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Religious Feminists-- the soul has no sex
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| | Subject: | advice needed on talk | | Time: | 07:09 pm | | Current Mood: | ![[mood icon]](http://p-stat.livejournal.com/img/mood/classic/shock.gif) nervous |
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| I hope this is appropriate to post here... I have invited to participate in a forum on religion and homosexuality. It's being put on by a local queer group, so the focus is positive. They have someone discussing Judaism and Islam, someone dissecting the traditional New Testament verses, and someone discussing denominational stances here in New Zealand and world-wide. My part of the talk would be about my personal experiences being gay and Christian.
If you attended such a talk what would you want to hear about? About my marriage? My experience in the queer community? Religious community? I don't want to go back over Bible verses as those will have already been discussed, and I would like to avoid "justifying" or defending my life. I especially want to hear from anyone in this group who doesn't think being gay is okay religiously as we anticipate a very mixed audience: people who are gay/straight, religious/non-religious, think being gay is fine/think gays are going to hell, etc.
For the record I'm 28, married (to a woman) for three years, and I'm an American ex-pat in New Zealand. I'm conservative in much of my theology and personal behavior. | comments: 7 comments or Leave a comment   |
| | Subject: | When I tried the first meditation from Womanspirit: A Guide to Women's Wisdom | | Time: | 12:27 am |
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| I came across an old copy of Womanspirit: A Guide to Women's Wisdom by Hallie Austen Iglehart in Second Story Books at Dupont Circle. Published in 1983, it was one of the early works to integrate feminist spirituality with the feminist movement, after the author had been involved in both spiritual yoga and feminism and felt torn between them-- because in her experience all the yoga institutions were male-dominated and even downright misogynistic, while feminist groups in the '60s and '70s had no place for spirituality or mysticism. Iglehart spent years feeling "torn, physically and psychically, between my feminist and spiritual selves." By the time she published this book, she must have found a receptive audience, since that era was being invigorated by books like When God Was a Woman and The Spiral Dance. Nowadays, third-wave feminism is naturally more attuned to this integration with women's spirituality, thanks to the groundwork laid by books like these.
So when I rode downtown on the Metro recently, I brought along this book and began reading. It eschews theory and abstraction, focusing instead on personal narrative and immediate experience-- the latter in the form of guided meditations for the reader. So I practiced the first one (p. 14) while riding.
By the time it was done, I was in tears. It went:
( click to see the details of the meditation, and what I got out of it... ) | | comments: 5 comments or Leave a comment |
| | Subject: | Women's Intuition | | Time: | 09:33 pm |
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| I was wondering what the feminists of ![[info]](http://p-stat.livejournal.com/img/community.gif) faith_feminists think of the concept of women's intuition.
I realize that women's intuition is sometimes juxtaposed with "male logic" as though there is no overlap of intuition and logic among genders. This is of course completely absurd, as men are capable of intuition and women are capable of logic. My question is not one of absolutes. I know that everyone is capable of both intuition and logic.
Is there anything that female feminists are willing to claim as the legacy of their sex?
Whether that female attribute be physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, or psychological, or whatever else.
For example, do female feminist mothers believe that they have a connection to their children that is beyond what the father of their children could have? The process of conception, pregnancy, and childbirth are obviously biologically reserved for females. The intuitive experiences associated with pregnancy are also therefore reserved for women only.
Can feminists celebrate positive differences between women and men? Does celebration of our feminine attributes negate our claim to our right to equal treatment? I don't believe it does. | | comments: 37 comments or Leave a comment |
| | Subject: | what is spirituality | | Time: | 10:13 am | | Current Mood: | ![[mood icon]](http://p-stat.livejournal.com/img/mood/classic/thinking.gif) thoughtful |
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| I am putting together a worship service about spirituality and play. Unfortunately [or fortunately!] those two terms are really very broad. What do people think spirituality is, and how are you spiritual? Do you have any thoughts on how play might be spiritual or not?
Thanks! | | comments: 10 comments or Leave a comment |
| | Subject: | Progressive Christianity Blog carnival | | Time: | 05:53 pm |
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| Myself and a friend just set up a blog carnival for progressive Christians
the home blog is here feel free to submit something or advertise it
Thanks! | | comments: Leave a comment |
| | Subject: | Coming Out (as a Christian) | | Time: | 01:03 am |
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| Today, at Borders, I wanted to look for Marcus Borg in the Christianity section but I was ashamed to be seen standing there. Coming out as a Christian is deeply embarrassing. Most Christians don't understand Christianity -- imagine how we look to outsiders! Our (the U.S.) president claims to be Born Again; meanwhile, he authorizes death and destruction in Iraq. Then there's Fred Phelps and his infamous "God Hates Fags" campaign. Add Intelligent Design to the mix and you can see why any right-thinking Christian is embarrassed. It doesn't matter that I'm a nice Quaker, by identifying myself as a Christian I'm responsible for all the sins of Christendom! And I guess, if I’m really honest, I'll admit that I'm a conformist: my friends and professors have no love for religion and see it as (at best) intellectual death or (at worst) deadly folly. It's hard to be the odd one out.
