Tension and Transformation
Asynchronous Session
Fragility and Vulnerability in Feminist and Womanist Christian Theology: Unresolved Tensions and a Way Forward
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Mary Marcel
There has been an extensive project by women Christian theologians, both White (“feminist”) and Black (“womanist”), to recuperate and valorize the stories of women and children, slaves and others in vulnerable positions relative to Biblical power structures. In some accounts this theme calls out Old Testament “texts of terror,” as first developed by feminist theologian Phyllis Trible. In other cases, particularly in womanist texts, there is a recuperation of the relationship with Jesus as well as with stories Biblical women and Black women’s own experiences of suffering and redemption. This paper re-frames the reality of fragility and vulnerability through an examination of how Christian theology institutionalizes them as part of its salvithic grounding. Starting with the expulsion from Eden, we trace pivotal moments when God chooses how to handle His own power relative to the weaknesses of His people. We then explore this concept through the lens of current manifestations of Christian ideologies in political discourses which have a disproportionately negative impact on women, children, and others falling into the Girardian-defined categories of expendable people, or scapegoats. It becomes clear that the never-resolved tension between the powerful and the vulnerable in Christian theology now threatens to undermine the entire Christian project. The paper then explores other pathways for the more powerful to relate to the less powerful. Vulnerability and fragility are inherent to the human condition. As religious and spiritual thought evolves, we are called to embody new and less destructive ways of handling differences in human power.
Featured A Consideration on the Truth of Origin in Tenrikyo and the Origin of Human Beings in Science
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Jessica Diniz
Human existence is not a mere coincidence but holds profound intention and meaning. By exploring God's role in our lives, I hope to find insights into the purpose of our own existence. Additionally, I seek to understand the differences between the teachings of Tenrikyo and Darwin's theory of evolution. Evolutionary theory, one of the most widely accepted scientific explanations for the origin of species, describes the processes of natural selection and genetic variation as mechanisms through which life evolves and adapts over time. In contrast, Tenrikyo teaches that the origin of this world began in a muddy ocean from which humans were created. According to Tenrikyo, this creation occurred entirely through the thoughts and workings of God the Parent. While evolution and the teachings of Tenrikyo fundamentally differ, comparing the two can lead to a deeper understanding of the essence of life. I am particularly driven to investigate the similarities and unique features between the "Truth of Origin" and the processes described in evolutionary theory. For example, while both address the changes in life over time, evolutionary theory primarily explains biological diversity from a scientific perspective, whereas Tenrikyo emphasizes God's intentions and purposes. Understanding our origins is crucial because it helps us comprehend who we are, where we come from, why we exist, and how we connect with the world.This understanding significantly influences our worldview, beliefs, and interactions with others and the environment. By understanding our origins, I believe we can better understand ourselves and build stronger relationships with others.
Comb, Vulnerability, and Spirituality: An Indonesian-Torajan Perspective
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Christanto Sema Rappan Paledung
This study revisits the idea of tonaria tangkean suru’ (human being carried by a comb) in understanding Toraja’s primal religion from the perspective of the theology of vulnerability. The comb in the Torajan worldview illustrates that the universe was created orderly and well-combed. The world order relates to the interaction between deities and humans and between humans and other creatures. However, humans have the potential to disrupt the order. Consequently, the Torajans understand themselves as beings carried by combs. In this context, the comb represents a sacrificial animal that must be slain when humans disrupt the order. Contemporary Christian Torajans interpret this idea only as a sacrificial animal. Therefore, I will revisit the idea from the theology of vulnerability coined by Judith Butler as a theoretical lens. Using the tools of constructive theology, I construct a theological imagination that utilizes these sources as its main material. The main argument is that the carrying comb, as an anthropological fact of the Torajan, shows its vulnerability as a creation. This fact theologically emphasizes the spirituality of the Torajans as beings responsible for caring for their relationships with fellow humans, God, and the other of creation.
