Feminism and World Religions
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Description
CHOICE 1999 Outstanding Academic Books
Addressing religion and feminism on a global scale, this unprecedented book contains a nuanced and fine-tuned treatment of seven of the world's religions from a feminist perspective by leading women scholars. Feminism and World Religions contains chapters on Hinduism by Vasudha Narayanan, Buddhism by Rita M. Gross, Confucianism by Terry Woo, Taoism by Karen McLaughlin and Eva Wong, Judaism by Ellen M. Umansky, Christianity by Rosemary Radford Ruether, and Islam by Riffat Hassan, along with a general introduction and a postscript by Katherine K. Young and a preface by Arvind Sharma. The fact that these authors share a dual but undivided commitment both to themselves as women and to their traditions as adherents imparts to their voices a prophetic quality, and if Mahatma Gandhi is to be believed, even scriptural value.
Arvind Sharma is Birks Professor of Comparative Religion at McGill University. He has edited several books, among them, Women in World Religions; Religion and Women; and Today's Woman in World Religions, all published by SUNY Press. Katherine K. Young is Associate Professor of Religious Studies at McGill University. She has edited several books, among them (with Harold Coward and Julius Lipner) Hindu Ethics: Purity, Abortion, and Euthanasia, published by SUNY Press, and Images of the Feminine.
Reviews
"There are many excellent aspects to this book. Beginning with the highly critical introduction, the text represents the history of the feminist movement and the great diversities of approaches, both within a particular tradition and among the world's traditions. This gives a breadth and depth to the text that could not be found within works which are tradition-bound. The detail provided by each author is most interesting, indeed, enlightening. As the introduction makes clear, this is the unique advantage of having each chapter written by an 'insider. ' I am especially appreciative of the representation of the Confucian and Taoist traditions in this area. Their inclusion brings voices that are rarely heard. " — Kathleen Dugan, University of San Diego