Pilar de Miguel

Feminist Theology - Food for the Soul

Pilar de Miguel has devoted much of her life helping other women find answers to the questions she asks of herself. For the past 25 years she has been empowering women from different social and ethnic backgrounds, to come together, learning, and share their experiences. She is a feminist theologian. Feminist theology sees women’s personal experiences as central to thinking spiritually. This approach is used to explain the world to them, through their lives -as women.At the same time,‘patriarchy’ is rejected (this means the structure of a society whereby men rule women). This belief argues that women and men will only become truly human, with the ending of patriarchy.

She has been involved in women’s and feminist’s projects related to religions and spirituality not only in Spain (her own country), but within Europe, as well as in Latin America. She is a brilliant scholar and an accomplished multi-linguist, and has written articles and books, on Gender, Christology (the study of the role of Christ), and, Inter-religious Studies.

The spirit of empowerment

Pilar de Miguel has become an intellectual reference for women’s Christian movements in Spain, and has succeeded in challenging a stereotype where the male role models have traditionally been put forward as the best examples in theological studies. She has also assisted in reversing the traditional exclusion of women from leadership roles, in Christian Churches. Many young women, who have benefited from her projects, find an inner strength to also pursuing studying theology. She is indeed an inspiring woman leading women to enlightened minds.

A Truly Inspirational Personality

As a direct result of her innovations and ideas, she has inspired with others the creation of several women’s organisations, such as Arnasatu (Christian Women’s Association in Bizkaia, Basque Country), and EFETA (School of Feminist Theology, University of Sevilla). These are locations where women would not previously have considered founding such organisations. Pilar de Miguel says that people need to try and have “hope”, whilst they consider where they stand in terms of their religious outlook. Through her extensive outreach programs of teaching, social work, and seminars, she has already provided hopeful futures for many young women.