TOWARDS A PENTECOSTAL CRITICAL FEMINIST THEOLOGY OF LIBERATION: "STARRING" WALTER BENJAMIN, MAX HORKHEIMER, THEODOR ADORNO, ELISABETH SCHUSSLER FIORENZA AND THE PENTECOSTAL ASSEMBLIES OF CANADA By Pamela Maureen Susanne Holmes #009824713 A Thesis submitted to the Faculty of Theology of Wycliffe College and the Department of Theology of the Toronto School of Theology in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Theology awarded by the University of St. Michael's College. Toronto 2009 © Pamela M. S.Holmes Library and Archives Bibliotheque et 1*1 Canada Archives Canada Published Heritage Direction du Branch Patrimoine de I'edition 395 Wellington Street 395, rue Wellington Ottawa ON K1A 0N4 OttawaONK1A0N4 Canada Canada Your file Votre r6f6rence ISBN: 978-0-494-68856-4 Our file Notre reference ISBN: 978-0-494-68856-4 NOTICE: AVIS: The author has granted a non­ L'auteur a accorde une licence non exclusive exclusive license allowing Library and permettant a la Bibliotheque et Archives Archives Canada to reproduce, Canada de reproduire, publier, archiver, publish, archive, preserve, conserve, sauvegarder, conserver, transmettre au public communicate to the public by par telecommunication ou par I'lnternet, prdter, telecommunication or on the Internet, distribuer et vendre des theses partout dans le loan, distribute and sell theses monde, a des fins commerciales ou autres, sur worldwide, for commercial or non­ support microforme, papier, electronique et/ou commercial purposes, in microform, autres formats. paper, electronic and/or any other formats. The author retains copyright L'auteur conserve la propriete du droit d'auteur ownership and moral rights in this et des droits moraux qui protege cette these. Ni thesis. Neither the thesis nor la these ni des extra its substantiels de celle-ci substantial extracts from it may be ne doivent etre imprimes ou autrement printed or otherwise reproduced reproduits sans son autorisation. without the author's permission. In compliance with the Canadian Conformement a la loi canadienne sur la Privacy Act some supporting forms protection de la vie privee, quelques may have been removed from this formulaires secondaires ont ete enleves de thesis. cette these. While these forms may be included Bien que ces formulaires aient inclus dans in the document page count, their la pagination, il n'y aura aucun contenu removal does not represent any loss manquant. of content from the thesis. 1+1 Canada ABSTRACT "Towards a Pentecostal Critical Feminist Theology of Liberation: 'Starring' Walter Benjamin, Max Horkheimer, Theodor Adorno, Elisabeth Schiissler Fiorenza and the Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada" Doctor of Philosophy in Theology 2009 Pamela Maureen Susanne Holmes Department of Theology of the Toronto School of Theology University of St. Michael's College. The purpose of the thesis is to supplement and further the emergence of Pentecostal theological thought by interrogating issues foundational to the formation of a Pentecostal critical feminist theology of liberation intent upon promoting the full flourishing of Pentecostal women and non-elite men as well as contributing to feminist critical theology. The corpus drawn upon will include critical and scholarly reflection from the academy and Pentecostalism. The hypothesis is that, along with problematic practices and beliefs, Pentecostalism also contains ideas and rituals with rhetorical and symbolic significance expressing liberative potential for the actual lived realities of women, individually and communally, throughout the globe. Placing these ideas and practices in a self-reflective, critical dialogue with carefully chosen conversation partners will illuminate this emancipatory potential. The goal is to explore the possibility of developing a Pentecostal feminist critical theology of liberation. ii The major scholars whose work is considered include Walter Benjamin, Max Horkheimer, Theodor Adorno, Elisabeth Schussler Fiorenza, the representatives from the Society for Pentecostal Studies and the Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada. Shifts in thought involved including the differences between traditional theorizing and critical theory, critical theory of religion, feminist critical theory of religion and feminist critical theology of liberation are examined. Concrete examples of ministering women within the Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada are cited. Typical explanations given for the challenges facing ministering Pentecostal women along with an argument for the need for an explicitly feminist approach are overviewed. Theoretical aspects of the project are evaluated through a discussion of the nature and power of enlightenment rationality, an examination of identity thinking and an analysis of two major sources of authority that have been used to dominate