Dear all,
Welcome to the Winter Semester of 2022/2023 and the first online school, “Feminism and Religion” (FER School), organized in partnership by the TPO Foundation from Sarajevo and EIŽ from Omiš.
FER School provides a space for you, courageous women and men, to critically examine the social realities in which you live, challenge your beliefs and knowledge, and confront internalized stereotypes and prejudices, as well as their popular-scientific and religious justifications. At FER School, we foster a community where, guided by the principles of mutual respect, we learn together, question assumptions, share experiences, and develop critical awareness regarding established mainstream knowledge and norms.
In the 21st century, serious discussions are taking place worldwide about the validity of feminism as both a theory and practice, as well as feminist theology, gender, and gender studies. For many, feminism and religion appear to be incompatible concepts; feminist theology is seen as blasphemous, and gender is regarded as a “questionable” concept, allegedly masking dangerous conspiracies aimed at undermining family and tradition. However, life experiences show us that feminism, gender, and religion have always been interconnected, influencing nearly every sphere of private and public life. Feminist and gender theories, theologies, and activism help us recognize these intersections and confront the many challenges, limitations, and discriminations that arise from concealing their connection.
We hope that this and other courses at the FER School will help you better navigate contemporary debates on these issues, providing you with sufficient knowledge and arguments to engage with feminism and religion from a new perspective.
If you have felt disillusioned, uncomfortable, or fearful that your civic engagement for gender equality might conflict with your religious views, or if you feel that mainstream religious interpretations do not offer adequate answers to modern challenges, we hope that the FER School, through its community of critical inquiry, will help you open new cognitive horizons.
The directors of FER School wish you a happy start and successful participation in the course.
Zilka Spahić Šiljak
Jadranka Rebeka Anić
