Women and Religion; Web Resources

*Prepared for a non-accredited, introductory seminar on Women and Religion.

Web Sites

Academic Info. Women and Religion (www.academicinfo.net/religwom.html) ADVANCED
A variety of links specific to women’s participation in the world’s major religious traditions.

Bibliography on Women and Religion (www.nd.edu/~archives/lau_bib.html) ADVANCED
Exhaustive bibliography of all the most important books on Women and Religion. Regularly updated.

Courses: www.ovular.co.uk/events.html and www.ovular.co.uk/relgender/wworlds.html. Shan Jayran offers an online course featuring scholars Carol Christ, Susan Starr Sered, Ursula King, Daphne Hampson and others.

Books

Feminism and Religion TOPPICK, GOOD FOR BEGINNERS
by Rita Gross
Comprehensive and clear account of the impact of feminist theory on the study of religion.

An Anthology of Sacred Texts By and About Women TOPPICK, RARE FIND
edited by Serinity Young
Excellent compendium of primary texts that situate women’s position in the religions of the world.

Weaving the Visions: New Patterns in Feminist Spirituality POPULAR
edited by Judith Plakow and Carol P. Christ
Collection of short essays on women’s religious practices in world religions.

Women in World Religion GOOD FOR BEGINNERS
edited by Arvind Sharma
Collection of essays on women’s roles in Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Taoism, Christianity, Islam and Aboriginal Australia.

Videos:

The Faithful Women Series (www.nfb.ca) GOOD FOR BEGINNERS
Four videos that record the proceedings of the first Women’s Interfaith Dialogue in 1988. Covers Islam, Christianity, Judaism, Native traditions and others.

Religions of the Book: Women Serving Religion (www.films.com) GOOD FOR BEGINNERS
Women’s roles in Judaism, Christianity and Islam. 29 minutes.

Periodicals:

Journal of Feminist Studies in Religion (www.hds.harvard.edu/jfsr/Welcome.htm) TOPPICK, ADVANCED
The most important journal for the academic study of women in religion. Regular articles on world religions.

The Journal of Women and Religion (http://www.gtu.edu/Centers/cwr/index.html) ADVANCED
Essays concerning women’s religious practices from a variety of traditions.

Online & Distance Courses:

Religions of the World: A Women’s Studies Emphasis (www.wlu.ca/~wwwaar/syllabi) TOPPICK, GOOD FOR BEGINNERS
Associate Professor Martha Reineke offers a detailed course outline for those beginning their studies in the field.

Contemporary Issues for Women and Religion (www.wlu.ca/~wwwaar/syllabi) ADVANCED
A syllabus compiled by myself for an advanced class on women and religion.

Powerful and Powerless: Women and Religion (www.wlu.ca/~wwwaar/syllabi) GOOD FOR BEGINNERS
Prof. Ann K. Wetherilt of Emmanuel College presents her class outline for an introductory course on women in world religions, with an emphasis on Christianity and Judaism.

Web Sites

Diotima: Women and Gender in the Ancient World (www.uky.edu/ArtsSciences/Classics/gender.html) TOPPICK, RARE FIND
An excellent and interdisciplinary source on women’s lives from the ancient Mediterranean. Includes important articles, images, book reviews, bibliographies and course outlines.

Women in Prehistory: The "Venus" of Willendorf RARE FIND (www.arthistory.sbc.edu/imageswomen/willendorfgoddess.html)
Excellent introduction to the debates surrounding "mother goddess" artifacts from prehistory.

Mothers of Time: Seven Palaeolithic Figurines from the Louis Alexandre Jullien Collection RARE FIND (http://www.civilization.ca/membrs/archaeo/paleofig/pal00eng.html)
Contains beautiful photos of early goddess artifacts along with a short essay on their significance.

Books

The Myth of the Goddess: Evolution of an Image GOOD FOR BEGINNERS
Anne Baring and Jules Cashford
Drawing on mythology, archaeological artifacts and sacred texts, the authors examine the evidence available to understand a variety of ancient goddess traditions: Inanna, Ishtar, Isis, Tiamat and Cybele.

