Universität Wien

020047 UE Optional Modul: Gender in religious, ethical or cultural context (2024W)

Gender, Sexuality, and Theology: Intro to Queer Theology

5.00 ECTS (2.00 SWS), SPL 2 - Evangelische Theologie
Continuous assessment of course work
Moodle
Mo 11.11. 11:30-13:00 Hörsaal 3 Schenkenstraße 8-10 6.OG

Registration/Deregistration

Note: The time of your registration within the registration period has no effect on the allocation of places (no first come, first served).
Register/Deregister for this course

Details

max. 15 participants
Language: English

Lecturers

Classes (iCal) - next class is marked with N

  • Monday 07.10. 11:30 - 13:00 Hörsaal 3 Schenkenstraße 8-10 6.OG
  • Monday 14.10. 11:30 - 13:00 Hörsaal 3 Schenkenstraße 8-10 6.OG
  • Monday 21.10. 11:30 - 13:00 Hörsaal 3 Schenkenstraße 8-10 6.OG
  • Monday 28.10. 11:30 - 13:00 Hörsaal 3 Schenkenstraße 8-10 6.OG
  • Monday 04.11. 11:30 - 13:00 Hörsaal 3 Schenkenstraße 8-10 6.OG
  • Monday 18.11. 11:30 - 13:00 Hörsaal 3 Schenkenstraße 8-10 6.OG
  • Monday 25.11. 11:30 - 13:00 Hörsaal 3 Schenkenstraße 8-10 6.OG
  • Monday 02.12. 11:30 - 13:00 Hörsaal 3 Schenkenstraße 8-10 6.OG
  • Monday 09.12. 11:30 - 13:00 Hörsaal 3 Schenkenstraße 8-10 6.OG
  • Monday 16.12. 11:30 - 13:00 Hörsaal 3 Schenkenstraße 8-10 6.OG
  • Monday 13.01. 11:30 - 13:00 Hörsaal 3 Schenkenstraße 8-10 6.OG
  • Monday 20.01. 11:30 - 13:00 Hörsaal 3 Schenkenstraße 8-10 6.OG
  • Monday 27.01. 11:30 - 13:00 Hörsaal 3 Schenkenstraße 8-10 6.OG

Information

Aims, contents and method of the course

This course covers the historical and theological development of queer theology and invites students to become active participants in the field as it continues to evolve. Some guiding questions the course will explore are: What is queer theology? Where did it come from? Who can do queer theology? Who is queer theology for? Why is queer theology necessary for theology in general? Accordingly the course will follow the development of queer theology by first examining the works of two of the primary theorists of queer theory: Michel Foucault and Judith Butler. Because queer theory draws heavily from feminism, the course will then explore key texts and figures of both feminist and womanist theology, such as Elizabeth Johnson and Delores Williams. Finally we turn to two of the founding figures of queer theology in the English-speaking world, Patrick Cheng and Marcella Althaus-Reid.

Course Objectives:
- Describe the historical development of queer theology (factual knowledge)
- Interpret contemporary developments in theological and philosophical thinking on gender, sexuality, and their role in theology (comprehension)
- Evaluate different interpretations and positions and their theological, philosophical, and ethical consequences (including giving argumentation) (evaluation)
- Relate the developments of queer theology to other systematic-theological topics, like theological anthropology, creation, justification, and salvation (analysis)
- Use the insights and method of queer theology to respond to a problem facing their community and/or a community they seek to be in solidarity with (application)

Assessment and permitted materials

Assignments must be written in English. The criteria for assessment are as follows:
Partial Performance 1 (active participation in class): 25 points
Partial performance 2 (weekly reflection paper not exceeding 500 words): 25 points
Partial performance 3 (seminar paper not exceeding 15 pages): 50 points

The students must write a reflection paper (max. 500 words) before every session that (I)
provides a brief summary of the text they have read and (II) asks two critical questions in
preparation for each session. Reflection papers must be turned in weekly before the session on
Moodle by 12pm the day before class. Finally, students will write a paper based on one or more of the
topics discussed in the course. This paper should be 10 - 12 pages in length (1,5 spacing,
excluding bibliography). (50%)

The reflections papers must be submitted the day before each session by noon (12pm) on
Moodle.

Minimum requirements and assessment criteria

Students are expected to be present at each session, however on the third (3) absence they will be unable to complete the course except in special circumstances and with a prior agreement with the instructor. Once more the assessment is as follows:
Partial Performance 1 (active participation in class -- no more than 2 absences): 25 points
Partial performance 2 (weekly reflection paper not exceeding 500 words): 25 points
Partial performance 3 (seminar paper not exceeding 15 pages): 50 points

Examination topics

The students must write a reflection paper (max. 500 words) before every session that (I)
provides a brief summary of the text they have read and (II) asks two critical questions in
preparation for each session. Reflection papers must be turned in weekly before the session on
Moodle by 12pm the day before class. Finally, students will write a paper based on one or more of the
topics discussed in the course. This paper should be 10 - 12 pages in length (1,5 spacing,
excluding bibliography). (50%)

Reading list

Althaus-Reid, Marcella. The Queer God: Sexuality and Liberation Theology. London; New York: Routledge, 2003.

Butler, Judith. Gender Trouble: Feminism and the Subversion of Identity. Routledge Classics. New York: Routledge, 2007.

Cheng, Patrick. Radical Love: An Introduction to Queer Theology. New York: Seabury Books, 2011.

Johnson, Elizabeth A. “Female Symbols for God: The Apophatic Tradition and Social Justice.” In International Journal of Orthodox Theology, 1:2 (2010).

Association in the course directory

Last modified: Tu 03.09.2024 16:25