Encountering the Sacred: Feminist Reflections on Women’s Lives

Description

Many women of faith are interested in having deep conversations with their friends and families about issues they face in their personal lives. Unfortunately, there is a dearth of feminist and theologically progressive materials for these women to turn to for counsel or advice. Simultaneously, there are a growing number of theologically trained biblical scholars, theologians, and ministers who are experiencing similar life challenges, but who are generally discouraged from writing about these experiences in ways that would be accessible to the general public. This book bridges the chasm between Christian laywomen and feminist theologians. For the last fifty years, feminist theologians have sought to reimagine Christian theology in ways that speak to the realities and complexities of women’s lives. They have also sought to use women’s experience as the starting point for theological reflection in the same way that men’s lives have shaped the history of Christian theology for the past 2000 years. In this book, feminist Christian scholars of theology and religion use the tools of their trade to examine powerful personal life experiences and to search for new and empowering ways of understanding the power of the sacred as they have experienced it. Title Page Copyright Page Contents Acknowledgments Introduction: Feminist theology as conversation and invitation Origins of feminist theologies Embracing feminist theology as social change An overview of the book and invitation to readers Conclusion Notes Questions for discussion Suggestions for further reading Chapter 1: Why we need besties (friendship) Jephthah’s daughter: A story of women’s friendship Women’s friendship: Entering the sacred chamber Sacred chamber, treading softly Notes Blessing ritual for women friends Blessing of friendship Questions for discussion Suggestions for further reading Chapter 2: Bed rest stinks (pregnancy) Sacrificial love Self-giving love Life-restoring love Breathing exercises Questions for discussion Suggestions for further reading Chapter 3: The Chuck E. Cheese challenge (simple living) The journey to simple living began with a single step . . . A consuming history of my family and some acts of resistance . . . Do my possessions really get in the way of loving God and loving others? The road ahead Notes An “alternative” commitment and blessing of the home: Questions for discussion Suggestions for further reading Chapter 4: I want my babies back (miscarriage) Sacrifice? Activism revisited Pregnancy and depression Robbed Barren woman Bible Remembering Notes Prayer Questions for discussion Suggestions for further reading Chapter 5: “Where are you REALLY from?” (racism) Survival strategies Racism and the challenges of being the “perpetual foreigner” Marginality and living “betwixt and between” My daughter’s encounter with racism Community as refuge Conclusion Notes Litany: Questions for discussion Suggestions for further reading Chapter 6: Re-membering rape (sexual assault) Surfacing Dwelling Notes Re-membering Eucharist: A ritual exploration Questions for discussion Suggestions for further reading Chapter 7: Girl-talk (gossip) Gossips as “God-sibs” Gossip’s fall from grace Gossip as foundational to building community Thank God for God-sibs Notes Form your own circle for sacred sharing Questions for discussion Suggestions for further reading Chapter 8: Cursing God (infertility) Note A prayer for righteous anger and grief Questions for discussion Suggestions for further reading Chapter 9: Casting out fear (death and dying) Questions Fear Helen The body Daniella Reflection Note A meditation on Mary Magdalene Questions for discussion Suggestions for further reading Chapter 10: Happily ever after (voluntary childlessness) Callings: The search for harmony The child-hospitable marriage Notes Blessing Questions for discussion Suggestions for further reading List of contributors Index