UK Historian Looking for Interviewees about Goddess Practices
I've received request from Ruth Lindley, Ph.D, of the Department of History, University of Birmingham, UK, to publish the following information from her here. She is looking for participants based in England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. Dr. Lindley writes:
"I am looking to conduct interviews with
women whose spiritual practices focus on, or relate to, ‘the Goddess’, for my
PhD research on religion and spirituality at the University of Birmingham. My
thesis, funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council, will challenge
current scholarship on religious change in modern Britain, especially in
relation to women’s experiences of faith from the 1960s to the present
day.
"Most historians and sociologists claim that
women abandoned institutional religions en masse in the 1960s due to the
effects of second wave feminism and the sexual revolution. They argue that, in
lieu of the Christian dogma of love and self-sacrifice, women then turned to
‘alternative spiritualties’ that provided an outlet for their natural feminine
care-giving roles. This scholarship takes up the implicit perspective of
religious institutions for whom ‘women’s spirituality’ is casual, unorganised
and diluted.
"In collecting oral testimonies, I hope to
rescue women’s spiritual experiences from the condescension of this
scholarship. I want to find out what faith really
meant in the lives of ordinary women in contemporary Britain and, in doing
so, reveal something of the rich and textured history of belief in the modern
world. I am interested in hearing the perspectives of people rather than
institutions.
"Complete anonymity is guaranteed for all
participants, if desired. If you are interested in taking part, please email
Ruth Lindley on RML033@bham.ac.uk for more
information, or to arrange an informal conversation prior to interview."
Labels: adult education, Goddess traditions, herstory, opportunities
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