This course will study the role of women in various world religious traditions. Through study    of the teachings (e.g., the understandings of the divine, the human person, moral action in the world, the role of marriage and sexuality, religious rituals) of the religious tradition(s), particularly as they affect women, students will become aware of the influence of religion on gender roles, and how women in the contemporary world are reinterpreting their religious traditions. By studying the ways both historical and contemporary women relate these teachings to their lives, students will learn how women and men subject these traditions to critique by drawing on the core teachings of the traditions themselves as well as by contemporary ideas of gender equality, in order to work for greater justice in religion as well as in society. Students will study some of the issues that engage contemporary scholars of women and religion, such as scriptural interpretation, violence against women and children, and women’s religious leadership. This course explores feminine perspectives of religion and spirituality in classical and indigenous religions today and throughout history. We will examine images of the divine, mythological presentations, as well as roles and practices of women in each tradition through the study of traditional writings, feminist themes and feminist theologies. In doing so, we will address questions such as: What do sacred sources in traditional religions say about women and issues of gender; and how both men and women in society have used oral and written sacred narratives.