The Language of the Goddess ADVANCED
By Marija Gimbutas
From the archaeologist who most cogently argued that a wide-spread belief in the mother goddess existed in prehistoric times. Here she draws connections between the wide variety of ancient goddess artifacts found across the region called "Old Europe".

The Feminist Companion to Mythology TOPPICK, ADVANCED
Edited by Carolyne Larrington
Essays on goddess mythology from ancient Near East, Greece, India, Oceania, and America.

Goddess Sites: Europe POPULAR
Anneli S. Rufus and Kristan Lawson
A unique travel book that highlights the ancient goddess sites that can still be viewed and visited in Europe.

Videos:

Goddess Remembered (www.nfb.ca) TOPPICK, RARE FIND
A beautiful film celebrating the prehistoric worship of the goddess. Interviews with scholars Merlin Stone, Carol Christ, Charlene Spretnak and others.

Software:

CD-ROM: Etruria and the Etruscan Woman (www.films.com) ADVANCED
Women’s roles and religious lives from the (pre-Roman) Etruscan period form the focus of this CDROM. Provides an examination of Etrurian art, artifacts, architecture and texts.

Online & Distance Courses

Goddesses in World Mythology (www.humboldt.edu/~lg8/) TOPPICK, RARE FIND
Lanier Graham, former Curator of the Museum of Modern Art, directs a course on the ancient goddess traditions. Uses RealAudio.

Introduction to Irish Goddesses (http://reppin.asap.um.maine.edu:8900/public/MLC190_490/index.html) GOOD FOR BEGINNERS
The mythology of the ancient Irish Goddesses is examined in detail.

Discussion Groups

Listservs:

Anahita-l-subscribe@egroups.com (www.onelist.com/group/Anahita-l) ADVANCED
A scholarly discussion of women’s lives in the ancient Mediterranean world.

Web Sites

Jewish Feminist Resources (http://world.std.com/~alevin/jewishfeminist.html) TOPPICK, QUICK
The most comprehensive source of feminist information on Judaism available online. Provides links to music, film, sacred texts, organizations and periodicals.

Bat Kol: A Feminist House of Study (http://batkol.org/) ADVANCED
A center for feminist research on Judaism located in Israel. Offers opportunities to study in Israel.

Maven: The Jewish Portal; Women and Feminism (www.maven.co.il) TOPPICK, QUICK
Provides a list of the most important feminist sites for the study of Judaism.

Books

Women in the Hebrew Bible TOPPICK, RARE FIND
Edited by Alice Bach
Excellent collection of essays on the major and minor female characters in the books of the Hebrew Bible.

Gender and Difference in Ancient Israel ADVANCED
Editor, Peggy L. Day
Situates the status of women in the early Semitic tribes and their importance in shaping the Judaic tradition.

Videos:

Half the Kingdom (www.nfb.ca) TOPPICK, RARE FIND
Excellent 1 hour documentary on women’s current status in Judaism. Examines the intersection of feminism and Judaism.

Naomi’s Legacy (www.wmm.com) POPULAR
A reflection on three generations of Jewish women from a single family.

Periodicals:

Lilith: the Independent Jewish Women’s Magazine (www.lilithmag.com/) TOPPICK, POPULAR
A non-profit quarterly that has been around for more than twenty years. The popular voice of the Jewish feminist movement.

Bridges: A Journal for Jewish Feminists and Our Friends (www.pond.net/~ckinberg/bridges/) POPULAR
Popular source for those interested in Jewish feminist activism and lesbian issues.

Women in Judaism: A Multidisciplinary Journal ADVANCED (www.utoronto.ca/wjudaism/journal/p_journal.html)
A new academic journal dedicated to women’s issues in Judaism. All articles available online.

Online & Distance Courses

Women in Rabbinic Literature (http://courses.jtsa.edu/registration/) GOOD FOR BEGINNERS
A credit course on women’s status in the Jewish Midrashic and Rabbinic texts; Organized by the Distance Learning Project through the Melton Research Center for Jewish Education. (learn@jts)

Web Sites

Hulda: Feminist Theology (www.dike.de/hulda/english.html) TOPPICK, QUICK
The most extensive listing of web sites, organizations, articles, reviews and artwork pertaining to women and Christianity. Available in German and English.

