Louise M. Doire received a BA in Psychology from the University of Rhode Island and a Masters in Divinity from Harvard University. Areas of concentration at Harvard Divinity School: the feminist critique of religion, feminist theology and feminist Biblical interpretation; Christian theology, theodicy and comparative religious ethics. Her Master of Divinity Senior paper was titled: "The Search for Meaning and Stories of the Flesh: A Critical Analysis of the Pastoral Language of Suffering." As suggested by the title of her senior paper, she is interested in theodicy, particularly in the Biblical traditions but not to the exclusion of perspectives of evil and suffering in other traditions as well. Her other primary interests are comparative religious ethics and the feminist critique of religion. She regularly teaches course in World Religions, Evil & Suffering, Comparative Religious Ethics, Women & Religion, and the Christian tradition.

"An academic environment for the study of religion may present a very different approach to what students might be accustomed. Many students learn how to think critically through their courses in religious studies. The critical study of religion begins with understanding the methodology involved. A methodology that combines historical, political, literary and feminist analyses offers an opportunity for students to move outside the parameters of their cultural limitations; to 'cross over' to an appreciation of others' world views and life settings. In my teaching, I make a point of including narratives to illustrate philosophical or theoretical concepts covered in class. I understand the storytelling as operating in much the same way as lab experiments help a science teacher convey abstract concepts more concretely. Analogy works in much the same way. Critical reflection on readings, both primary and secondary sources, allows for the exercise of analytical skills. I have come to appreciate group discussion as a tool for the expression of personal or academic questions and issues that students might raise as a result. In every course, I assign reading material that includes genres other than the traditional textbook, such as. novels, memoirs, and collections of letters. These challenge students to engage in learning that is once again, grounded in the narrative."

"Through my study of feminist theology and a general study of the philosophy of religion, I came to understand how vital the critical analysis of religion is for engendering ethical 'ways of being' in the world. When I discovered how intimately the emergence (and continuing development) of a religious tradition may be tied to political, social, and cultural interests, I realized that human influence (and so too, human flaw) in the construction of religion had set up inequities that have become a part of the very fabric of those traditions. The critique of these venues of power offers students opportunities to question those constructions. I approach my own study of religion (and therefore, my teaching), always with an eye to its practical application in the world and not merely for the sake of intellectualism. Religious studies, as a vital part of a general liberal arts education, has the potential for opening a student to the world of the "other" and in that there is hope for compassion and understanding."

LINKS

Harvard Divinity School Women's Studies in Religion Program

AAR Women and Religion Web Resources