeneutics
o Viginmarycanbeportrayedasapoorpeasantmother,poorestwomenin
hercommunityisachildprostituteinthestreets
o Thecommonalitybetweenpostcolonialismandindecenthermeneuticsis
thatwomendonotclaimessentialismandneitherdoesthecolonialsubject
wanttodoso
o Decendy/Indecencyisadialectalpraxisbasedonthefollowing:
Sexisagivennaturalphenonmenon
Godssexualstoryisnormative,hehassexwithyoungmary
withoutrealationship,jesusisconceivedbymaldedesire
o Liberationtheologyfailstoconfrontthequestionsthatwomenareasking
aboutthemalecontrusctedChrist
Wearenotquestioningthemalesavior
Weneedtothinkaboutwhatweareadvocatingwhenweare
advocatingforakingChristwhoismaleastheliberator

Christisapartofthemaletrinity
o IssuesofdomesticviolenceinChristology
o Taskoffeministpostcolonialhermeneuticsissimilartotheobjectivesof
andindecenttheologyofinterpretationbysubverting
o *indecentChristologyistheproductoftheexperienceandreflectionof
poorwomen
o **Christisnotrepresentedasamature,sexuallyactiveman,maryis
supposedtohaveconceivedwithoutorgasm,womenidentifyChristianity
withlovebutnotwithsexuality
o wedontseewomenasincontroloftheirownsexuality
o ***weshouldconsiderwomenasbeingincontroloftheirdesiresand
pleasures,freetoexpressthemselvessexuallywiththeirownbodies
o WhatdoeswomenssexualitytellusaboutChrist?
Theologyfromwomenssexualitywhichcouldenlightenustosee

newmodelsofthoughtandeconomicsystems
o RitualProstitution
Poorwomanwassupportingthetemplethroughthesacrificeofher
body,
Relatestomarxsideathattheworkerthathasnothingtooffer
excepthimself
Theritualprostitutionworkdsbyobscuringoptionsthatwomen
havefromtheeconomicandreligioustimesinwhichtheylive
Mostmenmasturbateeventhoughitisconsideredsinfuldecent
womendonotmasturbate.
ItwouldbemorenaturaltothinkthatChristassumedallthesexual
ptentialsthathumanbeinghaswhenborn,beforebeingmoulded
intostraitjacketsofpatriarchialmanorpatriarchiallydefined
women.
o **Gendercomplementarity
Male||Female
Malemasculine,femalefeminine
Feminism
o FINALPAPER
o Onfeminismandbacklash
Manhating,braburning,uglywomen,lesbianswhowanttobe
men,antifamily
Feminismbadword
Goodgirlsdontswear
o Feminismbroadlydefined
Radicalnotonthatwomenarepeople,thatwomenarewhole
humanbeings,deservingequalequality
Manytypesoffeminists
Liberal(equalrights)
MarxistSocialist(oppressivestructures)
Thirdworldandwomenofcolorfeminists
Separatist(serparatingmen,becauseequalityishopeless
o Patriarchy
lawofthefatherawaytospeakaboutaledominatedsocial
structures
androcentrismmaledeisresareideasaregivengreater
credencethanwomensdesiresandideas
representswholesetofinstitutions,ideologies:
maleauthority,violenceoverwomen
o examples
useofwomensbodiesinadvertisement
womenasaccessible
satisfymaledesire

WomenintheChurch
o Primaryconcernswomenexperience(whatitisandhowtouseit)
o Malenessofgod
o Gendercomplementary
o Violenceagainstwomen
o Controloverreproductionandsecuality
Moreradicalapproaches
o QuestionwhetherChristianitycanebtransformedatal,orwhetherwomenshould
leaveChristianity
o Rejectinclusiveapproachesasignoringunderlingoppressivestructures
Changeincontent,stilloppressivestructure

o Fridayreadingsufferingofwomen
o Patriarchyruleofmaleoverthefemaleviolencebecauseiteffects
womensplaceinsociety
o Violencewithstrongreligiouspeople
o *Patriarchyruleofthefather
maleissuperiorandwomenareinferior,embeddedinstructuresof
humancreation,canbechanged
menviewwomenastheirpossesions
o religion,violence,andpatriarchyareintertwined
relationshipbetweensexualityandviolence
abduction,rape,sadisticpractices
theuseofgodslanguagetodefendoppressionofwomen
trapswomenoffaith
patriarchyandthechristiantradition
relationshipofhusbandandwifeinpatriarchialmairrages
wivestoldtobesubjecttotheirhusbandsastothelord,
sinceChristisheadofthechurch,husbandisheadofhis
wife
wivesaretoldbythebibletoobeytheirhusbands
womenaretoforgivethemaneverytimehehurtsthem,the
abuserisnotheldaccountableforhisactions,thecycle
continues
onewomanssufferingislinkedtothesuffereingsofher
sistersandgraduallysocietyexperiencesoutrage

southAfricansocietyisviolentandthehighlevelof
domesticviolenceagainstwomenisaclearindicationof
thistragedy
thehome,whichshouldbeasafeplace,isaplaceof
danger.

Bioethics
o Concernsissuessurroundinghumanhealthandflourishing,considering
ethical,medical,legalaspects
o Tuskegeesyphilisstudy
19321972,blackmenwerewatchedtoseenaturalprogressionofthe
diseas
o beginningoflifeissues
greatercontroloverbirths,birthcontrol,directsterilizationbecame
prevelant
o humanaevitae
popepaul

environmentaldistruction
o theworldisgodsgift,wearedestroyingthatgift.Chrisitansgetthisideafrom
genesisstories
twoaccountofcreation
Christianethicsandtheenvironment
o Sallymcfague
Ecofeminist,newwaystocombatclimatechange
Genesis1
Imageofgod,dominion,subdue
Life,liberty,andthepursuitofhappiness
Anthropologyselfishconsumers,denyingthatweare
interdependentononeanother,howwearerelatedtoothers
doesnotmatter
Thisisjustthewayhumanityis
Wehavetohaveanewinterpretationofanthropology
Inherarticleshepresentsissues
Fateoftheoppressedandthefateoftheeartharelinked
Linkbetweenoppressionandenvironmentaldegredation
o Dichotomiesmale/female,white/black
o Womensbodiesarelinkedtothismistreatmentof
theenvironment
o Puertorico
o AmazoncontaminationbychevronTexaco

Ecologicalanthroplpgy
o Educateandearthlytheologicalagenda
o