Women's Subjectivity in the Prayer-Poetry of Dorothee Sölle
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Gendering Liberation: “Deprivatising” Women’s Subjectivity in the Prayer-Poetry of Dorothee Sölle By Katja Lisa Elena Neumann 2014 A thesis submitted to the University of Stirling for examination for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the Field of Religious Studies. Division of Languages and Literatures in the School of Arts and Humanities. This thesis has been redacted for copyright reasons Abstract This study investigates the artistic expressions of women‘s subjectivity in the prayer-poetry of Dorothee Sölle (1929-2003). My aim is to develop a critical introduction of Sölle‘s poetry, in light of her theology and in conversation with literary theory, contextualising the reception of her work and the role of reception in subjectivity as these converge in her prayerful hermeneutic. In what I come to call ―liturgical reception‖, I provide a perspective on Sölle‘s work on the basis of translations for an English speaking context. I draw on contemporary thought, ranging from feminism and liberation theology to hermeneutics, literary theory and philosophy, to shape the contour and scope of Sölle‘s work. Addressing feminist debates that consider the role of gendered subjectivity in relation to pervasive hetero-normative structures, I facilitate Mary Gerhart‘s notion of the ―genric‖ and Luce Irigaray‘s work on the ―sexuate‖ to clarify the issues arising in Sölle‘s poetry in the context of language and literature, as well as classic formulations of God and the Church. Thinking through gendered subjectivity allows liberation to emerge as a poetic process that opens up personal prayer for the wider community. In light of Sölle‘s early comments on ―Deprivatised Prayer‖ [1971], I argue for a theopoetic conception of prayer which takes the Death of God not as an end point, but as a starting point for a consciously critical negotiation of gendered faith identity in community. The conditions of the Death of God, to Sölle a sign for the loss of immediacy in the sense of naïveté (Ricoeur) – and therefore a loss of unproblematic intimacy – require prayer to take into account its gendered situation, since prayer is never not embodied. Sölle‘s portrayals of woman-lover, mother and artist both rely upon and differentiate the relationship between emancipation and solidarity that I see addressed by liberation hermeneutics as the work of co-creation. Thus emerges a theopoetic vision that does not dissolve gender difference in favour of a ―general‖ salvation, but offers a critique of the process of liberation itself tied into our gendered engagements with a theological reception of women at prayer. To my nieces, Alicia and Amelie Louise, who had to learn too quickly that ‘ ’ (Sölle, VL59) Acknowledgments In spite of all those named in acknowledgement of support, encouragement and teaching, writing this thesis has been exceptionally lonely. Whenever I am not with the poetry, I am missing the company of a woman I never met in person: Dorothee Sölle. She wrote ‗ ‘ (VL66, ll.41-43). And so the labour of this thesis has been tied to a genealogy of women who have taught and guided me in my religious education and practice and who have changed my life in significant ways: Dr Alison Jasper, Sieglinde Jung-Keil, Beate Hille and my mother, Käthe Neumann. That the work is done, finally, is due to the scholars, friends and family who have endured my bouts of insecurity, my fits of anger and frustration most patiently, and they have remained the same throughout most of my degree-paths. Dr Andrew Hass, Dr Alison Jasper and Prof Richard Roberts – each in their own unique ways – have helped me along nine years of student-life with their teaching, questioning and sincere attention – to personal and editorial matters. That they still smile when they see me is truly a gift. The ―diaspora‖ of postgraduate students in the division – Chloe Erdmann, Paige Medlock Johnson and Dr Rajalakshmi Nadadur-Kannan – have been an inspiration. Meghan McAvoy lived with my idiosyncracies for long years, and I‘ve learned much from her about myself, and Scotland. Katherine Buchanan and Michael McCabe have caught my back in cold and harsh times – with a warm and cheerful presence. Michael‘s knowledge of mythology has informed much of my initial readings, while Katherine helped me explore a distinctly more ecumenical side of Christianity. Together with Sara Robinson, Dr Anne Dance – whom I also thank for reading and commenting on my drafts – and Dr Lucinda Dean, they ―adopted‖ me into the lively circle of History postgraduates. They all hold a special place in my heart for their supportive and enduring friendships! Scholars further afield have left their mark on my assessment of material as well as my assessment