Female Prophethood in Jewish, Christian, and Islamic Discourses

Prophethood is often conceived as a mainly male occupation. At the same time, stories about female prophets and holy women abound in the Bible and beyond. Exegetical and historical research of the past decades sheds light on these figures, their roles, and their significance in tradition. However, a systematic account of what this means for Christian theologies of prophethood is still missing. To develop such an account, Jewish and Islamic discourses on (female) prophethood can be insightful.

Drawing on Comparative Theology and Critical Discourse Analysis, this project explores notions of female prophethood in Jewish, Christian, and Islamic discourses. In a first step, it identifies and analyzes relevant sources in their historical contexts, among others asking for instances of discursive co-production of concepts of prophethood and femininity. Building on this analysis, it delineates and compares key paradigms from Jewish, Christian, and Islamic discourses on female prophethood in a critical and systematical manner. Third, the result shall inform a reflection on faith-based female leadership today. The overall goal of the project is to highlight female prophethood in the Abrahamic religious traditions, bringing to light the differences and commonalities in their notions of prophethood and of femininity.