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Anti-Judaism in Feminist Religious Writings (American Academy of Religion Cultural Criticism)

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If you are looking for a condemnation of feminist readings of the Hebrew bible, this book ain't for you. Make no mistake, the author is an ardent feminist. Where this book is a masterwork of criticism is in how it shows how anti-Jewish theology, sometimes centuries old, has innervated modern feminist analysis of the bible. The book starts with an introduction that makes the book worthwhile for any student of German or Jewish history, where the author describes her discovery of the atrocities committed by an older relative, and how the family sought to deny it. This watershed moment triggers her re-evaluation of her studies, and her discover of the insipid anti-Semitism that fills the work of many biblical scholars who work in the feminist arena. Goddess theology, views of Israelite religion, Christian feminism, these and more pass through von Kellenbach's filters. This book is the record of her search for a better feminist view of the Hebrew bible and a more accurate view of the Ancient Near East that incubated it. She does not seek to deny feminist readings, rather, she brings to light the flaws of scholarship that anti-Judaism has brought to such readings. The book is a work of literary scholarship, and is not in the "for dummies" format, so it is less than perfectly accessible. Some knowledge of the field of secular biblical scholarship and feminist thought is needed to understand some of the more complex points. Overall, the book addresses a serious issue in biblical scholarship, and it bridges many areas of study. If you are looking for either exultation or condemnation of Feminist views on bible, you have the wrong book. If you want to take the next step in your study of modern biblical scholarship, or you seek to build a better feminism, then this book is for you.