Book review

Is there organized religion after patriarchy? pt. 4

Posted onThursday 14 February 2013Sunday 10 February 2013

After Patriarchy: Feminist Transformations of the World Religions, edited by Paula M. Cooey, William R. Eakin, & Jay B. McDaniel Conclusion In closing, this book interested me for a number of reasons — primarily that of why intelligent and educated women stay in religions which effectively exploit them. I say “intelligent and educated” because I…

Is there organized religion after patriarchy? pt. 3

Posted onWednesday 13 February 2013Sunday 10 February 2013

After Patriarchy: Feminist Transformations of the World Religions, edited by Paula M. Cooey, William R. Eakin, & Jay B. McDaniel Judaism Continuing with the quick review of the articles contained within this provocatively titled book, we move to Judith Plaskow’s “Transforming the Nature of Community: Toward a Feminist People of Israel.” She argues that Jewishness…

Is there organized religion after patriarchy? pt. 2

Posted onTuesday 12 February 2013Sunday 10 February 2013

After Patriarchy: Feminist Transformations of the World Religions, edited by Paula M. Cooey, William R. Eakin, & Jay B. McDaniel At this point in my reading of this book I got bored with the apologists for the big, irritatingly misogynistic organized religions — so I jumped a few articles ahead, to the two chapters which…

Is there organized religion after patriarchy? pt. 1

Posted onMonday 11 February 2013Sunday 10 February 2013

After Patriarchy: Feminist Transformations of the World Religions, edited by Paula M. Cooey, William R. Eakin, & Jay B. McDaniel. This book is an exploration of what changes might occur in the current largest — and rather androcentric — world religions, in order for them to grow past their current — and usually obsessive —…

Unspoken Worlds article reviews, pt. 3

Posted onSunday 10 February 2013Saturday 9 February 2013

Interrelatedness One of the precepts of ecofeminism (at least as I attempt to practice it) is the recognition of not only the value and beauty of both human bodies and the physical world, but also of our deep spiritual and genetic connections with all that is. This is, I think, a serious issue with most…

Unspoken Worlds article reviews, pt. 2

Posted onSaturday 9 February 2013Friday 8 February 2013

The Divine Feminine The entire modern concept of Goddess (whether omnipotent or not) is still relatively new and shocking to many, though it has much more ancient roots than most of us imagine. Nevertheless, when faced with even a modest conceptualization of Goddess, most members of the modern androcentric world religions react with quick anger….

Unspoken Worlds article reviews, pt. 1

Posted onThursday 7 February 2013Wednesday 6 February 2013

I’m rather pleased by the articles I chose from the book Unspoken Worlds: Women’s Religious Lives. Not only were they quick reads – a definite benefit when faced with the prospect of 30 books in three months – but I also found two good articles in the book for next semester’s Women’s Mysteries Comps class….

“The End of Men: & the Rise of Women” by H. Rosin, part 4

Posted onSunday 3 February 2013Thursday 31 January 2013

Talking with male friends, the general consensus I hear seems to be that manhood is more about taking care of yourself so others do not have to do it for you, and then meeting all your other obligations as well – to family, to society, to work, and so on. What most strikes me about…

“The End of Men: & the Rise of Women” by H. Rosin, part 3

Posted onSaturday 2 February 2013Thursday 31 January 2013

What’s even more weirdly interesting is that we’ve seen this sort of social upheaval in gender roles happen before — though we didn’t recognize it at the time – in the inner city black communities. It started in the 1970s as manufacturing started closing the inner city factories, and then too, “the men who lived…

“The End of Men: & the Rise of Women” by H. Rosin, part 2

Posted onFriday 1 February 2013Thursday 31 January 2013

Why did I find this book so disturbing? In some ways I completely agree with the author: “the picture emerging is a mirror image of the traditional gender map: men and [economic] markets on the side of the irrational and overemotional, and women on the side of the cool and levelheaded” (166; italics mine). If…