Day 16 (July 8): Religion and Domestic Politics

a) Morning Session - Social Profiles of Religious Groups and the Changing Role of Women

The first part of the session will look at the social characteristics of the religious populations currently, such as social class, race, ethnicity and nationality-background, and generation. Drawing off national survey data, there will be a description of contemporary religious belief and practice along with recent popular trends in spirituality.  In the second part, attention will be given to the changing roles of women within religious communities and feminization of religion generally. Topics include the impact of women in the labor force on religious participation; ordination of women; gay, lesbian, and transgendered spirituality, the use of inclusive language, and the public influence of figures like Oprah Winfrey who dispense spiritual advice in the mass media. Lecture, panel, and discussion.

Panel:  

Dr. Melissa Wilcox, Faculty Fellow at UCSB

Assigned Readings:

Drorah O'Donnell Setel, "Feminist Theology, Reader

C. Jarrett Gray, Jr., "Womanist Theology," Reader

Don Thorsen, "Inclusive Language," Reader

Rebecca A. Alpert, "Lesbian and Gay Rights Movement," Reader

b)Afternoon Session:  The "Religious Pluralism in Southern California" Project

This project funded by the Ford Foundation and conducted by UCSB researchers will be described. It looks at the public face of religion and addresses a fundamental question: In a place like Southern California, where all the world religions can now be found and hence the nation's "sacred canopy" has expanded beyond the historic and dominant Judeo-Christian traditions, how do the many religions present themselves in the public arena and negotiate a civic order? Given that there is no historic religious establishment, is the competition among religious communities to influence public life more, or less fierce than in parts of the country? Lecture and discussion.

Speaker: 

Dr. David Machacek, Project Director, "Religious Pluralism in Southern California" Project

Assigned Reading:

"Politics of the Spirit," by John B. Orr, Donald E. Miller, Wade Clark Roof, and J. Gordon Melton