This book sets out to examine the ambigous relationship that Christianity has with the body. Inca... more This book sets out to examine the ambigous relationship that Christianity has with the body. Incarnation is central to Christian belief but that doctrine has not encouraged a positive theology of the body. The authors explore why this has been so and examine ways in which a more bosy-positive theology can be developed using our Christian heritage. Starting from a feminist perspective they reclaim women's bodies from the embrace of patriarchy and in doing so clearly show how this reclamation challenges many systems of opression. This work illustrates that the personal is political, even in therology! Lisa Isherwood is Senior Lecturer in Theology at the University College of St Mark and St John, Plymouth. Elizabeth Stuart is Professor of Christian Theology at King Alfred's College, Winchester.
This paper examines how a radical incarnational starting point would change the way we view the e... more This paper examines how a radical incarnational starting point would change the way we view the economic order. It highlights the way in which the current system creates extreme poverty and suffering for the many and asks if this can be tolerated by Christians. It also examines the Christian underpinnings of such a system and suggests that other Christian roots would lead to alternate and more inclusive systems.
This paper asks whether Christianity has always been queer, is the very nature of it beyond what ... more This paper asks whether Christianity has always been queer, is the very nature of it beyond what one might expect from reality? Does the core of Christianity destabilise the categories by which subsequent Christian leaders have created doctrine, developed ethics and controlled the faithful? Is this queer core located in the very notion of incarnation itself, an event that truly changes all we thought we knew about the nature of materiality? The paper is not attempting to find a queer past in order to justify a queer present and solidify a queer future but rather to suggest that fluidity, rupture and unexpected outcomes should be at the heart of the Christian enterprise. It also follows that if the categories which have been used to exclude are themselves queered then Christianity becomes a far more inclusive way of living. The paper also asks whether the very notion of monotheism itself is a barrier to what may be understood as the fluid volatile core of incarnational religion. What does the queer theologian do with the ONE?
This essay is situated within the sexual theologies discipline—that is, it will not consider what... more This essay is situated within the sexual theologies discipline—that is, it will not consider what theology has said about lesbians. It will rather engage with what lesbian experience has offered traditional Christian theology. Perhaps this can be best summed up in the words of Carter Heyward who wrote ‘To say “I love you” means—Let the revolution begin!’ Once lesbians in theology found a voice, what we witness is indeed a revolution as the diverse face of the divine began to emerge from what had been a ‘one size fits all’ theology in matters of sexuality and ethics. Far from simply stating that the norm did not fit all sexualities and genders, many lesbian theologians moved on to say that the norm did not even do justice to those seen as normal and that the heteronormative underpinnings of theology actually crippled it.
then developed a relationship with two dominatrices as a whipping boy since he had shown no sign ... more then developed a relationship with two dominatrices as a whipping boy since he had shown no sign of sadomasochism with the polar bear! I dispute this! To my mind there is not a lot of difference between getting whacked during sexual arousal by one large mammal or by two! Do I recommend this book? I am not warning you off but I do feel if you have an interest in sex and theology there are other great reads that would take your time more engagingly.
and she focuses on some of the British and American women who were engaged in scholarly activity ... more and she focuses on some of the British and American women who were engaged in scholarly activity during that period. Daggers reminds us that we forget our history at our peril and so must also be aware that history is a series of selected 'facts' and distant considerations. This is no criticism of the work merely an observation that had she asked others there may well have been another story emerging and a different set of considerations. This is a well-written and engaging account of those heady days when we all believed we could change the world-how many of us still do may be one contemporary question for consideration! Daggers alerts us to the different strands of those movements and highlights the work done by a range of women. It is interesting to ponder how much of the methodology has changed yet how many of the questions remain the same. Would we start today with the rehabilitation of Eve-could we start anywhere else? This is a book to read and certainly a book to keep-it shines a light on a significant moment in the history of Christian women in this country and as such is fuel for our continued efforts as much as a record of our endeavours, gains and hopes yet to be realized.
