Paradoxing the Secular in Latin America. Religion, Gender and Sexuality at the Crossroads

VAGGIONE, JUAN MARCO

Women Living under Muslim Laws Dossier 28

The Russell Press

Lugar: Nottingham; Año: 2006 p. 23 - 33

1560-9677

The strong influence of secularization theory has produced simplified conceptualizations of religion that, when analyzing gender and sexuality, overlooks important sociopolitical dynamics generating crucial paradoxes. Considering the existence of citizen organizations articulating counter-doctrinal theologies, this article suggests that a post-secular understanding of the public sphere is a valid path for overcoming gender and sexuality inequalities not only within the Catholic Church but also in society at large. These organizations reinscribe core religious values with pluralist understanding of gender and sexuality bypassing, at least factually, the authoritarian structure of the Church while, at the same time, publicly circulating religious narratives confronting doctrinal patriarchy and heteronormativity