Radical Feminists emphasise the patriarchal nature of some mainstream religions such as Catholicism and Islam. They argue that such religions have developed in patriarchal societies and have been ‘hijacked’ by men. Men have interpreted religious doctrines in order to justify their positions of power.
Radical Feminists also believe that religion often serves to compensate women for their second class status within religion and society more generally. For example, by providing psychological rewards if they accept their role as mothers and limit their horizons to fulfilling that role well.
However, Radical Feminists do not necessarily see religion as inherently patriarchal. Historically, for example, Goddess religions have celebrated the creative and nurturing power of the feminine. It is really men hijacking religion and downplaying the role of women in the development of some religions over the past couple of thousand years which is the problem.
It follows that women can use religion to lead fulfilling lives, but need to fight oppression within mainstream religious organisations to do so, or even to develop their own unique, individual paths to a feminine spirituality.
Four Feminist Perspectives on Religion
The mind map below summarises the following Feminist perspectives on religion. Please click the links below for more details:
- Simone de Beauvoir who developed a Marxist Feminist analysis of religion. She argued that religion oppresses women mainly through convincing them motherhood is divine.
- Mary Daly focused on how Christianity has historically spread a set of patriarchal myths and promoted female subordination. For example Catholicism abolished all indigenous religions in which women had spiritual power.
- Nawal el Saadawi argued that religions such as Islam were not inherently patriarchal. However when religions developed in patriarchal societies, they gradually became interpreted along patriarchal lines.
- Carol P Christ – promoted a Feminist spirituality. She pointed out that the most ancient religions tended to revolve around Goddess worship. She advocates for feminist spiritualities which focus on feelings and are experiential and personal.
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