Post by enlightenmentgirl on Apr 20, 2009 21:00:19 GMT -5
I am a 42 year old divorced mother of one 11 year old boy. I grew up Catholic in New Jersey, went to Catholic parochial school and then entered the public school system from 6th -12th grade. I went through a few religious identity crises as a young adult--first as an undergraduate in college, when I struggled with my Catholic upbringing versus the comparatively happy mainstream Protestants and agnostics I knew. Then in graduate school, I realized I could no longer attend a Catholic service. I met my future husband in graduate school and we ended up being received in the Episcopal church. As my mom, a Polish-American who is more of a cultural than doctrinal Catholic said, "You took a step down and your husband (then a Presbyterian) took a step up!"
I am still a member of the Episcopal church and one of the issues that brought me to this site is my concern that the Episcopal Church of the United States of Americ (ECUSA) may be "steeplejacked" by fundamentalist, misogynist forces that fight against the issue of gay marriage. On the other hand, my readings of feminist blogs and theology have led me to place less faith in traditional patriarchal religion than I used to have. I also have what seems to be a completely irrational interest in the exploitation of male exploitation of female trust and equality; for example, I'm interested in issues of incest and sexual abuse (although my father or other male adults never sexually abused me), religious movements (although my own religious experience would best be classified as mainstream/liberal Catholic attitudes) and misogynist social/cultural/religious attitudes (although I have not experienced what many of the women on this forum have). I have a PhD in English literature (that's REAL useful
, have been divorced for 9 years, am mother to a preteen son, and just am amazed by the strength, faith and community of this board. the whole Quiverful movement is an antithesis to what I have based my life upon and yet I see how powerful it is and am terrified that something that MIGHT work for a few women may blindly be assumed to be the only choice for ALL women. Anyway, I wanted to introduce myself so people would be comfortable with my participation in the conversations on various boards.
I am still a member of the Episcopal church and one of the issues that brought me to this site is my concern that the Episcopal Church of the United States of Americ (ECUSA) may be "steeplejacked" by fundamentalist, misogynist forces that fight against the issue of gay marriage. On the other hand, my readings of feminist blogs and theology have led me to place less faith in traditional patriarchal religion than I used to have. I also have what seems to be a completely irrational interest in the exploitation of male exploitation of female trust and equality; for example, I'm interested in issues of incest and sexual abuse (although my father or other male adults never sexually abused me), religious movements (although my own religious experience would best be classified as mainstream/liberal Catholic attitudes) and misogynist social/cultural/religious attitudes (although I have not experienced what many of the women on this forum have). I have a PhD in English literature (that's REAL useful
, have been divorced for 9 years, am mother to a preteen son, and just am amazed by the strength, faith and community of this board. the whole Quiverful movement is an antithesis to what I have based my life upon and yet I see how powerful it is and am terrified that something that MIGHT work for a few women may blindly be assumed to be the only choice for ALL women. Anyway, I wanted to introduce myself so people would be comfortable with my participation in the conversations on various boards.
. I did post a few comments on the blog and while I'm not the most active commentator, I do enjoy responding occasionally. 