Saturday, March 11, 2023

My most recent book purchase

Womanspirit Rising: A Feminist Reader in Religion ~ edited by Carol P. Christ and Judith Plaskow, 1979, 1992, women (theology), xiii + 297 pages

This book reflects a movement within feminism that was grappling with the patriarchal aspects of religion and, rather than rejecting religion altogether as so many feminists were doing at the time, these authors were working to retain the spiritual, the mystical, and the ritual parts of religion while still confronting and challenging patriarchy.  The introduction says that some feminists "are convinced that religion is profoundly important.  For them, the discovery that religions teach the inferiority of women is experienced as a betrayal of deeply felt spiritual and ritual experience.  They believe the history of sexism in religions shows how deeply sexism has permeated the human psyche but does not invalidate human need for ritual, symbol and myth.  While differing on many issues, the contributors to this volume agree that religion is deeply meaningful in human life and that the traditional religions of the West have betrayed women.  They are convinced that religion must be reformed or reconstructed to support the full human dignity of women."

I got this book to read during March, which is Women's History Month.

1 comment:

Helen's Book Blog said...

I am not surprised that you are reading this book, I hope it's interesting.