Matrix (http://matrix.bc.edu/MatrixWebData/matrix.html) ADVANCED
A compendium of sources concerning women’s religious communities.

Women Writers of the Middle Ages (www.millersv.edu/~english/homepage/duncan/medfem/medfem.html) QUICK
Biographies and site links on Medieval women thinkers, including important religious writers such as Julian of Norwich, Margery Kempe and Hildegard of Bingen.

Christian and Feminist (www.users.csbsju.edu/~eknuth/xpxx/index.html) GOOD FOR BEGINNERS
Good source of articles, bibliographies, historical sources and reviews helpful for a feminist analysis of Christianity.

Catholic Perspective on Women in Society and in the Church GOOD FOR BEGINNERS
(www.cco.caltech.edu/~newman/women.html)
Full articles available from a variety of theological magazines on the Catholic view of women’s religious participation.

Books

When Women Were Priests TOPPICK, RARE FIND
By Karen Jo Torjesen
Historical account of women’s important leadership roles in the Church from the inception of Christianity.

Searching the Scriptures: A Feminist Introduction and A Feminist Commentary (Volumes I and II) TOPPICK, RARE FIND
Edited by Elisabeth Shüssler-Fiorenza
An excellent beginner’s guide to reading the Bible from a feminist perspective.

Videos:

Behind the Veil: Nuns (www.nfb.ca) POPULAR
2-part series on the history of women’s religious orders in Christianity and their significant contribution from the past to the present.

CDs:

A Feather on the Breath of God: Abbess Hildegard of Bingen (1179) TOPPICK, RARE FIND
Gothic Voices with Emma Kirkby, directed by Christopher Page (Hyperion Records)
Original hymns and sequences written by the famous Medieval mystic Hildegard von Bingen.

Software:

Sybils! (www.films.com) GOOD FOR BEGINNERS
A CD-ROM that explores the secular and religious roles of women in the Middle Ages and Renaissance in Europe. Includes audio clips and images from manuscripts and artwork.

Periodicals:

Cross-Currents: New Feminist Theologies (www.aril.org/su98.htm) POPULAR
An accessible journal on Christian theology with a feminist perspective. Many articles, reviews and poems available online.

Vox feminarum (www3.sympatico.ca/voxfeminarum/intro.html) POPULAR
A valuable journal of feminist spirituality. Articles available online.

Online & Distance Courses

Religion and Women: Images of Women in the Bible (www.newpromise.com) GOOD FOR BEGINNERS
University of Iowa; Feminist analysis of the portrayal of women in the Old and New Testament.

Feminist Theology in Third World Perspective (www.wlu.ca/~wwwaar/syllabi) TOPPICK, GOOD FOR BEGINNERS
Detailed course syllabus offered by renown feminist theologian Kwok Pui-lan; examines feminist theology from the perspective of developing countries.

Discussions:

Discussion groups:

Inclusive Church (www.inclusivechurch.org/TOC_Main.htm) GOOD FOR BEGINNERS
A variety of different discussion topics relating to Catholic women: women’s ordination, gender inclusive language and the Vatican hierarchy, for example.

Listservs:

feminist-theology (feminist-theology-request@mailbase.ac.uk) or (www.mailbase.ac.uk/lists-f-j/feminist-theology/) TOPPICK, POPULAR
An informal, but serious group that discuss Christian and Jewish theology from a feminist angle.

Web Sites

Muslim Women’s League (www.mwlusa.org/welcome.html) TOPPICK, QUICK
Listing of current news and views relevant to Islamic women across the world; also includes essays and position papers.

Women and Islam (www.islamzine.com/women/) GOOD FOR BEGINNERS
A defense of women’s rights from within the Islamic faith; quotations from the Quran and Sharia’ah.

Women and Islam (www.unn.ac.uk/societies/islamic/_current/main.htm) QUICK
An attempt to "separate fact from fiction" concerning the popular view of Islamic women’s oppression; a Muslim’s perspective.

