Date: Mon, 16 Mar 1998 18:18:11 +0000
From: H.Robinson-AT-ulst.ac.uk (Hilary Robinson)
Subject: Re: Suggested readings on FF and feminist biblical interpretation?


>Hi!   I note that people are sending you material for your course that is
>Goddess related.  My own book  The Serpent and the Goddess: Women, Religion
>and Power in Celtic Ireland  (Harper Collins, 1989) has an introductory
>chapter called "Eve and the Serpent: the Foundation Myth of Patriarchy" and
>is followed by a chapter called "Crushing the serpent: the end of
>Matri-Centred Ireland and the Curse of the Goddess Macha".  
>My intention in writing these chapters was directly political.  I was
>concerned to correlate the development of monotheism with linear history,
>the end of the tragic vision (represented by the Serpent), the demise of
>female instrumental power, and the rise of patriarchal consciousness. 
>        Were I writing it now, I would certainly develop the argument in the
>light of my subsequent knowledge of French Feminist Theory, but the main
>arguments stand and are complemented by the Irish  myths, several of which
>are explored in the book.    
>
>        Hope this is of some help.
>
>        Mary Condren
>        Director:  Institute for Feminism and Religion, Ireland. 
>
>

I'm delighted to see Mary Condren recommending her book, as I was just
about to do so - not only for the chapters she mentions, but also because
it is a wonderful mapping of the historical developments in the
intersection of the representation 'woman', women's lives, Christianity,
and notions of nation/cultural identity, grounded in the particularities of
Ireland. It does this in such a way as to unpick any romanticized reading
of any of those categories. Because of this it could be used in a variety
of contexts and with a variety of purposes in teaching. (perhaps I should
add that I work in Fine Art, not THeology!)

best,

Hilary Robinson




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