Feminist Spirituality

PART 3 OF 3

My campus has had a Women's Spirituality course in our catalog for 15
years, but the course was offered only once when it was first
developed.  We now intend to update and refocus the course and are
looking for new ideas.  The course is designed for undergrads,
currently at the junior level although we are considering revising to
the senior level since this can allow graduate students to take the
class.  The course will likely be attached to our general education
program (so not only for GS students) and may be offered online.

We are already looking at Judith Laura's great compilation of
resources ( http://goddess.judithlaura.com/biblio.html ), the
Institute for Thealogy and Deasophy (
http://www.thealogyanddeasophy.org/ ), and many online syllabi for
ideas regarding texts and assignments, but many/most of the syllabi
are several years old and may not reflect the most recent sources
available.  The WMST-L archives includes a 2008 discussion of a
similar course request at
http://userpages.umbc.edu/~korenman/wmst/femspirit.html , so we are
drawing upon this resource but if there are additional or more current
text and non-text (esp open source) sources you'd recommend we'd love
to learn about them.

One soon-to-be-released text we'll be previewing is Kwok Pui-lan's
(ed) Hope Abundant: Third World and Indigenous Women's Theology from
Orbis Press.  We're also anticipating receiving a copy of the recently
released 2010 edition of Anderson and Young's Women and Religious
Traditions (Oxford Press).

I'll compile all suggestions received publicly or privately
(BEudey  AT  csustan.edu) by August 31 and post to the list.

Betsy Eudey, PhD
Director/Associate Professor, Gender Studies
Director, Faculty Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning
California State University Stanislaus
One University Circle
Turlock, CA 95382
BEudey  AT  csustan.edu

Hi Betsy,

I am glad that you found my page at Institute for Thealogy & Deasophy
useful, but those books are focused on Goddess spirituality only and
the discourse of thealogy at that. So you won't get the more
mainstream religions represented from that list, nor a general
introductory overview of Goddess spirituality. So, I can recommend a
few foundational texts and ones that are still relatively recent for
both postsecular feminists and women who have remained in traditional
religions and for those that have left, turning to general
spirituality or Goddess spirituality.

Eller, C. (1993) "Living in the Lap of the Goddess: The Feminist
Spirituality Movement in America" --this is an introductory text and a
MUST read for students to learn about Goddess spirituality in
particular and those who have left traditional religions. I cannot
stress the importance of this book enough for covering the
sociological, thealogical, and cultural dimensions of Goddess
postsecular feminism. If you are looking for a more recent one, then
Judith Laura's Goddess Spirituality book is also good.

Hunt, M & Neu, D. (2010) "New Feminist Christianity: Many Voices, Many
Views" --this is the latest book that chronicles the experiences of
Christian feminists. It is the latest buzz that is out there in
feminist theology circles.

Raphael, M.(2000) "Introducing Thealogy:Discourses on the Goddess"
this is a good book introducing one to the discourse of thealogy
--again Goddess focused, not mainstream religion focuses.

Klassen, C.(2009) "Feminist Spirituality: The Next Generation" --this
is the latest book that explores Goddess spirituality in relation to
third wave feminist theorizing as opposed to second wave theorizing so
it is a nice text to come after Cynthia Eller's foundational text that
I would highly recommend.

Gross, R. (1996). "Feminism & Religion. An Introduction." --this is a
classic text that introduces one to feminist theory and its
relationship to all religious discourses. It is key for understanding
the underlying theories, epistemology, and ontology of feminist
spirituality/religion

Flinders, C.L. (1998). "At the Root of this Longing: Reconciling a
Spiritual Thirst for Hunger and a Feminist Thirst" This is a classic
text that is more literary in style and it pertains to general
spirituality.

Aune K, Sharma S, Vincett G. (2008) "Women and Religion in the West:
Challenging Secularization." This is a but pricey but is a more recent
book on feminist spirituality that includes traditional religions and
introduces NRMs associated with feminism and women such as Quaker
Pagans or Quagans.

Cahill, S. (1996). "Wise Women: Over 2000 years of Spiritual writing
by Women" --definitely a classic text that surveys all the great
contributions of many women. It is not all necessarily feminist but is
women centered.

Sharma, A & Young, K (2003) "Her Voice, Her Faith: Women Speak on
World Religions" --A key text that introduces the different feminist
and gendered perspectives representing all the world religions and
NRMs.

Peach, L.J. (2002). "Women and World Religions" another key text like
the one before it. A bit more comprehensive as well.

So I hope this list helps you a lot. Again this is my take on the
literature and what I deem as ovarinal/foundational to the topic of
women's spirituality. Let me know if you have any questions.