of my career path. The editor of <www.dorotheesoelle.de>, Hinrich Kley-Olsen, who provided the contact to other Sölle-enthusiasts as well as suggesting to get in touch with Prof Baltz-Otto, has been instrumental in my initial period of research. For her kind emails I thank Prof Dr Ursula Baltz-Otto; For agreeing to speak to me over the phone at a stage where things were still incredibly fluid thanks go to Prof Dr Fulbert Steffensky; Prof Dr Ulrike Wagner-Rau patiently sat through my broken German and provided the connection to speak to Prof Dr Peter Cornehl, both of whom I thank for a critical discussion and encouraging feedback. Equally I wish to acknowledge Dr Alison Jack who spent a long train journey from London to Stirling with me discussing academic work, and Prof David Jasper who willingly read and discussed some of the most personal portions of my thesis. My gratitude also goes to the various libraries I sought out over the course of research – Aberdeen University Library (whose staff were kind enough to remote- renew my texts when I was in timing difficulties), Edinburgh University Library, Glasgow University Library, the National Library of Scotland, Justus-Liebig- Universität Gießen, Philipps-Universität Marburg and of course our own Stirling University Library. Next to the much needed Document Delivery Services, the Portering staff at Stirling University Library deserve special mention: they have paid close attention (not just to the amount of books I would cart about), but to my general well-being, my moods and worries. On these grounds an institution may yet feel like a home. And I have been fortunate to say I have more than one such home. Logie Kirk has become an incredible source of support, sharing in my joys and sorrows, especially through people such as Helen and Frances, and the choir, who have patiently awaited the ―good news‖ of my handing-in, and who helped me through various moves, emotionally and practically. Here I especially thank Roy Anderson, Peter Stewart, Nora Gardener, Christine McGavin, John Logan, Rev Stuart Fulton and Alasdair Smith. Thanks also to the lively services at Logie which opened my eyes to the meaning of participation in liturgy. I feel privileged in having grown with this community and their generous hospitality has informed much of my present perspective of my work. Special thanks goes out to Rev Stuart Fulton, Rev Sally Foster-Fulton, Sarah-Grace Fulton, and Alex Fulton who have welcomed me into their family, fed and on occasion shoe-ed me, and who have kept an open ear for the rhythms of my work I would not recognise. Thanks also to Rev Anne Shearer, and Rev Irene Gillespie who shared their insights and their care. I‘m proud to call all of you my friends. Thanks to the publishers Wolfgang Fietkau and W. Abrams, as well as the Barbara Hepworth Estate for the permission to reproduce Sölle‘s poetry, and the respective images illustrating them in this thesis. I also thank the Evangelisches Kirchenamt for supplying me with material explaining the Perikopenordnung of the Lutheran Church. I gratefully acknowledge the funding received from the Arts and Humanities Research Council which supported me not only through most of my PhD, but also my Master‘s studies. Without this, I would have taken a very different path in life. I also thank the DAAD (German Academic Exchange) programme for their funding of my research visit to Philipps Universität Marburg, under the care of Prof Ulrike Wagner-Rau. Alongside occasional labour undertaken towards the end of studies, I thank the generosity of friends and family for keeping me afloat during some very stressful times closer to submission. I hope one day I can return the kindness. In one poem Sölle writes: ‗ ‘ (VL69, ll.17-19). I recognise this thankfulness most vividly with my nieces Alicia and Amelie Louise Neumann, with Cameron, Humphrey, and Murron Benitez-Quintana and the trust offered to me by Plato, Yami, Akira, Lizzy, Clara, Jake and Sammy. At the end of four rough years of PhD life, what is left to say, but: Thank you! Table of Contents 0. Introduction: Prayer after the Death of God – A study of the Poetry by Dorothee Sölle ............................................................................................ 12 0.1 Context of Study ...................................................................................... 13 0.2 Existing Criticism .................................................................................... 31 0.3 Method ................................................................................................... 48 0.4 Overview ................................................................................................. 64 0.5 Conclusion ............................................................................................... 67 1. Chapter