Feminist theology, religious studies and gender studies: Mutual challenges

Abstract

I explore the possibilities of a deeper and mutually enriching dialogue between feminist theology and gender theorizing in other fields. The insights of feminist theology are seldom included in a truly interdisciplinary dialogue between the feminist study of religion and "secular" gender studies. This is true also in gender studies of religion, even though to a lesser extent. The omissions are based on an inadequate understanding of the role of (feminist) theology especially in Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Scholars working on gender have been pioneers in creating more dialogue between religious studies and theology. It is important to pay attention to how both ethnographic and textual methods could be used more. Feminist theologians seldom use ethnographic methods. Doctrinal issues may be bypassed in religious studies, even when it would be crucial in understanding a specific religious symbol such as the Virgin Mary.