Maryams.Net (www.maryams.net/) TOPPICK, GOOD FOR BEGINNERS
A Muslim woman demonstrates that women’s rights and the Islamic faith are not irreconcilable. Lots of articles, biographies and links.

Books

Arab Women: Between Defiance and Restraint TOPPICK, RARE FIND
Edited by Suha Sabbagh
Essays by Islamic feminists; A corrective to the standard Western view that all Muslim women are oppressed.

The Veil and the Male Elite ADVANCED
By Fatima Mernissi
A scholar of Islam re-examines her tradition from a feminist perspective.

Videos:

Hidden Faces (www.wmm.com) POPULAR
A documentary on women’s lives in contemporary Egypt; the tensions between traditional Islam and modernity.

Covered: The Hejab in Cairo, Egypt (www.wmm.com) POPULAR
An investigation into the practice of "hejab" (veiling) for the Islamic women of modern Egypt.

In My Father’s House (www.wmm.com) GOOD FOR BEGINNERS
Islamic marriage customs are detailed in this Moroccan documentary film by Fatima Jebli Ouazzani.

Periodicals:

WIN Magazine (www.winmagazine.org/) TOPPICK, GOOD FOR BEGINNERS
Women’s International Net regularly features accessible articles on contemporary issues for Islamic women, among other religious traditions; all articles available online.

Women’s Issues (http://women3rdworld.miningco.com/newsissues/women3rdworld/) QUICK
Regular news from Islamic countries concerning women’s rights.

Online & Distance Courses:

Women and Religion (www.wlu.ca/~wwwaar)
A detailed course outline by Barbara von Schlegell that compares issues of gender in Judaism and Islam.

Web Sites

SAWNET (www.umiacs.umd.edu:80/users/sawweb/sawnet/) TOPPICK, QUICK
South Asian Women’s Network; a forum of information on South Asian women, including links, books, news and organizations.

Hindu Women (www.hinduwomen.org) GOOD FOR BEGINNERS
Hindu Women’s Resource Center offers spiritual guidance, tools and biographies of important female religious figures for practicing Hindu women.

Hindu Goddesses (www.mach3ww.com/~thompsj/india/) GOOD FOR BEGINNERS
Personal and succinct definitions of several important goddesses of the Hindu tradition.

Books:

Devi: Goddesses of India ADVANCED
Edited by John Stratton Hawley and Donna Marie Wulff
Exhaustive foray into the many important goddesses of Hinduism: Devi, Kali, Sri, Radha, among others.

Tantric Visions of the Divine Feminine ADVANCED
By David Kinsley
Ten Hindu goddesses from Tantrism are examined in detail by this renown Hindu scholar.

Periodicals:

Manushi (www.freespeech.org/manushi/) TOPPICK, POPULAR
An accessible journal dedicated to women’s lives in India founded by feminist activist and filmmaker, Madhu Kishwar.

Journal of South Asian Women’s Studies (www.asiatica.org/publiations/jsaws/) TOPPICK, ADVANCED
Primary academic source for issues concerning women in Hinduism and Buddhism.

Indian Journal of Gender Studies (www.sagepub.co.uk/journals/details/j0041.html) ADVANCED
From the Centre for Women’s Studies in New Delhi, this academic journal examines the gender dynamics at work in Indian society.

Web Sites

Sakyadhita: the International Association of Buddhist Women (www2.hawaii.edu/~tsomo/) TOPPICK, ADVANCED
Good site for forthcoming conference, news and events for Buddhist women; also has helpful links and bibliography.

Women Active in Buddhism (http://members.tripod.com/~Lhamo/) TOPPICK, ADVANCED
A source for Buddhist feminists, activists, scholars and practitioners; an emphasis on Tibetan Buddhism.

Zen, Women, and Buddhism (www.geocities.com/Wellesley/Veranda/5161/index.html) GOOD FOR BEGINNERS
Offers information on Buddhist women from Burma and China, on Buddhist nuns, and historical data on women’s roles at the time of the Buddha;

Tibetan Women’s Association (http://www.fotwa.org/) QUICK
A non-governmental organization based in Dharamasala India; focuses on the rights of Tibetan women under current Chinese rule.