women. The significance of hope involved in the use of utopic thinking coupled with Adorno's negative dialectic in provisionally transforming Pentecostalism toward an emancipatory praxis is explored. Finally, concluding comments summarize the project and suggestions for further explorations are made. in TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT i TABLE OF CONTENTS ii CHAPTER 1. INTRODUCTION: PURPOSE, APPROACH, PARTICIPANTS AND OVERVIEW OF THE PROJECT 1 Introduction Purpose Contributing to the Emergence of Pentecostal Theologies Advocating for Canadian Pentecostal Women Participants in the Dialogue Pentecostalism Canadian Pentecostal and Charismatic Movements The Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada (PAOC) The Society for Pentecostal Studies (SPS) Critical Theory Feminist Theologians Elisabeth Schussler Fiorenza Marsha A. Hewitt Summary iv Approach Choice of Material "Constellating" Overview of the Project 2. TOWARDS A PENTECOSTAL, FEMINIST, CRITICAL THEOLOGY OF LIBERATION 28 Introduction Traditional Versus Critical Theory Critical Theory of Religion Feminist Critical Theory of Religion Schussler Fiorenza Patriarchy and Kyriarchy Towards a Pentecostal Critical Feminist Theology of Liberation Patriarchal Pentecostalism Kyriarchal Pentecostalism Conclusion 3. THE NATURE AND POWER OF HISTORICAL MEMORY 62 Introduction Benjamin, History and Memory Schussler Fiorenza, History, Memory and Women Summary Ministering Women in Early Pentecostalism v The "Canadian Azusa" Ministering Women in the Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada: A Focused, Historical Overview The Early Years Organization of the Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada Ordination Battles Ordination for Women and Beyond Organizational Restructuring and Its Effects on Women Comments and Conclusion 4. TYPICAL EXPLANATIONS 126 General Explanations A Closer Look at the Canadian Scene Prophetic to Priestly Selective, Cultural Conservatism The Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada Conclusion 5. THE NATURE AND POWER OF ENLIGHTENMENT 142 RATIONALITY Introduction The Dialectic of Enlightenment Enlightenment as Domination Christianity's Legitimation of Domination Schussler Fiorenza, Radford Ruether, Nature and Women vi Schussler Fiorenza A Concern Radford Ruether Man's Inner Nature Dominated and Repressed Alienation and the Division of Labour "Woman" Dominated and Repressed The Precarious Position of Women Summary Pentecostalism and Enlightenment The PAOC's "Dialectic of Enlightenment" Evidence of a Dialectic The Problem Possibilities and Conclusion 6. THE NATURE AND POWER OF IDENTITY THINKING 186 Adorno and Identity Thinking Non-Identity Thinking Subject and Object Schussler Fiorenza, Women and Identity Thinking Pentecostal Women as "Objects" of Identity Thinking Identity Thinking as a Means to Dominate Women Identity Thinking and Particular Interests PAOC Women's Identity Thinking vii Beyond Women's Ordination Conclusion 7. QUESTIONS OF "AUTHORITY" AND "POWER" 224 Pentecostals and Fundamentalism Schiissler Fiorenza, Pentecostals and Scriptures Possibilities Spirit and Experience The Role of the Community A Provisional Way Forward The Possibilities of Conscientization The Possibilities of a Self Reflective Exercise of Authority The Possibilities of Pentecostal Particularities Conclusion 8. APOCALYPTIC ESCHATOLOGY, NEGATIVE DIALECTICS, UTOPIC THINKING AND LIBERATIVE TRANSFORMATION 260 Introduction Marx and the Progressive Possibility of Religion's Utopic Thinking Negative Dialectics and Transformation Horkheimer Adorno's Sustained Negativity and Transformation Adorno and Benjamin's approach viii Horkheimer and Adomo Pentecostal Attitudes Towards Transforming this World A Potential Problem with Apocalyptic Eschatology The Possibilities of Apocalyptic Eschatology Conclusion: A Pentecostal's Response 9. CONCLUDING COMMENTS 287 The Cost of Domination Results of the Discussion Suggestions for Further Study BIBLIOGRAPHY 298 ix CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION: PURPOSE, APPROACH, PARTICIPANTS AND OVERVIEW OF THE PROJECT Introduction In the early years of the twentieth century, while critical theorists from the early Frankfurt School were analyzing the political revolutions going on around them and advocating the need for even further "Counter-Revolution and Revolf'(s),1 out of view of middle and upper class echelons of culture and the academy, a revolution of another sort was underway, among the descendents of slaves and other disenfranchised people against their former owners and current oppressors both within the Christian churches and society of the time, spurred on by the efforts and activities of women and men of various colours, on a small street in Los Angeles, in a former stable. That revolution was the modern day Pentecostal movement. 1 Herbert Marcuse,