In the end I snatched the book I wanted (Jesus: Uncovering the Life, Teachings and Relevance of a Religious Revolutionary) and ran. Do you have similar feelings of collective guilt and apprehension when you come out as a Christian/your religion? How do you deal? | | comments: 16 comments or Leave a comment |
| | Subject: | Question for Jewish members... | | Time: | 07:34 pm |
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| This is not a question relating to feminism specifically, so I hope that it is okay to post here. I've looked for the answer online and have not been able to find anything that addresses this situation.
I am Catholic. When I was a teenager I had a Jewish friend who would call me every year at Rosh Hashanah to ask me to forgive him for any transgression that he might have committed towards me during the previous year. Our friendship was pretty troubled at the best of times, so there was a lot to forgive him for, but I always said yes.
The third year this happened, I realized that I was forgiving him for the same things over and over again. He never tried to find out specifically what he had done so that he could make amends, and he never made any effort to prevent the destructive behaviour from continuing.
I've been curious about this ever since. In Catholicism, you seek atonement for specific sins and are assigned penance accordingly (or at least, that's the idea). Is the spirit of forgiveness at Rosh Hashanah likewise supposed to repent for specific wrongs, or is forgiveness sought more generally?
I apologize if this seems like a stupid question, but I've been curious about it for years and have never been able to find an answer. | | comments: 8 comments or Leave a comment |
| | Subject: | Using my Kol Isha | | Time: | 10:12 am |
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| "There is so much to reflect on. Why are the imahot missing from our liturgy? And can we change what has been done for generations? Many synagogues now include the imahot in mi shaberakhs for the sick, and in prayer for the soldiers of Israel. Can we look for ways to be even more inclusive? Can we include Miriam's song after Moshe's when we pray every morning?"
-Carol Kaufman Newman
President Jewish Orthodox Feminist Alliance
I have approached leaders in my Orthodox community to ask that women who are being held captive by agunot are included in prayers after the prayers for the Soldiers of Israel and the Soldiers that are held captive. So why not for the women whom are held captive by agunot?
And even provided the prayer:
I was told no.
Why can't we have a women's minyan? And I stress WOMEN's. Even if it is just for a bat mitzvah, we do have two sanctuaries in my shul.
Why can't we have a women's Rosh Chodesh activity or Shiur that is just for women? It is OUR holiday after all?
It has nothing to do with being an Orthodox shul. None of the things I am asking goes against Torah or Halacha.
G-D forbid.
The dream for my shul is:
*Women speaking from the amud.
*Passing the Torah to the women's section
*Women saying Birkat HaGomel
*Prayer for Agunot
*Mother's names in Mi'Sheberach and/or Aliyot
*Women feeling comfortable to go to the front of the women's section to say Kaddish
and really to be a FAMILY oriented shul that promotes having lots of yummy Jewish children, to provide adequate childcare during Friday night services, and ALL Shabbat day services including Mincha, Sludat Slesheet and Maariv. That is key for most women I know.
IS THAT TOO MUCH TO ASK???????????????????????????
I need answers to my questions. I am not getting them.
Feedback would be much appreciated. | | comments: 16 comments or Leave a comment |
| | Current Music: | Tori Amos!:) | | Subject: | Introduction: How Do You Reconcile Being a Feminist When the Majority Are Not? | | Time: | 05:07 pm | | Current Mood: | Cooky/Wacky |
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| Hello everyone:) I am new here so I thought I would introduce myself. My name is Jessica and I am of the Wiccan faith-which you may or may not know about since it's not mainstream.
I accidently stumbled across this community to find that it truly resonates with me. I've read many of the posts and decided to join because of how much I relate to all of you even though we all may not share the same religion. It is nice to learn from others and to relate our opinions in decent fashion. I've noticed that is lacking in some of the other communities where no one can find a common ground and put each other down like children in grade school. Lol.
It is hard to find others of a like-mind sometimes so I am glad I came across you. I would love to learn more about your different faiths, what it means to you, and how you reconcile being a feminist when the majority are not.?
~Jessica )0( Blessed Be
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| | Subject: | Sign the petition to halt the execution of Fawza Falih for "witchcraft" | | Time: | 12:33 am | | Current Mood: | ![[mood icon]](http://p-stat.livejournal.com/img/mood/classic/sad.gif) worried |
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| Please read about the appeal below and act as you are moved.
Saudi Woman to be Executed for Witchcraft Please circulate widely
This appeal has so far received relatively few signature. Please
circulate widely to your contacts.
URGENT: Halt Saudi Woman's Execution for 'Witchcraft'
To Those Who Share Our Concern:
Please join us in calling for the immediate pardon and release of FAWZA FALIH , a Saudi Arabian woman who has been sentenced to death by beheading for the alleged crime of "witchcraft. " As Human Rights Watch has declared, the conviction of Fawza Falih is a travesty
of justice.
