God in Context: A Comparative Study of the Images of God in Three Select Local Christian Groups of Women By

This thesis, grounded in a select group ofwomen's experience, critiques the exclusive images for God presented by the Church in its language and liturgy. My contention in this thesis is that in an emerging democracy such as South Africa, the metaphors and language used are increasingly restrictive- interms ofboth the empowerment ofwomen and the enrichment of men. I look at how feminist scholarship has focussed on the implications of patriarchy for women and the claim by feminist theologians that the ensuing symbols have been damaging for women The analysis includes means to recover traditional images for God and suggestions ofways to discover alternative images. Following the feminist analysis, I argue for a hermeneutic which locates the meaning ofthe tradition within the experience ofthree local, select groups ofwomen. Declaration This thesis is original work by Judith Mary Buller Thurlow and has not been submitted in any fonn to any other university. Where use was made ofthe work ofothers it has been acknowledged in the text. Acknowledgements I would like to thank the following people for their help and support: Professor Gerald West (my supervisor