Ada Maria Isasi-Diaz
Encyclopedia
Ada María Isasi-Díaz is professor emerita of ethics
and theology
at Drew University
in Madison, New Jersey
. As a Hispanic theologian, she is an innovator of Hispanic theology in general and specifically of Mujerista theology. Isasi-Díaz also is founder and co-director of the Hispanic Institute of Theology at Drew University.
Isasi-Díaz was born and raised in La Habana, Cuba in a Roman Catholic family. She arrived in the United States
as a political refugee in 1960. She later entered the Order of St. Ursula
and subsequently earned a B.A. from The College of New Rochelle in New York. In 1967, she went to Lima, Peru as a missionary for three years. Upon returning to the United States in 1969, she taught high-school for several years in Louisiana
, then lived in Spain for 16 months before returning again to the United States. She settled in Rochester, New York
. Isasi-Díaz earned a master of arts in medieval history from SUNY Brockport. In 1983, she continued her graduate studies at Union Theological Seminary
in New York City where she earned both a Master of Divinity degree and a PhD with a concentration in Christian Ethics in 1990. In 2006, she was awarded a Doctor of Divinity honoris causa from Colgate University
.
Her studies and involvement in the feminist theological movement led her to begin to develop a theology from the perspective of Latinas in the United States, which led to the development of Mujerista theology. This theology included their religious experiences, practices, and responses to the daily struggles of life. Isasi-Díaz has been on the faculty of the Theological and Graduate Schools of Drew University since 1991. She is a panelist and occasional contributor to the "On Faith" on-line discussions at the Washington Post and Newsweek
.
Ada María Isasi-Díaz and Fernando F. Segovia, ed. Hispanic/Latino Theology: Challenge and Promise (Fortress Press, 2006).
Ada María Isasi-Díaz and Yolanda Tarango, Hispanic Women: Prophetic Voice in the Church (Harper & Row, 1988)
Ethics
Ethics, also known as moral philosophy, is a branch of philosophy that addresses questions about morality—that is, concepts such as good and evil, right and wrong, virtue and vice, justice and crime, etc.Major branches of ethics include:...
and theology
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
at Drew University
Drew University
Drew University is a private university located in Madison, New Jersey.Originally established as the Drew Theological Seminary in 1867, the university later expanded to include an undergraduate liberal arts college in 1928 and commenced a program of graduate studies in 1955...
in Madison, New Jersey
Madison, New Jersey
Madison is a borough in Morris County, New Jersey, in the United States. As of the 2000 United States Census, the population was 16,530. It also is known as "The Rose City".-Geography:Madison is located at ....
. As a Hispanic theologian, she is an innovator of Hispanic theology in general and specifically of Mujerista theology. Isasi-Díaz also is founder and co-director of the Hispanic Institute of Theology at Drew University.
Isasi-Díaz was born and raised in La Habana, Cuba in a Roman Catholic family. She arrived in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
as a political refugee in 1960. She later entered the Order of St. Ursula
Ursulines
The Ursulines are a Roman Catholic religious order for women founded at Brescia, Italy, by Saint Angela de Merici in November 1535, primarily for the education of girls and the care of the sick and needy. Their patron saint is Saint Ursula.-History:St Angela de Merici spent 17 years leading a...
and subsequently earned a B.A. from The College of New Rochelle in New York. In 1967, she went to Lima, Peru as a missionary for three years. Upon returning to the United States in 1969, she taught high-school for several years in Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
, then lived in Spain for 16 months before returning again to the United States. She settled in Rochester, New York
Rochester, New York
Rochester is a city in Monroe County, New York, south of Lake Ontario in the United States. Known as The World's Image Centre, it was also once known as The Flour City, and more recently as The Flower City...
. Isasi-Díaz earned a master of arts in medieval history from SUNY Brockport. In 1983, she continued her graduate studies at Union Theological Seminary
Union Theological Seminary in the City of New York
Union Theological Seminary in the City of New York is a preeminent independent graduate school of theology, located in Manhattan between Claremont Avenue and Broadway, 120th to 122nd Streets. The seminary was founded in 1836 under the Presbyterian Church, and is affiliated with nearby Columbia...
in New York City where she earned both a Master of Divinity degree and a PhD with a concentration in Christian Ethics in 1990. In 2006, she was awarded a Doctor of Divinity honoris causa from Colgate University
Colgate University
Colgate University is a private liberal arts college in Hamilton, New York, USA. The school was founded in 1819 as a Baptist seminary and later became non-denominational. It is named for the Colgate family who greatly contributed to the university's endowment in the 19th century.Colgate has 52...
.
Her studies and involvement in the feminist theological movement led her to begin to develop a theology from the perspective of Latinas in the United States, which led to the development of Mujerista theology. This theology included their religious experiences, practices, and responses to the daily struggles of life. Isasi-Díaz has been on the faculty of the Theological and Graduate Schools of Drew University since 1991. She is a panelist and occasional contributor to the "On Faith" on-line discussions at the Washington Post and Newsweek
Newsweek
Newsweek is an American weekly news magazine published in New York City. It is distributed throughout the United States and internationally. It is the second-largest news weekly magazine in the U.S., having trailed Time in circulation and advertising revenue for most of its existence...
.
Publications
- En la Lucha/In the Sturggle: Elaborating a Mujerista Theology (Second edition, Fortress Press, 2003)
- La Lucha Continues: Mujerista Theology (Orbis Books, 2004)
- Mujerista Theology: A Theology for the 21st Century (Orbis Books, 1996)
Ada María Isasi-Díaz and Fernando F. Segovia, ed. Hispanic/Latino Theology: Challenge and Promise (Fortress Press, 2006).
Ada María Isasi-Díaz and Yolanda Tarango, Hispanic Women: Prophetic Voice in the Church (Harper & Row, 1988)