Peace, 


Angela Hope, PhD Cand., MTS.
Founder/Executive Director
Institute for Thealogy & Deasophy
PO Box 1390
Helotes, TX 78023
administrator  AT  ThealogyandDeasophy.org
http://www.I4TD.org
 		 	   		  

In a message dated 8/18/2010 3:32:13 PM Eastern Daylight Time, 
BEudey  AT  CSUSTAN.EDU writes:

> My campus has had a Women's Spirituality course in our catalog for 15 
> years, but the course was offered only once when it was first developed.  We 
> now intend to update and refocus the course and are looking for new ideas.  
> The course is designed for undergrads, currently at the junior level 
> although we are considering revising to the senior level since this can allow 
> graduate students to take the class.  The course will likely be attached to 
> our general education program (so not only for GS students) and may be 
> offered online.
> 

You might want to consider some or all of the material in the updated, 
released within the last year, "Cakes for the Queen of Heaven," course, made 
available through the Unitarian Universalist Women's Federation. For more info, 
see http://www.cakesforthequeenofheaven.org

On a more personal note, the Combined Third Edition of my first book, She 
Lives! The Return of Our Great Mother: Myths, Rituals,Music, and Meditations, 
has just been published. The "Myths" are NOT from known mythologies, 
pantheons, etc., but rather stories I created and mythologized in diction and 
style. There are both "Ancient Myths" and "Modern Myths." The latter relate to a 
variety of religions and also to secular situations. One that may 
particularly interest members of this list is called "The Meeting" and brings 
together political and spiritual feminisms. You can find a link to a "reprint" of 
it (in the online journal, Goddess Pages) alongside the Table of Contents on 
http://www.judithlaura.com/slgm.html  Here is the book's blurb (slightly 
shortened):

She Lives! The Return of Our Great Mother explores the return of the divine 
personified as female through myth-like stories, rituals for both personal 
and seasonal celebrations with songs and dances, and a variety of 
meditations. Now in its third edition, this book continues to be treasured for its 
innovative multi-traditional perspective and the beauty of its language.

Judith Laura's approach in She Lives! remains unusual among Goddess 
spirituality books. Its material doesn't fit neatly into any one category, such as 
Pagan. Rather, especially in its myth-like stories, it describes how female 
divinity might return to people on diverse paths, and addresses a variety of 
issues in a number of different religions and in secular settings. Its 
seasonal rituals contain aspects of Pagan, Jewish, Christian and other 
traditions. Her personal rituals for women and for men focus on sex-related life 
milestones. 

This Combined Third Edition has all material from the first edition, 
including 30 songs with notated music for 26 of them. (The four songs for which 
notation is not included in this edition have well-known melodies. The 1999 
second edition had notation for only 11 of the songs.) This new edition also 
includes material added in the second (10th Anniversary) edition, such as 
guided meditations for each of the seasonal celebrations and an entirely new 
section, "Reflections on Seasonal Celebrations," with background information 
on holidays of a number of different traditions. There are also some changes 
and additions found only in this edition, to keep pace with the evolution of 
Goddess thought. 

For more complete info, reviews, table of contents with links to excerpts, 
and for bookseller links, go to http://www.judithlaura.com/slgm.html

Judith Laura
http://www.judithlaura.com 
Blogging as Medusa on http://medusacoils.blogspot.com

If you'd like to include a feminist take on young women in a Hasidic Jewish
community, check out my book: MYSTICS, MAVERICKS, AND MERRYMAKERS: AN
INTIMATE JOURNEY AMONG HASIDIC GIRLS (foreword by Carol Gilligan). Their
spiritual vision is mind-expanding, infuriating, and enlightening all at
once. It sparks fabulous debates among students at all levels.

Good luck.

Stephanie Wellen Levine
swlevine  AT  verizon.net

If I could piggyback on Betsy's request - I'd be interested in
readings for an intro WS course that focus on Islam and on Hmong
religious traditions.

We have a growing Somali student body, and my experience so far has
been that many of the feminist critiques of religion in general and of
Islam in particular (including by muslim women) have not spoken to
their experience.  Last semester, I used a piece by Asra Nomani ("An
Islamic Bill of Rights for Women in Mosques"), and the one muslim
student in the class felt that it misrepresented the general
experience of women in Islam.  Compared to the other readings I
assigned about women in different religions, I do think that this
piece presented a skewed picture.  I'm thinking about replacing it
with Kecia Ali's "Rethinking Women's Issues in Muslim Communities".
I'd love to hear suggestions.

