Feminist studies in religion and the*logy in-between nationalism and globalization : response

Response to Elizabeth Schüssler Fiorenza's Feminist studies in religion and the the*logy in-between nationalism and globalization: Without doubt, religion and gender are deeply implicated in the machinations of nationalism and patriotism, as Elisabeth Schüssler Fiorenza clearly indicates in the opening essay. I welcome a discussion that addresses the vexing question of why the discourse of nationalism has been largely silent in feminist religionist discourse. However, just as we can speak of multiple modernities, so we should also speak of multiple nationalisms. I believe feminist studies in religion needs to commit to the task of analyzing in particular the current pernicious forms of nationalisms that have arisen post–September 11. Feminist religionists must ask, What are our particular responsibilities in the face of such recent powerful expressions of patriotic nationalism and global capitalist imperialism? The response I wish to make to Schüssler Fiorenza’s concerns is to offer some comments on the discourse of Australian nationalism, with particular attention to the symbolic and to the insidious position of women within this discourse.