معرفی
Naomi Goldenberg is a Professor in the Department of Classics and Religious Studies at the University of Ottawa, Canada, specializing in critical approaches to religion with interdisciplinary connections to gender studies, psychoanalysis, and political theory. Her work challenges conventional boundaries of religious studies through feminist and deconstructive frameworks.
Her academic foundation includes a Ph.D. (1976), M.Phil. (1975), and M.A. (1974) in Religious Studies from Yale University, complemented by Graduate Studies in Jungian Psychology at the C.G. Jung Institute (1973), Classics at Princeton University (1970), and a B.A. in Classics from Douglas College (1969). This diverse background informs her unique synthesis of classical scholarship, psychological theory, and religious critique.
Goldenberg's research centers on the constructed nature of "religion" as a category, examining its intersections with gender, governance, and popular culture. She pioneers the concept of religion as a "vestigial state" and tactical instrument of sovereignty, arguing that religious frameworks persist as political tools long after their theological foundations erode. Her feminist perspective critically engages with Freudian and Jungian theories while deconstructing patriarchal structures within religious traditions.
Analysis of her recent publications reveals a consistent trajectory toward dismantling the religion/secular binary, with increasing emphasis on religion's role in statecraft and governance. Her scholarship demonstrates how religious rhetoric is weaponized in political discourse while advocating for feminist reinventions of secular governance beyond traditional religious frameworks.
Though specific grant details are unreported, her extensive publication record and active teaching portfolio—including courses like SRS 5103 (Freud, Jung and Religion) and SRS 3165 (Gender and Religion)—demonstrate sustained scholarly productivity and mentorship. Media engagements, including keynotes on "Queer Theory meets Critical Religion" and YouTube interviews on religion as governance, extend her academic influence into public discourse.
