REL 282(F) Feminist Approaches to the Study of Religion (Same as Women's and Gender Studies 282)

What does feminist theory have to offer the study of religion? How have participants in various religious traditions helped to produce and enact feminisms? Feminism and religion have a long but often troubled history of interconnection. In this course, we shall explore a range of feminist theoretical perspectives that have either emerged out of particular religious contexts or have been applied to the study of religious traditions and practices. We shall consider how conflicts within feminism-especially those pertaining to issues of sexuality, race, class, nationality, ethnicity, and religious affiliation-make a difference for the ways that religion as a category is interpreted. Authors considered in this class will include: Maria Stewart, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Angela Davis, Mary Daly, Elisabeth Schüssler Fiorenza, Julia Kristeva, Carter Heyward, Katie Cannon, bell hooks, Judith Butler, Judith Plaskow, Ada María Isasi-Díaz, Kwok Pui Lan, Teresea Hinga, Rachel Adler, M. Elaine Combs-Schilling, Adrienne Rich. Format: Lecture, discussion. Requirements: brief weekly writings assignments; one class presentation; one 5-page essay; one 15-page research paper. No prerequisites.

Hour: BUELL