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| Preface | |
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| Women's Religious Experiences | |
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| What is Religion? | |
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| Patriarchy in Institutionalized Religions | |
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| Limits on Women's Religious Participation | |
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| Women's Bodies | |
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| Women's Non-institutional Spiritual Roles | |
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| Interview: Rosemarie Eble, Emergency Nurse | |
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| Women as Mystics | |
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| Women as Ascetics | |
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| Studying Women in Religions | |
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| Are Women Different from Men? | |
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| Concepts of the Divine | |
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| Challenges to Institutional Restrictions | |
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| Women and Current Issues | |
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| Key Terms and Suggested Reading | |
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| Women in Indigenous Religions | |
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| Overview of Indigenous Religions | |
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| Gender Balance | |
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| Female Divinity | |
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| Excerpt: Paula Gunn Allen, At the Center of All is Woman | |
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| Women in Mythology | |
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| Shamans, Priestesses, Healers | |
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| Interview: Maria Amanchina, Siberian Shaman | |
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| Women's Rituals | |
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| Genital Surgery | |
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| Rites for First Menstruation | |
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| Reclaiming Ancestral Roots | |
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| Healing of the Planet and the People | |
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| Interview: Luanna Neff, Healing a Bombed Hawaiian Island | |
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| Key Terms and Suggested Reading | |
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| Women in Hinduism | |
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| Paths of Sanatana Dharma | |
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| The Changing Role of Women | |
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| Worship of the Goddess | |
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| Women as Ascetics and Bhaktis | |
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| Biography: Akka Mahadevi | |
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| Women's Rituals | |
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| Excerpt: Vijaya Nagarajan, Women's Auspicious Designs | |
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| Spiritual Music and Dance | |
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| Interview: Bharati Shivaji, Mohiniyattam Dancer and Teacher | |
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| Female Teachers | |
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| Excerpt: Sri Mata Amritanandamayi, The Awakening of Universal Motherhood | |
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| Hindu Practice in the West | |
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| Women and Communalism | |
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| Women and Social Activism | |
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| Key Terms and Suggested Reading | |
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| Women in Buddhism | |
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| Life and Teachings of the Buddha | |
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| Excerpt: Maechee Pathomwan, Mindfulness and the End of Suffering | |
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| Creation of an Order of Nuns | |
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| Women's Situation in the Major Forms of Buddhism | |
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| Contemporary Status and Ordination of Nuns | |
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| Biography: Yeshe Tsogyel | |
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| Feminist Analysis of Buddhist Concepts | |
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| Contemporary Women as Buddhist Teachers | |
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| Buddhist Women as Social Activists | |
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| Excerpt: bell hooks, Defining Oneself as Buddhist | |
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| Key Terms and Suggested Reading | |
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| Women in Confucianism and Daoism | |
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| Ancient Ways of Chinese Religions | |
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| Women in Confucianism | |
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| Excerpt: Pan Chao, Lessons for Women | |
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| Neo-Confucianism | |
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| Rebellion against Confucianism in Modern China | |
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| Confucianism outside the Republic of China | |
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| The Development of Daoism | |
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| Excerpt: Chung Hyun Kyung, "Comfort Women" of Asia | |
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| Feminine Aspects of Daoism | |
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| Biography: Sun Bu-er, Female Adept | |
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| Female Immortals and Adepts | |
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| Key Terms and Suggested Reading | |
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| Women in Judaism | |
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| Development of Judaism | |
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| Women in the Hebrew Bible | |
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| Excerpt: The Story of Eve | |
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| Excerpt: The Story of Esther | |
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| Women in Jewish History | |
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| Biography: Gluckel of Hamelin | |
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| Traditional Jewish Laws Concerning Women | |
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| Contemporary Changes | |
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| Feminist Theology | |
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| Excerpt: Judith Plaskow, God-language | |
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| Feminist Liturgy | |
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| Excerpt: Mierle Laderman Ukeles, Mikva Dreams | |
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| Women in Contemporary Judaism | |
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| Interview: Rabbi Patricia Karlin-Neumann, On Becoming a Rabbi | |
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| Key Terms and Suggested Reading | |
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| Women in Christianity | |
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| The Jesus Movement | |
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| Women of the Bible | |
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| Women in Early Christian Communities | |
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| Subsequent Subordination of Women | |
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| Excerpt: Rosemary Radford Ruether, Equivalence or Subordination | |
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| Martyrs, Saints, and Ascetics | |
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| Excerpt: Julian of Norwich, Our Mother Jesus | |
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| Biography: St. Teresa of Avila, God's Real Friend | |
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| Christian Women's Institutional Roles | |
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| Interview: Rev. Allison Stokes, Ph.D. | |
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| Social Activists and Servants of Humanity | |
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| Feminist Theology | |
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| Excerpt: Creating New Liturgies for Women | |
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| Contemporary Issues | |
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| Key Terms and Suggested Reading | |
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| Women in Islam | |
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| Women in Pre-Muslim Arabia | |
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| The Prophet and Women | |
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| Biography: Khadija | |
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| Increasing Seclusion and Veiling of Women | |
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| Feminist Reading of the Holy Qur'an | |
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| Excerpt: Riffat Hassan, Human Liberation is Supported by the Holy Qur'an | |
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| Laws Concerning Women | |
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| Excerpt: Amina Wadud, Wives and Qur'an | |
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| Varied Cultural Settings of Islam Today | |
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| Interview: Sana Shariq, A Journey into the Heart | |
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| Social Issues and Feminist Activism | |
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| Excerpt: Amina Wadud, Alternative Views of Islamic Ideals | |
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| Women as Mystics | |
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| Excerpt: Prayers of Rabi'a | |
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| Key Terms and Suggested Reading | |
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| Women in Newer Religions | |
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| Sikhism | |
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| Biography: Bibi Sahib Kaur | |
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| Baha'i Faith | |
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| Theosophy to New Age | |
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| Wicca | |
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| Goddess Spirituality | |
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| Excerpt: Starhawk, Spirit and Action | |
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| Afro-Caribbean Mixtures | |
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| Key Terms and Suggested Reading | |
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| Women Beyond Religions | |
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| Personal Spirituality | |
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| Mystics and Healers | |
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| Interview: Koshi, Uncharted Ways | |
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| Eclectic Ways | |
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| Non-hierarchical, Non-dogmatic Groups | |
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| Suggested Reading | |
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| Notes | |
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| Glossary | |
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| Illustration Credits | |
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| Index | |