Innovation within Tradition: Joseph Ratzinger and Reading the Women of Scripture

Innovation within Tradition explores Joseph Ratzinger’s biblical interpretation of women and salvation history. Arguing that Ratzinger’s concept of a “female line in the Bible” brings the female characters of Scripture to the fore, Mary Frances McKenna shows how this illustrates his creative approach to theology and hermeneutics, as well as his response to feminist theology. Pivotal as well are questions around the findings on the use of history in theology and the potential for the continuing development and deepening of the church’s comprehension of the meaning of revelation.