The feminine and the spiritual: Renowned spiritual figures studied from a feminist point of view

The feminine character, shaped by nurturing experience, includes fundamental spiritual training. Feminist spiritual writers value nurturant other-oriented personality characteristics. Although not necessarily having fulfilled nurturing social roles, men may develop spiritually advanced characteristics by undergoing experiences Christ recommended. Examining four spiritual figures, this study sought to ascertain whether exposure to the experiences recommended by feminists and by Christ facilitates development of spiritually advanced characteristics. The findings did not demonstrate that exposure to the experiences recommended by feminists facilitated this development. Nor did exposure to the experiences recommended by Christ predict this development. Females did not develop spiritually advanced characteristics to a higher degree than males. Exposure to a combination of the experiences recommended by Christ and by feminists did correlate with development of spiritually advanced characteristics. Exposure to a modicum of the experiences recommended by feminists may be necessary. Recommendations for counselors are included