Books

Meeting the Great Bliss Queen – Buddhists, Feminists, and the Art of the Self ADVANCED
By Anne Carolyln Klein
An emphasis on the feminine embodiment of Wisdom; feminist analysis of Buddhist practice.

Periodicals:

Journal of South Asian Women’s Studies (www.asiatica.org/publiations/jsaws/) TOPPICK, ADVANCED
Primary academic source for issues concerning women in Hinduism and Buddhism.

Asian Center for Women’s Studies, journal (http://ews.ewha.ac.kr/ews/eng/m6acws/top.html) ADVANCED
Centered in Korea at the Ewha Woman’s University, this site and journal focus on women’s lives and practices in Buddhist, Hindu and Christian Asia.

Online & Distance Courses:

Women and Buddhism (www.wlu.ca/~wwwaar/syllabi/) TOPPICK, GOOD FOR BEGINNERS
Ding-hwa E. Hsieh offers a detailed syllabus for this introductory course on Women in Theravada, and Mahyna Buddhisms.

Women in Chinese Religion (www.wlu.ca/~wwwaar/syllabi/) GOOD FOR BEGINNERS
Ding-hwa E. Hsieh from Truman State University provides a lengthy class outline for an undergraduate course on women’s participation in Confucianism and Buddhism.

Web Sites

The Institute for the Advancement of Aboriginal Women (http://sites.netscape.net/iaaw/iaaw.htm) TOPPICK, QUICK
A non-profit organization that promotes women’s aboriginal culture; good links and current events postings.

Native Women (www.autochtones.com/en/first_peoples/start_women.html) GOOD FOR BEGINNERS
A good summary of issues concerning Native women; focus on Iroquoian, Algonquian and Inuit Woman.

Native Web (www.nativeweb.org/) QUICK
A general collection of links, news and a search engine for information on Native traditions.

Books

Grandmothers of the Light: A Medicine Woman’s Sourcebook GOOD FOR BEGINNERS
By Paula Gunn Allen
A collection of goddess stories from various Native American societies.

My Place TOPPICK, POPULAR
By Sally Morgan
Aboriginal Australian author traces her native roots in this gripping autobiography.

Videos:

Keepers of the Fire (www.nfb.ca) TOPPICK, GOOD FOR BEGINNERS
A documentary featuring the continued resistance by Aboriginal women to cultural assimilation; Canadian focus.

Sweating Indian Style (www.wmm.com)
A good look at the cultural appropriation of Native traditions by the New Age movement; California focus.

Nice Colored Girls (www.wmm.com) GOOD FOR BEGINNERS
Australian Aboriginal director, Tracey Moffat examines the racial tensions of Australia in this documentary of Aboriginal women’s oppression.

CDs (include artist/group):

Heartbeat (Smithsonian Folkways; 1995) (www.amazon.com) POPULAR
Traditional songs performed by Voices of First Nations Women; audio clips available on amazon.com

Weaving the Strands (Red Feather; 1999) (www.amazon.com) POPULAR
New music performed by contemporary Native Women; audio clips available on amazon.com

TV or Radio (include network/station):

Honor the Grandmothers; Radio (www.sarahpenman.com/documentaries/grandmothers.html) GOOD FOR BEGINNERS
(1992) A series of radio documentaries featuring interviews with Dakota/Lakota female elders. In RealAudio.

Periodicals:

The Indigenous Women’s Network (http://www.honorearth.com/) GOOD FOR BEGINNERS
Headquarters for the biannual magazine "Indigenous Woman"; also good listing of current events and related organizations.

Aboriginal Voices (www.aboriginalvoices.com) POPULAR
Popular magazine for general issues concerning Native North Americans; some women-specific content.

Web Sites

Female Genital Mutilation Education and Networking Project (www.fgmnetwork.org/index.html) GOOD FOR BEGINNERS
A non-profit organization against the African practice of female genital mutilation.

