Full Text Available
Note: Clicking the button above will open the full text document at the original institutional repository in a new window.
The kindness of God? a critical analysis of Janet Soskice’s metaphorical theology
Thesis (MTh)--Stellenbosch University, 2024.
Saved in:
| Main Author: | |
|---|---|
| Other Authors: | |
| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | en_ZA |
| Published: |
Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
2025
|
| Subjects: | |
| Tags: |
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1867613911569661952 |
|---|---|
| access_status_str | Open Access |
| author | Erasmus, Antoinette |
| author2 | Marais, Nadia |
| author_browse | Erasmus, Antoinette Marais, Nadia |
| author_facet | Marais, Nadia Erasmus, Antoinette |
| author_sort | Erasmus, Antoinette |
| collection | Thesis |
| dc_rights_str_mv | Stellenbosch University |
| description | Thesis (MTh)--Stellenbosch University, 2024. |
| format | Thesis |
| id | oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/131653 |
| institution | Stellenbosch University (South Africa) |
| language | en_ZA |
| last_indexed | 2026-06-10T12:43:40.048Z |
| license_str | Other — see source repository |
| provenance_str_mv | Harvested via OAI-PMH from SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository |
| publishDate | 2025 |
| publishDateRange | 2025 |
| publishDateSort | 2025 |
| publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| publisherStr | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| record_format | dspace |
| source_str | SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository |
| spelling | oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/131653 The kindness of God? a critical analysis of Janet Soskice’s metaphorical theology Erasmus, Antoinette Marais, Nadia Claassens, Juliana Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Theology. Dept. of Systematic Theology & Ecclesiology. Feminist theology Women -- Religious aspects -- Christianity Women and religion Metaphor in the Bible Metaphor -- Religious aspects -- Christianity UCTD Thesis (MTh)--Stellenbosch University, 2024. ENGLISH SUMMARY: Feminist, womanist, and African women theologians have made significant progress in the field of Christian theology by challenging the androcentric metaphors that have perpetuated the belief that God is male. This understanding has contributed to the perception of male superiority and the notion that men should hold positions of authority in social, religious, and family structures. Consequently, this has not only led to physical abuse of women but also emotional mistreatment. Through a critical analysis of metaphors and models, this thesis explores Janet M. Soskice’s metaphorical theology to provide clarity regarding the metaphors used by theists to describe the indescribable nature of God. These metaphors often depict God as a father, warrior, king, and other androcentric representations. The habitual use of maledominant metaphors has transformed them into dead metaphors that are no longer recognised as figurative language but rather seen as literal truths about God. These metaphors have become deeply ingrained in the Christian religious language. However, Soskice’s second book on metaphors, The kindness of God, offers guidance to theists in understanding the kinship metaphors that present God not only as a father but also as a mother, brother, sister, and friend. This alteration not only affects our understanding of the incomprehensible divine being but also our connection with it. These metaphors introduce new living metaphors, that can bridge the gap between metaphor and reality. AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Feministiese, womanistiese, en Afrika-vroueteoloe het aansienlike vordering gemaak op die gebied van Christelike teologie deur die androsentriese metafore uit te daag wat die oortuiging dat God manlik is, laat voortbestaan het. Hierdie begrip het bygedra tot die persepsie van manlike meerderwaardigheid en die idee dat mans gesagsposisies in sosiale, godsdienstige en gesinstrukture moet beklee. Gevolglik het dit nie net gelei tot fisiese mishandeling van vroue nie, maar ook emosionele mishandeling. Deur 'n kritiese ontleding van metafore en modelle, ondersoek hierdie tesis Janet M. Soskice se metaforiese teologie om duidelikheid te bied oor die metafore wat teiste gebruik om die onbeskryflike aard van God te beskryf. Hierdie metafore beeld God dikwels uit as 'n vader, kryger, koning en ander androsentriese voorstellings. Die herhaaldelike gebruik van manlik-gedomineerde metafore het hulle omskep in dooie metafore wat nie meer as figuurlike taal erken word nie, maar eerder as letterlike waarhede oor God gevestig het. Hierdie metafore is diep ingeburger in die Christelike taalgebruik. Soskice se tweede boek oor metafore, The kindness of God, bied egter leiding aan teiste om die kinshipmetafore te verstaan wat God nie net as 'n vader uitbeeld nie, maar ook as 'n moeder, broer, suster en vriend. Hierdie verandering beïnvloed nie net ons begrip van die onbegryplike goddelike wese nie, maar ook hoe ons daarmee verbind is. Hierdie metafore stel nuwe lewende metafore bekend wat die gaping tussen metafoor en werklikheid kan oorbrug. Masters 2025-02-04T06:34:46Z 2025-02-04T06:34:46Z 2024-12 Thesis https://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/131653 en_ZA Stellenbosch University viii, 138 pages application/pdf Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| spellingShingle | Feminist theology Women -- Religious aspects -- Christianity Women and religion Metaphor in the Bible Metaphor -- Religious aspects -- Christianity UCTD Erasmus, Antoinette The kindness of God? a critical analysis of Janet Soskice’s metaphorical theology |
| title | The kindness of God? a critical analysis of Janet Soskice’s metaphorical theology |
| title_full | The kindness of God? a critical analysis of Janet Soskice’s metaphorical theology |
| title_fullStr | The kindness of God? a critical analysis of Janet Soskice’s metaphorical theology |
| title_full_unstemmed | The kindness of God? a critical analysis of Janet Soskice’s metaphorical theology |
| title_short | The kindness of God? a critical analysis of Janet Soskice’s metaphorical theology |
| title_sort | kindness of god a critical analysis of janet soskice s metaphorical theology |
| topic | Feminist theology Women -- Religious aspects -- Christianity Women and religion Metaphor in the Bible Metaphor -- Religious aspects -- Christianity UCTD |
| url | https://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/131653 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT erasmusantoinette thekindnessofgodacriticalanalysisofjanetsoskicesmetaphoricaltheology AT erasmusantoinette kindnessofgodacriticalanalysisofjanetsoskicesmetaphoricaltheology |