A History of Christian Theology Episode 178: Episode 178: Abigail Favale- "The Genesis of Gender"
May 6, 2025
Join Abigail Favale, a professor at the McGrath Institute for Church Life and author of 'The Genesis of Gender,' as she dives into the complexities of gender from a Christian perspective. She explores the philosophical and theological dimensions of gender issues, contrasting biblical narratives with wider historical texts. Favale shares insights from her personal journey in grappling with identity and faith, while also discussing the profound impacts of contraception on societal views of gender roles. It's a thought-provoking conversation you won't want to miss!
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Genesis vs Enuma Elish on Gender
- Genesis creation narrative contrasts the Babylonian Enuma Elish myth, emphasizing goodness in sexual difference.
- Unlike Enuma Elish which depicts conflict between sexes as cosmic, Genesis affirms sexual differentiation as inherent good, disrupted only by the Fall.
Clarifying Sex Versus Gender
- The term gender is highly ambiguous today with multiple conflicting meanings.
- Favale prefers "sexual difference" to emphasize biological realities rather than cultural or subjective constructs.
Favale's Personal Journey
- Abigail Favale shares her journey from secular feminist theory back to Catholicism and Augustine.
- This personal path shaped her scholarly approach, blending storytelling with theology and philosophy.