A letter to His Royal Highness KING ABDULLAH has been drafted and signed by clergy and members of various faith traditions all over the world. The letter may be read online where you may also sign it. Please do
so as soon as possible at:
http://www.petitiononline.com/AIDFAWZA/petition.html
We would greatly appreciate it if you would also forward this request to whomever else you think will share our concern.
Time is of the essence.
( read more... ) | | comments: 5 comments or Leave a comment |
| | Subject: | Theorists: Women, Cooking, and Faith | | Time: | 12:47 am |
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| Hello! I'm in the process of writing a very big paper and I'm on a search for theorists who have discussed the relationship between women and food/cooking in literature, within the realm of religion and spirituality; or, who have talked about women and spirituality with thought on culinary ritual/expression; or anyone who you think may be of use in exploring these topics.
Thanks in advance. :) | | comments: 8 comments or Leave a comment |
| If you were raised to view God as male (who wasn't,) and later made the conscious decision that this just can't be the case, how have you worked to change your own perception? Is it easy, difficult? Especially if you're Christian, how have you managed?
I've had trouble for a very long time claiming my own spirituality. I consider myself Pagan, but spend much more time thinking about the god I was raised with than my own concept of God. Of course it just doesn't make sense to me that there would be a only strictly male God, but I still can't escape that notion. | | comments: 21 comments or Leave a comment |
| Hello, I'm fairly new here. Though I'm not Christian anymore, I'm still interested in feminism in the church. I joined primarily to learn, so I'd like to get your opinions on something. I hope it's not been posted before.
http://www.therebelution.com/modestysurvey/browse
This was a survey done on how women in the church should dress modestly. There are statements posted, and the men surveyed were asked to agree or disagree, as well as post their thoughts.
I definitely detect misogyny in much of it, but I'm also curious about the stance from Christian women on how Christian women should dress themselves. And is a man really victim to women who dress less-than-modest? I tend to think not, but where do you draw the line? The side of my fundamentalist Christian upbringing sympathizes with helping men to keep pure thoughts, but I also think blaming women for a man's sexual thoughts is ridiculous.
I guess what angers me the most is the assumption that lust is only a male phenomenon. Can't women be tempted all the same? Where is the forum to discuss women's "stumbling blocks"?
My thoughts feel rather shallow because I'm not of the same faith. To me, it honestly all seems unnecessary. But I'm so curious what the women here think of Christian sexuality in general. What did Jesus mean when he said looking at a woman lustfully is the same as committing adultery with her? Should we really keep our thoughts as 'pure' as this survey would suggest? | | comments: 49 comments or Leave a comment |
| | Subject: | Discouraged | | Time: | 10:04 pm |
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| I'm slowly coming back to Christianity after twelve years away from it. Feminism is really important to me and I don't believe it clashes with the basis of Christianity.
I'm becoming really discouraged before I even start though at the misogyny in Christianity/christian tradition. Someone over on the christianity said that ending women's oppression was a "petty agenda" and they have all those discussions on a women's place in the church.
I also don't think I would get a lot of acceptance from most kinds of christianity because of my beliefs like not believing the bible is inerrant,
how do you deal with this kind of discouragement? Do you stay in faith communities that have beliefs that are diametrically opposite to yours in some ways? | | comments: 32 comments or Leave a comment |
| | Subject: | Coming from the other direction | | Time: | 07:02 pm |
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| Hi. I'm new here. I think I'm coming from a different perspective from everyone whose posts I've read here (and I've read a lot of them), but I think you all may be able to help me with some questions I've been having.
I've been a feminist for something like four years now, and I left the religion of my youth about six years before that. I'm now a non-religious atheist, but I'm not content with this. Part of the problem is that I feel a disconnect between me and other people in the struggle; it seems that in the US secularism and atheism are predominantly white middle class male phenomena. I'm currently trying to figure out whether there's some religious or spiritual path that would serve me better. To that end I have a couple of questions:
(1) Is there some reason you find secularism to be dissatisfying? If so, what is it?
(2) Do you feel that your path offers something to feminists that secularism does not? If so, what is your path and what does it offer?
I hope no one thinks I'm trying to bash secularism or atheism. I know a lot of non-religious atheists who are kick-ass feminists, and -- who knows? -- maybe my search will lead me to be an atheist with a better idea of how to incorporate feminism into my world picture. But I can use some stimulation right now, and I think these questions are a good starting place for me. | | comments: 13 comments or Leave a comment |
| | Current Location: | home | | Subject: | Opinion | | Time: | 06:20 am | | Current Mood: | ![[mood icon]](http://p-stat.livejournal.com/img/mood/classic/confused.gif) curious |
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| | What is your opinion on the statement that a true spiritual teacher never asks for money? | | comments: 17 comments or Leave a comment |
| | Subject: | Abortion | | Time: | 03:32 pm |
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| I found the following article last week, but only got the chance to read it today
Why Abortion is Biblical
How anti-abortion activists misrepresent the biblical record
http://www.elroy.net/ehr/abortion.html
It was interesting, but I'm unsure what to think of it. Thoughts?
x-posted | | comments: 20 comments or Leave a comment |
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Religious Feminists-- the soul has no sex
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