Defense of the Self as Defense of Justice

When Sor Juana defended her intellectual work, she did so not only as personal preference but as a matter of justice. She argued that women have the right to education, that the intellect is a divine gift, and that suppressing either is a violation. She framed self-defense as defense of principle. For those in religious transition, this concept shifts the narrative from guilt (about leaving or doubting) to justice. It suggests that seeking truth, maintaining intellectual freedom, or departing from false belief is not a selfish act but an assertion of basic rights. This is particularly powerful for those raised in traditions that frame doubt or departure as sin or selfishness. Sor Juana's model shows that claiming your own integrity is also claiming a universal principle. This framework allows people in religious transition to see their journey not as personal failing but as participation in something larger: the expansion of what is permissible and just.