ABSTRACT
This chapter is a sustained meditation on the similarities, exclusions and mutual reinforcements of the categories of Man and religion. Both are deceptively deployed as if they applied to and referenced all of humanity—including women. Yet both are grounded in and addressed to the specific (and specified) interests of men and not women. The systematic and explicit equation of the interests and identity of religion(s) with the interests and identity of competitive groups of men (not women) is evident both in past and present theories and practices of religion. Hence, the end(s) of religion are the end(s) of man/men—not woman/women—whatever those ends are taken to be. Further, should one of the two categories end or fall out of use, the other would suffer the same fate and significant change pertaining to gender politics could become possible.
