Feminism and Christianity: An Essential Guide

Used for my Seminary studies. Great resource.

This book provides a concise but extraordinarily helpful guide for those who are interested in the intersection between feminism and the Christian faith. It is organized according to the major theological loci: Bible, Doctrine of God, Sin, Christology, Salvation, Church and Ministry. I teach a course on Feminist Theology and have used this in my class for a few semesters now. Students generally appreciate the deep engagement with feminist analysis yet accessibility of the writing. My only qualm about the text is that it is a bit dated. It would be nice to have an updated (revised) edition with more attention to racial concerns and questions of sexual orientation (maybe a chapter on Theological Anthropology?). Also, noticeably missing is a chapter on the doctrine of the Holy Sprit. But nevertheless, the most accessible, incisive (and brief) introduction to feminist theology that I have found.

This is required reading for one of my courses and it is actually an enjoyable read. I tend not to like books related to feminism because they tend to be too "scholarly" ~ filled with research and rheterotic and very strong feminist views. However, I find Feminism & Christianty to be easy to read. It focuses on the basic fact that women are different than men and as such will have different views when it comes to reading scripture and studying and understanding theology based on their cultural experiences as women. You don't necessarily have to be a feminist or a womanist to understand this...you just need to be a woman.

Like other titles in the Essential Guides series, the purpose of this book is simple: to introduce college and seminary students to the basic questions and issues in a feminist interpretation of Christianity. The book begins with an examination of women and the Bible, exploring biblical texts that define women negatively as well as those that emphasize women's strength and ability, and then outlining the various feminist approaches to Scripture. From here it moves to an overview of women in the history of Christianity and in American religion, presenting both prevailing attitudes about women and the (usually unheard) stories of women. After surveying the main questions a feminist method brings to the study of theology, the author then explores certain theological questions-How do we speak of God? Who is Christ? What does it mean to be human?-from a feminist perspective. Christian feminist theology is a rapidly expanding field of study from which many creative books have arisen. The intention of this volume is not so much to propose a new feminist theological construction as to interpret the existing feminist proposals for people who are beginning their study of feminism or theology. Both Christians and feminists have asked it it is possible to be at the same time a Christian and a feminist, the author asks the question a bit differently: Is it possible not to be?

Christianity has become one of the most used and abused beliefs to date and this appauling book is an exception portrayal of this. I bought this book because i am currently doing a study on Christianity and feminism - to see how they fit and how feminism misses the boat and, judging by the title, i though Christianity and feminism the essential guide, would be helpful. Though i found it quite the opposite. The book pretty much refutes the christian faith, has little bible back up for its statements and mis- quotes (or twists storyies) to create or back up arguements for the demise of women in the church. This book tries to re write the bible - or suggest it needs to be re written - suggests Paul was a little daft as he couldnt see further than his own interests, claims the bible contradicts itself, that Jesus death was unnessecary " a horrendous case of Child abuse", that sin has nothing to do with God, its just pride and arrogance, and that women need equality in the Church, to be equal in everything, except the fact that sin has a different meaning for them and that the atonement doesnt have equal repocussions for them. I was a little bit confused as i read, as i wasnt sure if this lady was trying to put the case of femminism foward so it could be understood and then in the final chapters, show it to be mis conceived, but the end she tries to convince ladies to leave their churches with the patriarchal abominations. And make a cjurch more acceptible to women, though very unacceptable to God. All im really trying to say is - if your going to write a book using the bible - Get it accurate. Dont make Gods word a joke, using it to make apoint and to prove what you believe. Mould your arguement around the bible showing both sides of the story. This book is full of deceptions and is a useless read unless one is trying to see the warped view of a feminist who cant see beyond her own wants and desires. I do not suggest it is read as it is a waste of money.