RELIGIOUS STUDIES 303

Women in Religion

Fall 2004

Professor John K. Simmons

REVIEW FOR THE FINAL EXAMINATION

ESSAY QUESTION

Exam date: Tuesday, December 14

Exam time: PLEASE NOTE THE 1:00PM STARTING TIME

Exam format: The in-class portion of the exam will be 20 computer-graded multiple choice questions worth 1 point each and 8 short answer identifications (you pick any 5) worth 2 points each for an in-class exam total of 30 possible points. Please answer the take home essay question (see below), and bring the completed essay to the exam on December 9. The essay will be worth a possible 20 points for an exam total of 50 points.

Pages covered in Women and Religion: chapters 6 & 8; pages 157-169; 213-241 (background reading)

Who Cooked the Last Supper? finish the book at you leisure (background reading)

PowerPoint graphics on the Web site: Most of the questions on the exam including multiple choice and short answer identifications will be drawn from the in-class PowerPoint graphics. The text for those graphics can be found on my Web site under Religious Studies 303. For the final, there are three new files: Doctrine, Interpretation, and Sexism in Religion, the Lost Goddess in Christianity, and, Jane Goodall. Feel free to rely on these notes in creating your essay.

Web site: http://www.wiu.edu/users/mfjks

Please be familiar with the following key themes, videos, and women religious leaders:

A. Reason for Hope: A Spiritual Journey: Jane Goodall video = her spiritual journey

B. Doctrine, interpretation, and sexism in religion

C. Religion and spirituality (from Jane Goodall notes)

D. The lost goddess in Christianity

E. How Christianity “absorbed” hierarchy and patriarchy

F. Jesus’ egalitarianism; Jesus and women

G. Service: Jesus’ deconstructive ministry

H. Paul and women

I. Full Circle video: women discuss finding authentic spirituality in today’s world

J. Language: Godspeak for everyone; inclusive language in religion and religious texts

Essay question (400-500 words, 2 to 3 pages; please bring completed essay to the exam):

This semester, we have explored the history, repression, and resurgence of women’s spirituality and its expression in religion. Using any materials we have encountered this semester (our text, videos, PowerPoint graphics, etc.), please describe how this class, Women in Religion, has influenced your perceptions of the role of women in the world’s religions. As best you can, please outline the “next step” in the process. Do you think the resurgence of women will necessarily change religious organizations? Will we ever be completely free from the androcentric mindset that has subjugated women in the name of religion? Be creative, but please remember to support your good ideas with relevant materials or facts drawn from our semester-length study.

Thank you all for a terrific semester!