Opinie. Spiritualiteit en maatschappelijk engagement als 'moderne' oppositie
Auteurs
Anne-Marie Korte
Samenvatting
Today spirituality and social commitment are
often perceived as two oppositional orientations:
inwards versus outwards, private versus
public, religious versus secular. In this article
this opposition is critically analyzed from the
perspective of genderstudies in theology and
religious studies. Firstly the emergence of an
opposition between spirituality and social
commitment is traced in cultural historical
perspective. It is shown that this concerns a
modern opposition, that has become manifest
and influential in twentieth century religious
and political thought. Secondly the role
of feminist reflection and feminist theology in
the upholding and affirmation of this opposition
is discussed. It is shown that the idea
that religion primarily is an inward orientation
and a cultivation of dependency of self sacrifice,
that withholds women from claiming
equality and performing (public) roles outside
the private sphere, still dominates contemporary
debates on religion and emancipation.
The origins of these debates are related to
early twentieth century Max Weber’s sociological
analyses of religion, modernity and women’s
emancipation. This article points to the
importance of research in the field of gender
and religion that is not framed in terms of
individual and inward religious orientation
versus social participation and public involvement.
It recommends to study women’s
religious interests and activities (more) in
relation to their performance as promoters
and sustainers of familial, intergenerational,
informal and local bonds and relationships.