All of the books we recommend are available for the borrowing from the Carol Murdock Scinto Library in the WATER office. Check out librarything.com for our complete collection. We are grateful to the many publishers who send us review copies to promote to the WATER community.
Brooten, Bernadette J. and Jacqueline L. Hazelton, eds. BEYOND SLAVERY: OVERCOMING ITS RELIGIOUS AND SEXUAL LEGACIES. New York, NY: Palgrave Macmillan, 2010 (352 pages, $28).
Authors explore intersecting relationships among religion, gender, slavery, and sexuality in the Abrahamic traditions. This is an important, indeed fascinating, read of the presence and interpretations of slavery in religious texts. To read is to act.
Copeland, M. Shawn. ENFLESHING FREEDOM: BODY, RACE, AND BEING. Minneapolis, MN: Fortress Press, 2010 (186 pages, $20).
Shawn Copeland takes embodied black womanhood as a prism that reflects broader ways in which all may enflesh freedom and stand in bodily solidarity. A nuanced and passionate work from a prophetic scholar. Read this book.
Diamond, Lisa M. SEXUAL FLUIDITY: UNDERSTANDING WOMEN’S LOVE AND DESIRE. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 2008 (333 pages, $19).
With women’s stories at the heart of her research, Lisa Diamond argues that women, to varying degrees, are fluid within their sexual orientation. A confrontational book inviting all to take seriously stories of sexual identity.
Farley, Wendy. GATHERING THOSE DRIVEN AWAY: A THEOLOGY OF INCARNATION. Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 2011 (239 pages, $30).
In this volume, the voices of “those driven away” are placed in the center: queer, womanist, mystical, and Buddhist. In her poetic style, Wendy Farley revisits orthodoxy, sin, atonement, and divine image as she proposes an incarnational theology based on a radical notion of love.
Fiedler, Maureen E., ed. BREAKING THROUGH THE STAINED GLASS CEILING: WOMEN RELIGIOUS LEADERS IN THEIR OWN WORDS. New York, NY: Seabury Books, 2010 (211 pages, $22).
Shards of the broken ceiling continue to wound women, but radio host Maureen Fiedler is undaunted. She presents the words of many women who are doing the work to change and improve religions across traditions and disciplines.
Jefferts Schori, Katharine. THE HEARTBEAT OF GOD: FINDING THE SACRED IN THE MIDDLE OF EVERYTHING. Woodstock, VT: SkyLight Paths, 2011 (213 pages, $21.99).
Scientist, pilot turned bishop, Katharine Jefferts Schori reflects on the everyday. There she finds the “heart of God.” Her sermons give social justice work a strong push.
Kehoe, Nancy. WRESTLING WITH OUR INNER ANGELS: FAITH, MENTAL ILLNESS, AND THE JOURNEY TO WHOLENESS. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass, 2009 (149 pages, $19.95).
The author, a nun and psychologist, shares stories from a therapy group for adults with mentally illness. These show the value of recognizing faith and spirituality in treatment, an evolving model.
Kim, Grace Ji-Sun. THE GRACE OF SOPHIA: A KOREAN NORTH AMERICAN WOMEN’S CHRISTOLOGY. Eugene, OR: Wipf and Stock Publishers, 2002 (181 pages, $22).
This book shows how to hold together Han and grace, Sophia and Jesus, Korean and North American experiences. It is as useful for its clear method as for its strong analysis.
Lane, Erin S. and Eunma C. Okoro, Editors, TALKING TABOO: AMERICAN CHRISTIAN WOMEN GET FRANK ABOUT SEX. Ashland, Oregon: White Cloud Press, 2013 (264 pages, $16.95).
Spiritual wisdom comes in many forms. This diverse collection of fresh voices includes smart reflections on masturbation (Kate Ott), tattoos (Robyn Henderson-Espinoza), contraception (Katey Zeh), community (Alena Amato Ruggerio), and ordination (Gina Messina-Dysert) to mention just a few of my favorites. Christianity, indeed religion at large, will never be the same. Blessed be!
Macy, Gary, William T. Ditewig, and Phyllis Zagano. WOMEN DEACONS: PAST, PRESENT, FUTURE. Mahwah, NJ: Paulist Press, 2011 (128 pages, $14.95).
To ordain or not to ordain, that is the not so simple question. These scholars clarify the history and urge affirmative action.
Mol, Sine van. MEENA. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans Books for Young Readers, 2010 (28 pages, $17).
Children have to learn not to be afraid of the unknown. This is a lovely, gentle tale that gets the point across.
Nasrallah, Laura, and Elisabeth Schüssler Fiorenza, Eds. PREJUDICE AND CHRISTIAN BEGINNINGS: INVESTIGATING RACE, GENDER, AND ETHNICITY IN EARLY CHRISTIAN STUDIES. Minneapolis, MN: Fortress Press, 2009 (319 pages, $26).
Scholars look at gender and race in the Roman Empire, 19th century views of race and Empire, and current scholarly trends in biblical studies. These essays are helpful for dealing with complex, culture-shaping early Christian materials. A must for those engaged in biblical studies who wish to look at Christian scriptures with an eye toward liberation.
Schneiders, Sandra M. PROPHETS IN THEIR OWN COUNTRY: WOMEN RELIGIOUS BEARING WITNESS TO THE GOSPEL IN A TROUBLED CHURCH. Maryknoll, NY: Orbis Books, 2011 (133 pages, $20).
Recent Vatican investigations of women religious have undermined relations with all laity. Exposing the motives behind and impact of these activities, highly respected scholar Sandra Schneiders demonstrates how American sisters understand their lives and ministry with integrity.
Skye, Lee Miena. KERYGMATICS OF THE NEW MILLENNIUM: A STUDY OF AUSTRALIAN ABORIGINAL WOMEN’S CHRISTOLOGY (VOICES FROM THE EDGE SERIES, NO. 4). Delhi, India: ISPCK, 2007 (128 pages, $8).
Aboriginal women in Australia provide instructive work on Christology which can be useful for scholars and activists around the world. Their respectful use of feminist/womanist/mujerista sources is a model in the field.
Streufert, Mary J., ed. TRANSFORMATIVE LUTHERAN THEOLOGIES: FEMINIST, WOMANIST, AND MUJERISTA PERSPECTIVES. Minneapolis, MN: Fortress Press, 2010 (272 pages, $25).
Transforming Lutheran identities from the margins, diverse scholars (re)consider Lutheran theology in light of racism, sexism, and heterosexism. Editor Mary J. Streufert poses the question, “Do we risk this volume being ‘just feminist’ with a few ‘guests’?” She signals the importance of this work for on-going conversation as one denomination pushes its boundaries.