Hello anyone else involved on this new list. I am so pleased to discover a
UK list, and one where the definition is not so narrowly defined as
feminist-theology. I have enjoyed ft very much but I am not mainly
interested in monotheistic theology.
I thought it would be a good idea to introduce myself.
I am halfway through my p/t PhD "A Thealogy of Mothering." This looks at
traditional dualism of mind/body eg Mary which denigrates female biology
and therefore women; at feminist matriphobia arising from hostility to
essentialism; I challenge queer theory and put "maternals" beside
Jantzen's "natals"; at the consequent inequality of gender disadvantaging
men see maternal ontology later; at Sered's cross cultural concept
of 'women's religions' which do validate maternal concerns though
intriguingly not so much body process as nurture; at my own faith Goddess
Paganism and its anomalies re mothering; deity thealogy and the pros/cons
of 'the Mother'; my contention that maternity is often a spiritual
initiation (needs a small study soon); and that its ontology challenges the
unitary concept of self so that even I-Thou is rendered problematic;
querying whether we want (to be) mothers by looking at fantasy futuristic
literature.
Currently registered on the External Programme University of London - that
means I have no college of my own. My supervisor is LSE based so I go there
for seminars with Eileen Barker, and I also attend Ursula King's open
seminars at Bristol.
But I have an exciting new possibility suddenly arrived to transfer to
University College Chichester on the south coast. Their Senior Lecturer
Ruth Mantin teaches religion & gender and the Study of Religions dept is
extraordinarily friendly and supportive.
I am also trained in online education and Chichester is backing me to run a
pilot course in Religion & Gender in Feb/ Mar 2001. So far Ursula King and
Susan Starr Sered have agreed to host weekly online debates
internationally, and we are confident that Carol Christ and Daphne Hampson
will too. A special website will post weekly presentations and a discussion
board will provide peer support. There will be three tutorial groups with
their own discussion boards and chatrooms: Feminist Theology/ Goddess
Studies & Paganism/ Social Sciences & Interfaith.
I live in London with a beloved partner and our 9yr old son who we home
educate.
Looking forward very much to exchange with whoever you are.
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