MA Thesis

Creator

• Hudler, Haley

Rights Statement

• In Copyright

Abstract

• This research interrogated how Protestant Christians in the post-World War II period up to today, interpreted the adoption metaphor in application to infant, non-relative, closed, domestic, and international adoptions in the United States. Analysis of the Pauline adoption metaphor found in Romans, Galatians, and Ephesians was juxtaposed to the created theology of Harry and Bertha Holt, founders of Holt International. This research drew attention to the problematic ways Christian adoption has promoted colonization, patriarchy, classism, and multiple levels of oppression. The solution to this harmful understanding of adoption is to interpret Christian adoption through an alternative theology of open adoption. The application of Christian adoption to closed adoption is taken out of context and not applicable. Prospective parents who are inspired to adopt from a Christian context must understand the purpose is to expand family support for a child. In this way, the act of adopting is to grow the capacity for familial love to include both adoptive and birth families in the lives of adopted children. What an alternative theology of open adoption means for Christianity is embodying the practice of religious pluralism. This theology is more appropriate for our times because it reduces the dangers of dualism in understanding family and religious belonging.

Year

• 2022

Subject

• Adoption (Theology)

Language

• English

Identifier

• 1372302294

Resource Type

• Thesis

Bibliographic citation

• Hudler, Haley. "A Critique of the Christian Theology of Adoption: What Does It Mean to Expand Familial Love?" MA thesis, Chicago Theological Seminary, 2022.

Type

• Text

Degree

• Master of Arts

Discipline

• Religious Studies

Degree Granting Institution

• Chicago Theological Seminary

Host Institution

• Chicago Theological Seminary

Last modified

• 09/26/2023