The Metaphor of God as Woman: A Critical Feminist Hermeneutic Based on the Gospel of Luke 15:8–10

God's Metaphor as a Woman: Critical Feminist Hermeneutics Based on the Gospel of Luke 15:8-10

Abstract

Within Christianity, it is common—indeed often normative—to refer to or portray God as Father. This is understandable, given that the Bible contains numerous such depictions, and Jesus Himself frequently addressed God as Father. Nevertheless, the biblical witness also presents a wide range of metaphors and images for God. Despite this diversity, both everyday religious discourse and official ecclesial doctrine rarely provide space for speaking about God as a female figure. This occurs even though the Bible contains many narratives that highlight the roles of women and portray God through feminine imagery. Consequently, the Bible is often interpreted through an androcentric lens, which marginalizes women and restricts their freedom. This study asks: What is the meaning of the metaphor of God as a woman in Luke 15:8–10? How can the metaphor of God as a woman contribute to efforts to realize gender equality within the Church and society? Accordingly, the objectives of this research are: (1) to describe the meaning of the metaphor of God as a woman in Luke 15:8–10; and (2) to examine how this metaphor contributes to the pursuit of gender equality in the Church and in society. The research employs a feminist hermene  / utical method as introduced by Elisabeth Schüssler Fiorenza.