Feminist and Queer Theologies

Feminist and Queer Theologies

An important focus of the Centre are feminist and queer theologies, which have, obviously, as their central concern the liberation of particular women and particular forms of sexuality from any kind of oppression. Indeed, according to feminist and queer theologians, the perspective of sexuality is an insurmountable factor in our thinking and acting. Apparent micro-factor such as ‘body’ and ‘gender’ have macro-political and –theological effects. An important representative of queer theology, and host of our Centre in 2008, is Marcella Althaus-Reid (1952-2009). She defines: “Queer theory has three characteristics: the emphasis on the construction of sexuality, the element of plurality which needs to be present in any reflection and the idea of ambivalence or the fluidity of sexual identities,” (Althaus-Reid and Isherwood, 2007: 307) [1] Althaus-Reid and her colleague Lisa Isherwood write in a manifesto article on queer thinking. Regarding queer theology, they add a “passion for the marginalized” as a fourth feature.

In cooperation with the Centre for Women Studies Theology (site), the Centre for Liberation Theology regularly invites thinkers to speak about feminist and queer theological issues.