African Gender Institute (www.uct.ac.za/org/agi/index.htm) QUICK
Academic focus on women in Africa from the University of Cape Town, South Africa; regular news, papers and events posted; good links.

African Women: Resources (www.africaonline.com/AfricaOnline/coverwomen.html) GOOD FOR BEGINNERS
Current news, links, organizations and other resources focussing on human rights in Africa.

Books:

Daughters of Anowa: African Women and Patriarchy GOOD FOR BEGINNERS
By Mercy Amba Oduyoye
How cultural myths can shape the social realities of contemporary African women.

Warrior Marks: Female Genital Mutilation and the Sexual Blinding of Women POPULAR
By Alice Walker and Pratibha Parmar
An account of the making of the film ("Warrior Marks") that exposes the widespread practice of female genital mutilation in Africa.

Videos:

Warrior Marks (www.wmm.com) TOPPICK, POPULAR
Critical examination of the African practice of female genital mutilation; focus on Gambia and Senegal; featuring African American writer Alice Walker and singer Tracy Chapman.

Monday’s Girls (www.wmm.com) GOOD FOR BEGINNERS
This documentary examines a Nigerian pre-nuptial rite of passage for young women.

CDs:

Holding Up Half the Sky: Voices of African Women (Shanachie; 1997) POPULAR
Compilation of contemporary African women singers from across the spectrum of the continent’s cultures.

TV or Radio (include network/station):

Fire (www.fire.cor.cr/progeng.htm) GOOD FOR BEGINNERS
Feminist radio news programs with a focus on developing countries; several on female genital mutilation in Africa.

Periodicals:

Africa Woman and Gender (http://news.asiaco.com/world/africa/woman_gender.shtml) QUICK
From Asiaco, the Asia Search Engine; a regular news feed of issues concerning African women.

Discussions (include URL or subscribe instructions):

Listservs:

GENNET (GENNET@majordomo.und.ac.za ) GOOD FOR BEGINNERS
Email owner-gennet@ma to be part of this regular discussion group on gender issues in Africa. Focus largely South African.

Web Sites

Starhawk (www.reclaiming.org/starhawk/) TOPPICK, POPULAR
Leading Wiccan writer and practitioner, Starhawk features her most recent work and forthcoming events planned across America.

Z Budapest (www.zbudapest.com/) POPULAR
Prominent Wiccan priestess and writer, Z Budapest offers psychic readings and consultations, features her most recent work and workshops.

Green Pages (www.oakgrove.org/GreenPages/green.html) QUICK
Detailed pagan information, links, resources and search engine; award-winning.

Witches’ Web (www.witchesweb.com/home.html) ADVANCED
Includes event postings, witch shop, witches’ calendar and links; popular Wiccan site.

CoGWeb (www.cog.org/) TOPPICK, POPULAR
Covenant of the Goddess Web, an international Wiccan organization offering regular polls of its members, resources, local activities listings and archives detailing the Wiccan tradition.

Books:

Drawing Down the Moon, GOOD FOR BEGINNERS
By Margot Adler
The first complete account of the contemporary pagan and Wiccan movement in North America.

Changing of the Gods, GOOD FOR BEGINNERS
By Naomi R. Goldenberg
Classic summary of the rise of feminism in women’s religious practices; focus on Wicca and the women’s goddess movements.

Living in the Lap of the Goddess TOPPICK, ADVANCED
By Cynthia Eller
An excellent examination of the feminist spirituality movement in North America, with an emphasis on neo-paganism and Wicca.

Videos:

Women and Spirituality Trilogy (www.nfb.ca) TOPPICK, RARE FIND
Burning Times, Full Circle and Goddess Remembered, trace goddess worship from ancient times to the present Wiccan and new age movement.

TV or Radio (include network/station):

China Galland (www.worldmind.com/Cannon/Culture/Interviews/galland.html) POPULAR
Interview with leading and controversial goddess scholar, China Galland on the Black Madonna and the female Buddha.

Periodicals:

Sage Woman (www.sagewoman.com/) POPULAR
A celebratory magazine on the goddess and the practice of goddess spirituality.