Searching for a Cross-Cultural Virgin Mary
Book Description
Through intimate fieldwork with Catholic women in Costa Rica and Orthodox women in Finland, scholar Elina Vuola reveals how the figure of Mary transcends cultural boundaries while manifesting uniquely within different spiritual traditions. This groundbreaking study challenges both dismissive feminist critiques and uncritical devotional approaches to one of history's most complex religious figures.
Vuola's ethnographic journey uncovers how real women experience Mary in their daily spiritual lives, moving beyond theological abstractions to explore lived faith. Her research demonstrates that Mary's meaning cannot be reduced to simple categories of oppression or empowerment, but instead emerges through the rich interplay of folklore, popular devotion, and personal religious experience across vastly different cultural contexts.
By weaving together theological analysis with anthropological insight, this work creates space for a feminist understanding of Mary that honors women's actual spiritual relationships rather than imposing external interpretations. The author examines how Costa Rican and Finnish women navigate their connections to Mary within their respective religious frameworks, revealing surprising commonalities alongside striking differences.
This study offers valuable perspectives for anyone seeking to understand how sacred feminine figures function across cultures. Vuola's approach provides tools for examining religious devotion through women's own voices and experiences, making this essential reading for those interested in comparative spirituality, feminist theology, and the anthropology of religious practice.
Who Is This For?
📖 Reading Level: Short (< 200 pages) (~5 hours)
📄 Length: 188 pages
What You'll Discover
- ✓ Explore Feminist theology
- ✓ Explore Mary, blessed virgin, saint
- ✓ Explore Théologie féministe
- ✓ Explore RELIGION
- ✓ Explore Religious life
- ✓ Explore Catholic women
- ✓ Explore Women
- ✓ Explore Women, central america
