Am I my body? : a critical analysis of Elisabeth Moltmann-Wendel's theological anthropology

Date
2019-12
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
Abstract
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study’s goal of constructing a meaningful theological language that can speak to the experiences of people, especially women, who face reproductive health issues. The point of departure for this study is to situate the research within the broader field of Theological Anthropology with a specific focus on Body Theology. This departure point asks the question of how ‘body’ was portrayed in classic Theological Anthropology as well as in the work of more contemporary anthropological scholars. Necessary for this departure is also the interrelation between Theological Anthropology and Gender and very importantly how Theological Anthropology relates to Body Theology. Body Theology places the ‘body’ central and emphasises the importance of embodiment over disembodiment. This study moreover offers an in-depth discussion on the theological work of Elisabeth Moltmann-Wendel, how her work fits into the field of Theological Anthropology and how she portrays the body in the anthropological tension of ‘having’ and ‘being’ a body. For Moltmann-Wendel the body plays a crucial role in the life and ministry of Jesus. She therefore argues for a Theology of Embodiment in her book, ‘I am My Body’. This book forms an important part of this study. A critical analysis of ‘I am My Body’ will be integral in asking the question if the work of Moltmann-Wendel can contribute to life-giving, affirming and liberative theological language that can be utilised in discussions surrounding reproductive health.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie studie het die doel om betekenisvolle teologiese taal na te vors wat op ‘n sinvolle manier kan bydra tot mense, en veral vroue se ervarings wanneer dit kom by dilemmas van voortplantingsgesondheid. Die plek waar hierdie studie begin is deur die navorsing the plaas binne die groter konteks van Teologiese Antropologie met ‘n spesifieke fokus op Liggaamsteologie. Hierdie beginpunt vra ook egter die vraag oor hoe ‘liggaam’ in die klassieke Teologiese Antropologie weergegee was asook in huidige meer kontemporêre antropologiese teoloë se werk. Wat egter nodig is vir hierdie gedeelte van die studie is hoe Teologiese Antropologie en gender met mekaar verband hou asook hoe Toelogiese Antropologie in verhouding is met Liggaamsteologie. Liggaamsteologie beklemtoon die rol van die ‘liggaam’ asook hoe noodsaaklikheid dit is om liggaamlikeid te kies oor die losmaking van ons liggame wanneer teologie “gedoen” word. Hierdie studie bied ook ‘n diepte bespreking van die teologiese werk van Elisabeth Moltmann-Wendel aan, hoe haar werk in die veld van Teologiese Antropologie inpas en hoe sy ‘liggaam’ en ‘liggaamlikheid’ uitbeeld in die antropologiese spanning; is ons, ons liggame of het ons, ons liggame? Die liggaam speel ‘n baie belagnrike rol in die lewe en bediening van Jesus volgens Moltmann-Wendel en dit is daarom dat sy vir teologie van Liggaamlikheid vra in haar boek, ‘I am My Body’. Hierdie boek vorm ‘n belagnrike deel van hierdie navorsingstudie. ‘n Kritiese analise van die boek se doel is om te vas te stel of Elisabeth Moltmann-Wendel se teologiese werk ‘n bydrae maak in die gee van lewegewende en bevrydende teologiese taal wat gebruik kan word in die besprekings rondom voortplantingsgesondheid.
Description
Thesis (MTh)--Stellenbosch University, 2019.
Keywords
Moltmann-Wendel, Elisabeth, Human body -- Religious aspects -- Christianity, Feminist theology, UCTD
Citation