The Engendering God: Male and Female Faces of God [Paperback]

Carl A. Raschke (Author), Susan Doughty Raschke (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 1, 1995

In this book, Carl Raschke and Susan Doughty Raschke argue that God's own self-revelation is neither exclusively male nor female but both at once. With this self-revelation of the "two in one," the authors contend that the Scriptures are actually a radical proclamation of gender equality. Basing their findings on historical, anthropological, and biblical scholarship, they make a compelling argument that this awareness of God's dual nature was widely accepted and understood in the early years of Christianity but was intentionally obscured through the ages.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

The thesis of this book is that Judeo-Christian scripture can be reread "to support a conviction of the unconditional religious equality of men and women." The authors highlight a strand of interpretation, woven through both Jewish and Christian tradition, that affirms the feminine face of God from the beginning of Genesis (cited in the first paragraph of the preface) through the end of Revelation (cited in the book's final chapter). Considering this account's brevity, it is remarkably thorough. In part an argument against a scholarly tradition (identified here with Elaine Pagels) that has sought the divine feminine primarily in extracanonical--particularly Gnostic--sources, in part an affirmation of a scholarly tradition (identified here with Elisabeth Schussler Fiorenza) that has sought the divine feminine primarily in the Sophia tradition of the canon, it is a lively and accessible introduction to an interpretive controversy with far-reaching significance for the understanding of Christianity and its relationship to Judaism. Steve Schroeder

About the Author

Carl A. Raschke is Professor of Religious Studies and Chair of the Department of Religious Studies at the University of Denver in Denver, Colorado. He is co-founder and senior editor of The Journal for Cultural and Religious Theory and has been involved in the development of national online learning initiatives, including the Syllabus Institute.

Susan Doughty Raschke is Learning Resource Center Information Specialist at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas, Inc.

Product Details

• Paperback: 112 pages
• Publisher: Westminster John Knox Press; 1st edition (December 1, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0664255027
• ISBN-13: 978-0664255022
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.1 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,918,778 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An important book, March 10, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Engendering God: Male and Female Faces of God (Paperback)

This is a book that ought to be read by those interested in the rather controversial and paradoxical question of "the gender of God". This question is discussed in a nuanced, and convincing way in this book. You can read about the Sophia tradition, the parallels between Christianity and the Isis cult, the Knights Templars, the Book of Revelation, and the 13th century troubadours in this book. Someone may ask what these subjects has in common. Well, read the book and you will see!!

One of the authors, Carl Raschke, has been known for his ground-breaking, well researched and controversial book about satanism, Painted Black. In The Engendering God he shows that he and his co-author could be as interesting and as fascinating when they writes about the concepts of God and the good as when Carl Raschke writes about evil! The discussions about Isis and Demeter could very well be used in a dialogue between Christians and neo-pagans! This book deserves many readers!

1 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Don't waste your time., February 13, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: The Engendering God: Male and Female Faces of God (Paperback)

The Raschkes have nothing new to say, and they are saying it. A rehash of an old "issue" of interest only to the neo-theologians and pastors who are living on the church dole.