Book Review Sixteen theologians, ethicists and biblical scholars have contributed to this book wh... more Book Review Sixteen theologians, ethicists and biblical scholars have contributed to this book which is in honour of Letty Russell at the time of her retirement. They are no random collection of 'worthies' but are rather unified by the fact that they have at one time or another been colleagues or co-workers on projects of Russell's. The pieces are further unified by the theme, which is liberating eschatology. Those who are familiar with the work of Russell will not be surprised by the title, seeing it as addressing the pressing concern of much of Letty's life and work. She is motivated by how to make future hopes present and how to make them our hopes based in our realities. All the contributors address this question from their own per
This is a lively and engaging book written by six women who have a great deal to contribute to th... more This is a lively and engaging book written by six women who have a great deal to contribute to the theological debate, and who do so with clarity. Hampson tells us that she originally supposed there would be an equal number of Christians and post-Christians among the authors. It did not work out that way and she is the only post-Christian author but nothing is lost by this. It is, however, interesting that others could not be found; the reasons for this are never given. Hampson’s lead article states her post-Christian arguments which will be familiar to those who know her work ’Theology and Feminism’. Her position is challenged by diverse interpretations of Christianity and the authors engage with the post-Christian debate in a number of ways; Soskice believes we can turn the symbols, Slee speaks of Jesus as a parable, Shaw reminds us that there are many interpretations in Christian-
Just as those who would have women and men adhere strictly to certain roles shout ’biology is des... more Just as those who would have women and men adhere strictly to certain roles shout ’biology is destiny’, so feminists have responded with slogans of their own. One of these is ’the personal is political’, which claims that whatever happens to us as individuals in and through our bodies actually carries implications beyond into the world and has political meaning. ’Political’ in this context means that there is an agenda of gain underlying so-called ’natural laws’ and the ’way things are’. The most
This article demonstrates the levels of domestic abuse in the UK and USA. The author argues that ... more This article demonstrates the levels of domestic abuse in the UK and USA. The author argues that it is a mistake to see this as a purely private and therefore pastoral matter but it is rather a public and systematic problem and such is the stuff of public theological and ethical debate. The article demonstrates some ways in which Christian theology has been used to devalue women and thus create a climate in which abuse and death are both possible and even acceptable. The author considers how theology can be instrumental in the creation of more mutually empowering models of masculinity and femininity.
This book sets out to examine the ambigous relationship that Christianity has with the body. Inca... more This book sets out to examine the ambigous relationship that Christianity has with the body. Incarnation is central to Christian belief but that doctrine has not encouraged a positive theology of the body. The authors explore why this has been so and examine ways in which a more bosy-positive theology can be developed using our Christian heritage. Starting from a feminist perspective they reclaim women's bodies from the embrace of patriarchy and in doing so clearly show how this reclamation challenges many systems of opression. This work illustrates that the personal is political, even in therology! Lisa Isherwood is Senior Lecturer in Theology at the University College of St Mark and St John, Plymouth. Elizabeth Stuart is Professor of Christian Theology at King Alfred's College, Winchester.
This paper examines how a radical incarnational starting point would change the way we view the e... more This paper examines how a radical incarnational starting point would change the way we view the economic order. It highlights the way in which the current system creates extreme poverty and suffering for the many and asks if this can be tolerated by Christians. It also examines the Christian underpinnings of such a system and suggests that other Christian roots would lead to alternate and more inclusive systems.
This paper asks whether Christianity has always been queer, is the very nature of it beyond what ... more This paper asks whether Christianity has always been queer, is the very nature of it beyond what one might expect from reality? Does the core of Christianity destabilise the categories by which subsequent Christian leaders have created doctrine, developed ethics and controlled the faithful? Is this queer core located in the very notion of incarnation itself, an event that truly changes all we thought we knew about the nature of materiality? The paper is not attempting to find a queer past in order to justify a queer present and solidify a queer future but rather to suggest that fluidity, rupture and unexpected outcomes should be at the heart of the Christian enterprise. It also follows that if the categories which have been used to exclude are themselves queered then Christianity becomes a far more inclusive way of living. The paper also asks whether the very notion of monotheism itself is a barrier to what may be understood as the fluid volatile core of incarnational religion. What does the queer theologian do with the ONE?
