WomanSpirit Rising. Introduction.

I have decided that in order to piece together the thoughts in my brain, those swimming nebulously in my remembered experience, and the new information I'm receiving daily as I pursue my Philosophy degree it would serve me to write them.  It may also serve others.  My primary intention is to clarify, develop and refine my thoughts, but I've also come to the realization that the greatest minds in the world are worth nothing if they don't share the things they're thinking.  So ... I'm sharing.  (And I'll be delighted if you contribute to the discussion!)

These initial posts are my thoughts on assorted selections I'm reading from the book, Womanspirit Rising, for my Women in Theology class. Needless to say, they center around Organized Religion and Women ... how they mesh, and how they don't. 
 

If you're not much of a women's studies or religion fan, rest assured ...  I will also be posting as well on the readings I do for my other courses ... Ancient Philosophy, The Philosophy of Language, The Philosophy of Education, and Sociology.

Now on with the unpacking of my brain . . .

Womanspirit Rising:

I’m initially intrigued that we’re using a book  published in 1979.  I’m aware that at that time the Women’s Movement was progressing along nicely, but 33 years have passed since then.  I’m curious to see what’s become outdated or overcome – that is to say what sort of things referenced seem not-so-applicable in “these” days.
I do have thoughts, though, that such an old book may, indeed, be perfect for this course, however, as it does seem that repression of the Feminine is still pretty much a “norm” – a “norm” that is perpetuated by religion.

I intend to write my reflections as they occur after reading each of the assigned sections.

With that said …

Womanspirit Rising:  Introduction

Right off, I’m in appreciation.  I tend to view religion, as does Marx, as the “opiate of the masses.”  My experience as a woman is that religion is a phenomenal institution to go beyond “keeping people placated” and to actually *suppress* Women.  Being one who sees “obey” as the four-letter-word that it is, I found the religious lifestyle not-at-all-to-my-liking at the tender age of 8 years old.  Forced to attend church by my parents well into my teenage years (until my friends with drivers licenses could secret me away from the confines of the chapel), I spent Sundays fluctuating between outrage, frustration, despair and deep-seated insecurities about my role and worth as a woman. 

I was inundated with the “fact” that it was my sacred DUTY (another four letter word, notice) to bear children.  That it was my duty to obey.  That the greatest thing I could aspire to was to be a support to my future husband and to the singularly-male leaders of my church which worshiped a male God who had a knack for, of all things, PUNISHING.  If I did not subjugate myself to the whims of said men, I would spend an eternity in Hell weeping and wailing and gnashing my teeth – with never … in ALL OF ETERNITY … a chance to redeem myself.

Needless to say, I formed a deep opinion that religion and all things associated therewith (God, even, for over two decades) were nothing more than carefully laid, fear-based traps to keep me (aka: the woman) “in my place”.

And I rejected it in its entirety.

So, now, enter Womanspirit Rising… in my myopic view, I had failed to consider something … that perhaps “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.” (pg 1).  Oh.  Also, on the same day of reading this, I attended a Sociology lecture where I was introduced to Emile Durkheim’s “Functionalist Paradigm” … that paradigm (as opposed to the Chaos Paradigm of Marx) that chooses to view religion as the social control mechanism that it is, but through the lens of the GOOD it instills in Humanity:  instructions to live lives of selflessness, charity, forgiveness, cooperation.  Hm.  These all seem to be virtues of the Feminine Divine.

Could it be that the very institution whose core literally REEKS of female repression has a singular purpose of FURTHERING Feminine virtues?  Oh my … what a paradox.

And then Womanspirit Rising furthers to assert that those who abandoned religion in childhood or adolescence have a skewed and limited view.  They suggest that the rigid rituals, traditions and myths of a run-of-the-mill Sunday school are barely even the tip of the iceberg of what Religion is.  They  loosely define Religion as anything expressing Humanity’s search for meaning, direction, value, and a connection to the Divine.

Ok, then …I’m cool with that.  And I suggest that –for now- , in the interest of supporting my thoughts in this essay, we recognize my definition of the word “Religion” to specifically refer to “Organized Western Religion”.  That works for me in justifying my aversion while, at the same time, keeping myself open to be encouraged by Jung to consider curing the “illness of my soul” by returning to myth and symbol.

Yeah.  ‘nuff said for now.