Gender and the Bible

Religion and politics are by no means two separate spheres. Many religious groups in the USA and Europe have come to see their governments as instituting laws against their beliefs, and thus have themselves become active participants in local and national politics. Issues such as (gender) equality, abortion, and equal marriage are the subject of much debate. The focus of this research is an analysis of contemporary Roman Catholic and evangelical discourses in Austria on gender issues such as the ordination of women, contraception and abortion, and homosexuality and the blessing of same-sex couples. The conception of identity represents a central aspect in social interaction and thus also in the context of religious communities. How do people identify within a religious group and how do they differentiate themselves from other, similar groups? The aim of this project will be to examine the ways in which religious groups in Austria use the Bible to legitimize their positions on social, political and legal issues regarding gender and sexuality. The research will provide a thick description of Catholic and evangelical groups in Austria and contribute to an understanding of the borderlines between religion and politics in contemporary Europe, and by focusing on social scientific methods and theories the project will fill a gap in the research area of gender and religion in contemporary societies.