We also have a large Hmong population, and so I would like the class
to reflect their experience, as well.  Does anyone have any readings
to recommend?

Just for reference, this portion of the class includes readings on
witchcraft, Christian fundamentalism, Native American religions,
Judaism, and Islam.

Thanks in advance.
Jessica


Jessica Nathanson
Director, Women's Resource Center and Women's Studies Program
Augsburg College
Minneapolis, MN
nathanso  AT  augsburg.edu

Anne Fadiman's book The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down explores
issues of Hmong immigrants living in the United States. It also raises
interesting questions as to the right of parents to refuse medical
treatment for their children based on religious beliefs. My students
have greatly enjoyed this book.

Alesha

Dr. Alesha Durfee
Assistant Professor
Women and Gender Studies Program
Arizona State University
PO Box 874902
Tempe, AZ 85287-4902
alesha.durfee  AT  asu.edu

There is an excellent anthology on Jewish women and spirituality: Four
centuries of Jewish women's spirituality: a sourcebook, edited by Ellen M
Umansky and  Dianne Ashton. Second ed.: Brandeis U. P./University Press of
New England, 2009.

Phyllis
-- 
****************************************************
Phyllis Holman Weisbard, Women's Studies Librarian
University of Wisconsin System
430 Memorial Library, 728 State Street
Madison, WI 53706
pweisbard  AT  library.wisc.edu
http://womenst.library.wisc.edu
****************************************************

Those of you who responded to Anne Larue's call for support will be
happy to know that their voices were heard.  Her book on Wicca is back
on the shelves.

(rough translation of her message:)

I'm happy to let you know that an agreement between Editions
Classiques Garnier and the two directors of the collection
Perspectives Comparatistes, my book Fiction, feminism and
post-modernity: The subversive path of the contemporary bestseller was
available for purchase on June 25.

The above statement was decided upon in negotiations, I have the legal
right to send it; it has been delayed during the settling of the court
case.

Thanks again for your help, which was very precious to me during those
difficult hours!

Warm regards,
Anne


> "J'ai le plaisir de vous indiquer qu'a la suite d'un accord
> intervenu avec les éditions Classiques Garnier et les deux
> directeurs de la collection Perspectives comparatistes, mon ouvrage
> Fiction, féminisme et post-modernité. Les voies subversives du roman
> contemporain  à grand succès a été remis en vente le 25 juin
> dernier".  C'est la formule que j'ai le droit de vous adresser à
> présent, qui résulte d'un protocole transactionnel.  Le délai
> s'explique par le règlement de l'affaire juridique.  Encore merci
> pour votre aide chaleureuse, qui m'a été extrêmement précieuse en
> ces heures difficiles !  Avec mes amitiés, Anne

Dr. Sharon Collingwood
          http://people.cohums.ohio-state.edu/collingwood7/

Department of Women's Studies
The Ohio State University
286 University Hall, 230 North Oval Mall
Columbus, Ohio 43210-1311

Second Life:  Ellie Brewster
Visit Minerva Isle in Second Life:
          http://slurl.com/secondlife/Minerva/16/14/22

Blog: Exploring the Virtual Classroom
          http://ebrewster.wordpress.com/

Dear List Members,

I am conducting research on Third Wave Feminism and Spirituality.  Here is a
brief blurb about the study and the link to the anonymous narrative survey. 
Please feel free to share this with others who may also be interested.

We are two Third Wave feminist researchers with our own strong spiritual
leanings and have noticed  a lack  of information  on how  our feminist peers
live out their own spiritual lives. WeÆre doing a pilot study on third wave
feministsÆ experience  of spirituality, a study that to our knowledge, has never
been conducted before. If you identify as a woman and a feminist and youÆre
between the ages of 18-40, fill out our short (we estimate under 20 minutes)
narrative survey!

Here's a link:
http://ThirdWaveSpirit.questionpro.com

About the researchers: Christine Brooks, PhD and Shayna Korb are two
feminist women researchers from the Institute of Transpersonal Psychology in
Palo Alto, California. We are both interested in the spiritual experiences of
feminist and activist individuals. Please feel free to contact us at
ThirdWaveSpirit  AT  gmail.com.

All best,

Christine Brooks
Assistant Professor & Chair
Residential PhD in Transpersonal Psychology
Institute of Transpersonal Psychology
www.itp.edu

Chris Klassen just put out a book in July about Third Wave Feminism
and Spirituality:
http://religiondispatches.org/archive/religionandtheology/1774/oh_my_god%28dess%29!_feminist_spirituality_in_the_third_wave