This essay is situated within the sexual theologies discipline—that is, it will not consider what... more This essay is situated within the sexual theologies discipline—that is, it will not consider what theology has said about lesbians. It will rather engage with what lesbian experience has offered traditional Christian theology. Perhaps this can be best summed up in the words of Carter Heyward who wrote ‘To say “I love you” means—Let the revolution begin!’ Once lesbians in theology found a voice, what we witness is indeed a revolution as the diverse face of the divine began to emerge from what had been a ‘one size fits all’ theology in matters of sexuality and ethics. Far from simply stating that the norm did not fit all sexualities and genders, many lesbian theologians moved on to say that the norm did not even do justice to those seen as normal and that the heteronormative underpinnings of theology actually crippled it.
then developed a relationship with two dominatrices as a whipping boy since he had shown no sign ... more then developed a relationship with two dominatrices as a whipping boy since he had shown no sign of sadomasochism with the polar bear! I dispute this! To my mind there is not a lot of difference between getting whacked during sexual arousal by one large mammal or by two! Do I recommend this book? I am not warning you off but I do feel if you have an interest in sex and theology there are other great reads that would take your time more engagingly.
and she focuses on some of the British and American women who were engaged in scholarly activity ... more and she focuses on some of the British and American women who were engaged in scholarly activity during that period. Daggers reminds us that we forget our history at our peril and so must also be aware that history is a series of selected 'facts' and distant considerations. This is no criticism of the work merely an observation that had she asked others there may well have been another story emerging and a different set of considerations. This is a well-written and engaging account of those heady days when we all believed we could change the world-how many of us still do may be one contemporary question for consideration! Daggers alerts us to the different strands of those movements and highlights the work done by a range of women. It is interesting to ponder how much of the methodology has changed yet how many of the questions remain the same. Would we start today with the rehabilitation of Eve-could we start anywhere else? This is a book to read and certainly a book to keep-it shines a light on a significant moment in the history of Christian women in this country and as such is fuel for our continued efforts as much as a record of our endeavours, gains and hopes yet to be realized.
Book Review Sixteen theologians, ethicists and biblical scholars have contributed to this book wh... more Book Review Sixteen theologians, ethicists and biblical scholars have contributed to this book which is in honour of Letty Russell at the time of her retirement. They are no random collection of 'worthies' but are rather unified by the fact that they have at one time or another been colleagues or co-workers on projects of Russell's. The pieces are further unified by the theme, which is liberating eschatology. Those who are familiar with the work of Russell will not be surprised by the title, seeing it as addressing the pressing concern of much of Letty's life and work. She is motivated by how to make future hopes present and how to make them our hopes based in our realities. All the contributors address this question from their own per
This is a lively and engaging book written by six women who have a great deal to contribute to th... more This is a lively and engaging book written by six women who have a great deal to contribute to the theological debate, and who do so with clarity. Hampson tells us that she originally supposed there would be an equal number of Christians and post-Christians among the authors. It did not work out that way and she is the only post-Christian author but nothing is lost by this. It is, however, interesting that others could not be found; the reasons for this are never given. Hampson’s lead article states her post-Christian arguments which will be familiar to those who know her work ’Theology and Feminism’. Her position is challenged by diverse interpretations of Christianity and the authors engage with the post-Christian debate in a number of ways; Soskice believes we can turn the symbols, Slee speaks of Jesus as a parable, Shaw reminds us that there are many interpretations in Christian-
Just as those who would have women and men adhere strictly to certain roles shout ’biology is des... more Just as those who would have women and men adhere strictly to certain roles shout ’biology is destiny’, so feminists have responded with slogans of their own. One of these is ’the personal is political’, which claims that whatever happens to us as individuals in and through our bodies actually carries implications beyond into the world and has political meaning. ’Political’ in this context means that there is an agenda of gain underlying so-called ’natural laws’ and the ’way things are’. The most
This article demonstrates the levels of domestic abuse in the UK and USA. The author argues that ... more This article demonstrates the levels of domestic abuse in the UK and USA. The author argues that it is a mistake to see this as a purely private and therefore pastoral matter but it is rather a public and systematic problem and such is the stuff of public theological and ethical debate. The article demonstrates some ways in which Christian theology has been used to devalue women and thus create a climate in which abuse and death are both possible and even acceptable. The author considers how theology can be instrumental in the creation of more mutually empowering models of masculinity and femininity.
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