ABSTRACT
A crucial feminist challenge in philosophy of religion is to free minds to affirm their bodily life within an ever-greater perfection. This chapter focuses on the quotation with some appropriations of Benedict de Spinoza's meditations on life, that is, on the power of life, including suggestions concerning confidence in life. The chapter aims to embrace Grace M. Jantzen's encouragement by actively exploring her love of life. Jantzen's passion for transformation keeps feminist thinking on the move from Anglo-American and Continental approaches in philosophy of religion. It discusses the crucial dimensions of Spinoza's account of conatus with certain feminist appropriations of his Ethics in the terms of individual bodies and gender politics. Michele Le Doeuff has also voiced her strong objection to Spinoza's deliberate exclusion of women from government, and so the larger sphere of political life, on the basis of woman's natural inferiority and spiritual weakness.
