Construct a dialogue between a devout Catholic woman (Lydia), a devout Jewish woman (Miriam) and a devout Hindu woman (Indira) that explores and explains the “divine feminine” in their respective traditions. Focus on the materials and readings covered in the course with special attention on the concepts of “sophia,” “shekinah,” and “shakti.”

1. Construct a dialogue between a devout Catholic woman (Lydia), a devout Jewish woman (Miriam) and a devout Hindu woman (Indira) that explores and explains the “divine feminine” in their respective traditions. Focus on the materials and readings covered in the course with special attention on the concepts of “sophia,” “shekinah,” and “shakti.”
2. Consider these two quotations from the final readings of the course:

a. “I’m asking myself this question about goddess religion: has it become, at least in some ways and in some instances, a move that pacifies feminist radicalism by endorsing a female divinity and thereby participating in theological discourse which is always already a glorification of masculinity. In other words, could a revision of Mary Daly’s maxim be true? Could this restatement be considered: ‘Briefly, if God (or Goddess) is, then male is God?’ (I’m just asking.)” (Goldenberg, 284).”

b. “It might seem that the women’s revolution should just go about its business of generating a new consciousness, without worrying about God. I suggest that the fallacy involved in this would be an overlooking of a basic question that is implied in human existence and that the pitfall in such an oversight is cutting off the radical potential of the movement itself” (Daly p.75).

While Daly is a critic of religious institutions in particular and patriarchy in general, she seems to envision a post-revolutionary existence in which the divine still figures. Goldenberg, on the other hand, indicts religion as it exists today, as irredeemably Christian, and primarily political rather than spiritual. Neither vision seems to have/had much traction “in real life” but do you think religion, however defined, could survive the end of patriarchy?

3. Explain the significance of Miao Shin in the journey of the bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara from India to China with particular reference to the divine as feminine.

4. Wonder Woman (2017) as goddess figure. Discuss with specific reference to the film and to other materials covered this term.

Submit both answers in ONE .docx or .pdf file. No cover page. Maximum 1000 – 1200 words total. (Each answer should be 500 – 600 words.)

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