Goodspeed Lecture: 'Asian and Asian American Women in Theology and Religion'

The Goodspeed Lecture Series welcomes Asian and Asian American feminist scholars Kwok Pui-lan, Dean’s Professor of Systematic Theology at Candler School of Theology, Emory University; Najeeba Syeed, Associate Professor of Muslim and Interreligious Studies at Chicago Theological Seminary; Sharon Suh, Professor of Theology and Religious Studies at Seattle University; and Sharon Jacob, Assistant Professor of New Testament at Graduate Theological Union to present a lecture, “Asian and Asian American Women in Theology and Religion.” These Asian and Asian American feminist scholars in theology, religion, and biblical studies have contributed to “Asian and Asian American Women in Theology and Religion” (Palgrave, 2020).

Kwok Pui-lan, editor of the book, is Dean’s Professor of Systematic Theology at Candler School of Theology, Emory University. An internationally known postcolonial feminist theologian, Kwok has published or edited more than twenty books in English and Chinese. Kwok was also president of the American Academy of Religion in 2011 and co-founded Pacific Asian North American Asian Women in Theology and Ministry.

Najeeba Syeed, Associate Professor of Muslim and Interreligious Studies at Chicago Theological Seminary is a recognized leader in peacebuilding and twice received the Jon Anson Ford Award for reducing violence. She was also named Southern California Mediation Association’s “Peacemaker of the Year” in 2007.

Sharon Suh, Professor of Theology and Religious Studies at Seattle University, is a Buddhist feminist scholar whose scholarly books and talks have brought innovative perspectives to Buddhist Studies. She has published many books and articles, including “Occupy This Body: A Buddhist Memoir” (Sumeru Press, 2019) and “Being Buddhist in a Christian World: Gender and Community in a Korean American Temple” (Seattle and London: University of Washington Press, 2004).

Sharon Jacob, Assistant Professor of New Testament at Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley, CA, is a postcolonial feminist biblical scholar who published “Reading Mary Alongside Indian Surrogate Mothers: Violent Love, Oppressive Liberation, and Infancy Narratives” (Palgrave, 2015). She is a regular contributor to the E-Journal of Feminist Studies in Religion (EFSR), offering critical perspectives on Islamophobia as a growing global crisis and race, whiteness, and religion.

The lecture showcases diverse Asian American women’s embodied knowledge of religion intersected with race, class, gender, and sexuality.

Denison University’s Goodspeed Lectureship is named after Edgar Goodspeed (Class 1890), one of the most important American Biblical scholars of the twentieth century. The Goodspeed Lecture Series brings renowned scholars in Religion whose critical voices help the Denison community and its friends explore social justice issues, American public life, international relations, human history, and rituals through the multiple lenses of Religion.