Beyond Doctrine: Women, Faith, and Lived Religion
Overall Layout
This infographic is formatted as a "graphic recording" style visual summary of Meredith B. McGuire's book, Lived Religion: Faith and Practice in Everyday Life. It visually contrasts institutional religious doctrines with the actual everyday experiences and agency of believers, particularly women.
Central Theme: Placed at the core within a glowing heart and sun motif, it states: "Religion is understood through people's everyday practices and lived experiences, not just institutional doctrines."
Top-Left (Critique of Conventional Religion): Features a serious-looking sociologist and traditional textbooks labeled "Doctrine" and "Dogma." Crossed-out icons of a church building and thought bubbles represent how traditional sociology overemphasizes institutional structures and official beliefs over actual human experience.
Top-Right (The Essence of "Lived Religion"): Centered around the "Tree of Everyday Life," this section illustrates religion as it naturally manifests. It features vibrant illustrations of daily habits, family rituals (sharing meals), prayer, and embodied practices like running or connecting with nature.
Bottom-Left (The Agency of the Believer): Shows a woman actively assembling a puzzle labeled "My Faith Practices," with pieces representing "Care," "Identity," and "Family Needs." In the background, a dark, crumbling institution signifies that believers are active agents who reconfigure religion rather than passive victims blindly following official rules.
Bottom-Right (Religion, Gender & Identity): Focuses on women's experiences, showing them building community, sharing emotions, providing care, and expressing identity through art. It emphasizes that female believers use religion to create emotional bonds and agency.
McGuire, M. B. (2008). Lived religion: Faith and practice in everyday life. Oxford University Press.
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