Just a Sister Away: A Womanist Vision of Women's Relationships in the Bible [Paperback]

Renita J. Weems (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1988

Writing with African American women in mind, Renita Weems probes beneath the surface to find out how the women of Scripture felt about themselves-by looking at how they treated other women. Believing that a common thread of sacred female experiences continues to bind centuries of women, Weems offers the hope that "we are just a sister away from our healing."

In nine chapters, Weems examines the relationships of Hagar and Sarah, Naomi and Ruth, Martha and Mary, Jephthah's Daughter and the mourning women, Miriam and her sister-in-law, the women who followed Jesus, Vashti and Esther, Elizabeth and Mary, and Lot's Wife and her daughters. Each chapter includes study questions for group discussion.

"A milestone in women's literature . . . that connects women today across class, culture, race, and time. Renita Weems is one of the most important thinkers of our time."-Susan Taylor, Editor-in-Chief, Essence Magazine

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Aimed specially at black Christian women but appropriate for all feminist readers, these reflective tales/essays by a minister in the African Methodist Episcopal Church focus on biblical women's relationships: sometimes exploitative (Sarah and Hagar), sometimes mutually supportive (Ruth and Naomi). Most feature third-person narrative cum analysis and close with discussion questions; others are first-person narratives, like the imaginary letter from Lot's wife to her daughters. All display feminist passion, sensitively rather than stereotypically expressed. EC
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About the Author

Renita J. Weems is a writer, Bible scholar, minister, and renowned public speaker. She is the bestselling author of What Matters Most, Just a Sista Away, I Asked for Intimacy, and other inspirational books. She is a former contributing editor for Essence and has served as the William and Camille College from 2003 to 2005. She lives in Nashville with her husband and daughter. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: Publishing/Editing Network; First Printing edition (May 1988)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0931055520
• ISBN-13: 978-0931055522
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #321,981 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Womanist scholarship for non-womanists, February 6, 1998

By 

M. J. Smith (Seattle, WA USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Just a Sister Away: A Womanist Vision of Women's Relationships in the Bible (Paperback)

This book was assigned as a text for a narrative theology course at the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley. I started it with great misgivings expecting a highly biased interpretation. Instead I found a well balanced retelling of Biblical stories about the relationships between women. Weems wears her scholarship lightly, writting a highly readable book. Her interpretation not only makes you reconsider relationships that she discovers but also gently encourages one to explore other aspects of the relationships.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Just A Sister Away... My sister, March 16, 2006

By 

Sharel Love "Sharel E. Gordon-Love, Author" (North Plainfield, NJ) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Just a Sister Away: Understanding the Timeless Connection Between Women of Today and Women in the Bible (Hardcover)

Author Renita J. Weems appeared to be playing the "Devil's Advocate" when she used familiar lessons from the Bible like Abraham and Sarah, Naomi and Ruth, Martha and Mary, Jephthah's Daughter and the Mourning Women and so on. But what is so awesome about "Just A Sister Away" is we were able to take a peek into the minds and hearts of the women who were not considered to be "chosen" of God and those who were placed in a predicament that was not of their doing, like Hagar.

Weems gives readers an opportunity to walk in the shoes of women, like Hagar, who was first used by her owner Sarah and then thrown away once Sarah realized she made a mistake giving Hagar to her husband, Abraham. But what no one ever talks about is what Hagar was going through; she has been made to look like a home wrecker in the lessons we have heard over and over again, but we find in this lesson that in spite of the plans Sarah (Sarai) had, God still had a plan for Hagar and her son, Ishmael.

"Just A Sister Away" reminds us that there is always more than one side of the story, and it is fascinating to read from the perspective of those whose voice is not really heard throughout the Bible just what may have been going through their minds and the emotions they experienced. Most importantly of all, we are reminded that God does indeed favor women. We can be found throughout the Word of God.



Reviewed by Sharel E. Gordon-Love
APOOO BookClub

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Women of substance, November 9, 2005

By 

The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers (RAWSISTAZ.com and BlackBookReviews.net) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Just a Sister Away: Understanding the Timeless Connection Between Women of Today and Women in the Bible (Hardcover)

The men often overshadowed the women of the Bible, but in JUST A SISTER AWAY: Understanding the Timeless Connection Between the Women of Today and Women in the Bible, author Renita J. Weems seeks to bring their stories forth through a new revelation. She delves beneath the surface information presented in the Bible to let readers see that these women, despite the roles they held, were women of valor and substance. Much has been written about their roles during biblical times, but as the author notes, not much is written about how they felt about themselves, their roles or each other. Ms. Weems modernizes some of these familiar, and some not so familiar, stories of women and how they treated other women to gauge how they really felt about themselves and their positions.

There were thirteen stories in all, complete with lessons and analyses. In Chapter One is the familar and noteworthy story of Hagar and Sarah in "A Mistress, a Maid, and No Mercy." This reconstructed story tells of where Sarah sends her maid Hagar to her husband Abraham, showing the feelings of each woman as it relates to jealousy, faithfulness, low self-esteem and self worth. My favorite story of this book is the story of Martha and Mary in "My Sister's Keeper." In this chapter, Ms. Weems retells the story of the day that Jesus and his disciples come to visit in the home of Martha and Mary. Martha is busy preparing the meal while Mary sits at the feet of Jesus as the men are talking. What makes this story so unique is the way that Ms. Weems tells it by using the feelings and emotions of first Martha then Mary. And their feelings are demonstrated by the way they treat, or mistreat, each other.

To say that I was amazed at some of Ms. Weems' interpretations is an understatement. I was in total awe of some and nodding my head in agreement in others as if I was actually present. She uses the stories of women in the Bible highlighting their failings, their struggles and their triumphs to show each of us how we can overcome adversity to obtain the blessings that have been promised to us and how we today still share the same struggles. A few of the stories were a little hard to grasp simply because of the sacred nature of them, but Ms. Weems' style of writing was one that didn't impose, but rather made you consider the possibility. JUST A SISTER AWAY is also structured like a workbook complete with deep, probing questions at the end of each chapter designed to challenge the reader to analyze their personal relationships with both women and men and apply some of the lessons taught. I enjoyed this inspirational and thought-provoking book and I encourage every woman to get a copy.

Reviewed by Brenda M. Lisbon
of The RAWSISTAZ™ Reviewers