Loriliai Biernacki
- Published in print:
- 2008
- Published Online:
- September 2007
- ISBN:
- 9780195327823
- eISBN:
- 9780199785520
- Item type:
- book
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195327823.001.0001
- Subject:
- Religion, Hinduism
The role of women and ideas of gender are fundamental components of all religious traditions. Tantric traditions in particular offer a unique perspective on women's participation in religious ...
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The role of women and ideas of gender are fundamental components of all religious traditions. Tantric traditions in particular offer a unique perspective on women's participation in religious traditions since they frequently incorporate worship of Goddesses, along with ordinary women as participants in religious rites. This book examines the representations of women within Tantra using a case study of a selection of Hindu Tantric texts from the fifteenth through eighteenth centuries in Northeast India. Arguing for a nuanced perspective of women in Tantra, this book presents evidence for women's enhanced status in some traditions of Tantra, with women in the roles of guru and initiate. This book also addresses images of women within the Tantric rite of sexual union, arguing for multiple versions and motivations for this notorious practice. Especially this book addresses issues of discourse and speech, women's speech and speech about women, suggesting the imbrication of women's bodies within ideas of women's speech. This book examines a number of Tantric texts that have so far not been translated into Western languages. One appendix delineates the historical context for fifteenth through eighteenth century in the Northeast region of India and also surveys images of women found across a wide range of Tantric texts. The second appendix gives a chapter by chapter synopsis of the primary text used for this study, the Bṭhannīla Tantra, “The Great Blue Tantra,” a long and so far untranslated Tantric text.Less
The role of women and ideas of gender are fundamental components of all religious traditions. Tantric traditions in particular offer a unique perspective on women's participation in religious traditions since they frequently incorporate worship of Goddesses, along with ordinary women as participants in religious rites. This book examines the representations of women within Tantra using a case study of a selection of Hindu Tantric texts from the fifteenth through eighteenth centuries in Northeast India. Arguing for a nuanced perspective of women in Tantra, this book presents evidence for women's enhanced status in some traditions of Tantra, with women in the roles of guru and initiate. This book also addresses images of women within the Tantric rite of sexual union, arguing for multiple versions and motivations for this notorious practice. Especially this book addresses issues of discourse and speech, women's speech and speech about women, suggesting the imbrication of women's bodies within ideas of women's speech. This book examines a number of Tantric texts that have so far not been translated into Western languages. One appendix delineates the historical context for fifteenth through eighteenth century in the Northeast region of India and also surveys images of women found across a wide range of Tantric texts. The second appendix gives a chapter by chapter synopsis of the primary text used for this study, the Bṭhannīla Tantra, “The Great Blue Tantra,” a long and so far untranslated Tantric text.
David George Mullan
- Published in print:
- 2000
- Published Online:
- November 2003
- ISBN:
- 9780198269977
- eISBN:
- 9780191600715
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/0198269978.003.0006
- Subject:
- Religion, History of Christianity
While Puritan divinity hewed closely to contemporary limitations on women's public roles, its promoters took seriously the spiritual needs of female parishioners and incorporated the feminine into ...
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While Puritan divinity hewed closely to contemporary limitations on women's public roles, its promoters took seriously the spiritual needs of female parishioners and incorporated the feminine into their discourse. Marriage, if not theoretically between absolute equals, was based upon mutual affection, and it is clear that ministers were emotionally bound to their beloved spouses and took ‘godly’ women seriously as advisers. But women, while the weaker sex, retained the power to subvert the stronger sex, and so must behave modestly. Men who beat their wives behaved badly and were liable to censure. Women did take part in religious life in the home and were frequent participants when religion controversy went into the streets.Less
While Puritan divinity hewed closely to contemporary limitations on women's public roles, its promoters took seriously the spiritual needs of female parishioners and incorporated the feminine into their discourse. Marriage, if not theoretically between absolute equals, was based upon mutual affection, and it is clear that ministers were emotionally bound to their beloved spouses and took ‘godly’ women seriously as advisers. But women, while the weaker sex, retained the power to subvert the stronger sex, and so must behave modestly. Men who beat their wives behaved badly and were liable to censure. Women did take part in religious life in the home and were frequent participants when religion controversy went into the streets.
Benjamin R. Knoll and and Cammie Jo Bolin
- Published in print:
- 2018
- Published Online:
- June 2018
- ISBN:
- 9780190882365
- eISBN:
- 9780190882396
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/oso/9780190882365.003.0001
- Subject:
- Religion, Religion and Society
This chapter provides an introduction to the current conversation in American religious congregations about women’s ordination. It describes a series of vignettes about controversies over the role of ...
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This chapter provides an introduction to the current conversation in American religious congregations about women’s ordination. It describes a series of vignettes about controversies over the role of women and leadership in a variety of different religious traditions and denominations over the past several years. It also places the conversation about women’s ordination within the wider discourse on women’s equality in the social, economic, and political spheres. It then explains why a new perspective on women’s ordination is needed and how the book will contribute to the conversation. The chapter finishes with a preview of the content of the book’s chapters.Less
This chapter provides an introduction to the current conversation in American religious congregations about women’s ordination. It describes a series of vignettes about controversies over the role of women and leadership in a variety of different religious traditions and denominations over the past several years. It also places the conversation about women’s ordination within the wider discourse on women’s equality in the social, economic, and political spheres. It then explains why a new perspective on women’s ordination is needed and how the book will contribute to the conversation. The chapter finishes with a preview of the content of the book’s chapters.
Benjamin R. Knoll and and Cammie Jo Bolin
- Published in print:
- 2018
- Published Online:
- June 2018
- ISBN:
- 9780190882365
- eISBN:
- 9780190882396
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/oso/9780190882365.003.0003
- Subject:
- Religion, Religion and Society
This chapter focuses on why some people support women’s ordination while others oppose it. It takes a deep dive into face-to-face personal narrative interviews to uncover the common themes and ...
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This chapter focuses on why some people support women’s ordination while others oppose it. It takes a deep dive into face-to-face personal narrative interviews to uncover the common themes and patterns of explanations that people give to justify their positions. It uncovers a few key themes that are common to individuals in a variety of religious traditions, including scriptural authority, personal experiences, and gender stereotypes about the gifts and talents that men and women possess. It is striking that despite interviewees’ reasons for supporting or opposing women’s ordination, many indicated they would gladly change their position if their congregation changed its policy. Middle-aged and older women, however, seem to have the most difficulty overall accepting women as pastors.Less
This chapter focuses on why some people support women’s ordination while others oppose it. It takes a deep dive into face-to-face personal narrative interviews to uncover the common themes and patterns of explanations that people give to justify their positions. It uncovers a few key themes that are common to individuals in a variety of religious traditions, including scriptural authority, personal experiences, and gender stereotypes about the gifts and talents that men and women possess. It is striking that despite interviewees’ reasons for supporting or opposing women’s ordination, many indicated they would gladly change their position if their congregation changed its policy. Middle-aged and older women, however, seem to have the most difficulty overall accepting women as pastors.
