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This course introduces students to the growing field of trans theology. Beginning with the origins of the field as it developed out of feminist theology in the early 2000s, we will see how this field has grown to engage a range of questions drawing from insights in queer theory, queer theology and trans studies.
Week 1 – Early trans theology: Omnigender
This week, we will look at the origins of trans theology as an offshoot of feminist theology. We will begin by contextualising trans theology in relation to its secular sibling, trans studies, seeing how the latter offers a politicised view of transness that moves beyond individualising medical discourses. We will then see how Virginia Mollenkott builds on this insight to suggest a new paradigm for theology: “omnigender”.
Week 2 – New Approaches to old ideas: queer natural law
How might transness call us to reimagine traditional theological ideas? This week, we’ll be looking at Craig A. Ford’s natural law argument for giving trans people the freedom to explore their transness. We’ll consider how transness suggests new insights into key concepts in theology, such as human flourishing. We will also reflect on the parallels between Ford’s argument and the Second Vatican Council’s argument for freedom of religion and conscience, and consider what this parallel might tell us about our current historical moment.
Week 3 – Postsecular transness: Glorious Bodies
People often assume that religion is a threat to trans rights. However, people also attack trans rights from a secular viewpoint. Might theology be an ally against this? This week, we’ll be looking at Colby Gordon’s Glorious Bodies—a book that seeks to resource pre- and early-modern understandings of the body for an apostsecular account of transness in the face of secular transphobia.
Week 4 –Transness Within Other Phenomena: Eucontamination
Trans theology isn’t always just about transness: this week, we’ll be looking at Paul andBillie Hoard’s Eucontamination, which asks what Christ has to say about transphobia as part of a broader theology of disgust.
Week 5 – The task of Trans Theology: The Limits of Liminality
What role does theology have to play in the Catholic Church? This week, we’ll be looking at Nicolete Burbach’s argument that trans theology can help to accompany the Church beyond its own limitations, including in the face of its inconsistencies in imagining this possibility for itself. Nicky is also the course tutor, so you can take the opportunity to ask her about the practice of doing transtheology.
Week 1
Dr Nicolete Burbach is the Social and Environmental Justice Lead at the London Jesuit Centre. Her PhD thesis looked at Pope Francis’ hermeneutics of uncertainty, and her research focuses on resourcing Pope Francis to think through issues of alienation and disagreement, with a particular focus on navigating the difficulties around trans inclusion in the Church. Previously, she has taught modules on postmodern theology and Catholic Social Teaching, both at Durham University.
