Gender and Religion
Section outline
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In this course, students explore the combination of feminism and religion. Students will be introduced to feminist engagement within religion, religious studies and th(e/a)ology, focusing on six major religious traditions (Islam, Judaism, Buddhism, Christianity, the Goddess Movement (sometimes called feminist spirituality), and Hinduism). This course pays special attention to three main areas of feminist engagement with religion: the feminist critique of religion; feminist methodology; and feminist reconstructive the(a/o)logy. Key concepts considered time and again throughout the duration of the course are patriarchy, sex, gender, images of the divine, leadership roles, rituals, sacred texts, power and authority, feminism, and religion.
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The most up-to-date scholarship at the intersection of religion and feminism by some of the most well-known scholars in the field.
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5 October 2020
Distribute syllabus & intro to material.
In-Class Readings:
Judith Plaskow, “The Coming of Lillith,” Journal of Feminist Studies in Religion, Vol. 23, No. 1 (Spring, 2007), pp. 34-41.
Zuzana Budapest, “Self-Blessing Ritual,” in The Holy Book of Women’s Mysteries, (Oakland: Susan B. Anthony Coven No. 1, 1986).
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12 October 2020
In-Class Reading:
joanne stato, “Cultural Appropriation,” Off Our Backs, Vol. 21, No. 9 (october 1991), pp. 20-21.
Reading:
Rita M. Gross, Feminism and Religion: An Introduction, (Boston: Beacon Press, 1996). Ch. 2 and 4.
Recommended Reading:
Rita M. Gross, Feminism and Religion: An Introduction, (Boston: Beacon Press, 1996). Ch. 1.
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19 October 2020
Reading:
Rita M. Gross, Feminism and Religion: An Introduction, (Boston: Beacon Press, 1996). Ch. 5 - 6.
Recommended Reading:
Rita M. Gross, Feminism and Religion: An Introduction, (Boston: Beacon Press, 1996). Ch. 3.
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26 October 2020
Reading:
Judith G. Martin, “Why Women Need a Feminist Spirituality,” in Women's Studies Quarterly, Vol. 21, No. 1/2, Spirituality and Religions (Spring/Summer, 1993), pp. 106-120.
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2 November 2020
Reading:
Carol P. Christ, “Why Women Need the Goddess,” in Laughter of Aphrodite: Reflections on a Journey to the Goddess (San Francisco: Harper & Row, 1987) pp. 117-132.
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The grading scale for this assignment is as follows:
1 - 100-85
2 - 84-70
3 - 69-55
4 - 54 and under.
1, 2, and 3 are passing grades; 4 is not. If I have included a note in the comments section of your paper to please meet with me, please email me to schedule a meeting.
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9 November 2020
Readings:
Amira El-Azhary Sonbol, “Rethinking Women and Islam,” in Daughters of Abraham: Feminist Thought in Judaism, Christanity, and Islam, edited by Yvonne Yazbeck Haddad and John L. Esposito, (University of Florida Press, 2001), pp. 108-146.
Fatima Seedat, “Islam, Feminism, and Islamic Feminism: Between Inadequacy and Inevitability,” Journal of Feminist Studies in Religion, Vol. 29, No. 2 (Fall 2013), pp. 25-45.
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16 November 2020
Readings:
Cathryn Bailey, “Embracing the Icon: The Feminist Potential of the Trans Bodhisattva, Kuan Yin,” Hypatia, Vol. 24, No. 3, (Summer, 2009), pp. 178-196.
Rita M. Gross, “The Suffering of Sexism: Buddhist Perspectives and Experiences,” Buddhist-Christian Studies, Vol. 34 (2014), pp. 69-81.
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23 November 2020
Readings:
Mary E. Hunt, “Women-Church: Feminist Concept, Religious Commitment, Women's Movement,” Journal of Feminist Studies in Religion, Vol. 25, No. 1, (Spring 2009), pp. 85-98.
Rosemary Radford Reuther, “Christian Feminist Theology: History and Future,” in Daughters of Abraham: Feminist Thought in Judaism, Christanity, and Islam, edited by Yvonne Yazbeck Haddad and John L. Esposito, University of Florida Press, 2001, pp. 65-80.
Recommended Reading:
Rosemary Radford Ruether, “Dualism and the Nature of Evil in Feminist Theology,” Studies in Christian Ethics, 5 no 1 (April 1992), p 26-39.
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The grading scale for this assignment is as follows:
1 - 100-85
2 - 84-70
3 - 69-55
4 - 54 and under.
1, 2, and 3 are passing grades; 4 is not.
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Here you will find the prompt options for the second assignment of the semester.
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30 November 2020
Readings:
Cynthia Eller, “Relativizing the Patriarchy: The Sacred History of the Feminist Spirituality Movement,” History of Religions, Vol. 30, No. 3 (Feb., 1991), pp. 279-295.
Carol P. Christ, “Why Women, Men and Other Living Things Still Need the Goddess: Remembering and Reflecting 35 Years Later,” Feminist Theology, Vol. 20, No.3, (2012), pp. 242-255.
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7 December 2020
Readings:
Leila Gal Berner, “Hearing Hannah’s Voice: The Jewish Feminist Challenge and Ritual Innovation,” in Daughters of Abraham: Feminist Thought in Judaism, Christanity, and Islam, edited by Yvonne Yazbeck Haddad and John L. Esposito, University of Florida Press, 2001, pp. 35-49.
Marcia Falk, “Notes on Composing New Blessings toward a Feminist-Jewish Reconstruction of Prayer,” Journal of Feminist Studies in Religion, Vol. 3, No. 1 (Spring, 1987), pp. 39-53.
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14 December 2020
Readings:
Vrinda Dalmiya, “Loving Paradoxes: A Feminist Reclamation of the Goddess Kali,” Hypatia, Vol. 15, No. 1 (Winter, 2000), pp. 125-150.
Sharada Sugirtharajah, “Hinduism and Feminism: Some Concerns,” Journal of Feminist Studies in Religion, Vol. 18, No. 2 (Fall, 2002), pp. 97-104.
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Since we have no make-up material or class content to discuss, we will not meet this week. Use this time instead to work on your assignment.
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The grading scale for this assignment is as follows:
1 - 100-85
2 - 84-70
3 - 69-55
4 - 54 and under.
1, 2, and 3 are passing grades; 4 is not.
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