This brilliant scholarly treatise succeeds in bringing to our consciousness women who played an important role in the origins of Christianity.
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106 of 117 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
From Biblical and extra-canonical literature, Schussler-Fiorenza gleans many little jewels of insight into the role of women in the early church. She compares the epistles of Peter and Paul, which enjoin restraint and submission of women, to the writers of the primary Gospels who emphasize altruistic love and service, not any form of hierarchy, as the substance of spiritual life. She relates the social conventions and legal roles of women in the ancient Roman world to the emergence of patriarchal church-institutions, in contrast to house-churches which could be headed by women. The picture which emerges is a very diverse early christian millieu in which women prophesied, presided over the eucharist, supported missionaries, and were missionaries themselves.
Unfortunately, the picture is hard to see if you are unaccustomed to the language of biblical scholarship and feminist historical reconstruction. For most people interested in feminist theology, this is not the book to start with. I wish someone would rewrite it for a broader audience. In substance it is exactly the kind of background that every woman should have, in order to understand how she has been viewed, defined, and influenced by christianity and christian-dominated culture.
It should be required reading (along with a diet of bread and water and daily flagellation) for every Catholic bishop who is not demanding the ordination of women in his church.
60 of 67 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Those not familiar with Elisabeth's work might do well to read her article entitled, "Feminist Theology as a Critical Theology of Liberation". That article, published in a number of edited collections of feminist theology, lays out the methodology she uses in, "In Memory of Her". Just as important, those not familiar with her work should begin this book with the understanding that it demands to be studied, not just read, very carefully. It is not a written motivational talk, i.e. to help women feel better about themselves. Women are not the problem. The book is written to challenge the deeply embedded assumptions scholars and people of faith make about biblical religion, biblical texts, and religious authority. It is the challenge, not just the book, that is formidable.
14 of 15 people found the following review helpful
By Avery Sledge
Format:Paperback
Schüssler Fiorenza's title is taken from Mark 14:9 referring to Jesus' recognition of the unnamed woman, who anoints him at Bethany. Jesus states that her actions will live on wherever the gospel is preached "in memory of her". It is clear even from the introduction that this book will take us to new places as the author reflects that we remember the man who betrayed Jesus, but throughout history this woman has been largely ignored. The author examines why this happened, particularly as a result of patriarchal systems. She examines the historical methods of inquiry which provide a different view of the role of women during Jesus' time and historically. She posits that women were not on the margins in the early church, but those who produce the memory through androcentric discourse (historians, authors of biblical texts in particular) have marginalized women. While the author explores many early Christian texts - both those of the New Testament and others which circulated but were not included in the canon -a major focus is directed at Galatians 3:28. She concludes that through this baptismal covenant there is oneness in the body of Christ that rejects oppression and domination. However, she recognizes the tension that this statement seems to be in with others in the Pauline corpus. She challenges the post-Pauline interpretations which subordinate women to men. In Chapter 8 on the Patriarchal Household and the Ekklçsia of Women, she cites many examples of women leaders in the early church particularly in the Gospels of John and Mark. She views the post-Pauline and post-Petrine prescriptions of women's roles in the church to run counter to the documented apostolic and ministerial leadership of women within the canonical texts. Schüssler Fiorenza explores the political concept of a contemporary ekklçsia of women to claim religious power and to nurture the oppressed--particularly since a large percentage of those who are oppressed are women and women with children.
This book, originally published in 1983, was republished in 1994 as the Tenth Anniversary Edition. The updated edition remains essentially the same except for an introduction which addresses many of the critiques of the first edition. Schüssler Fiorenza makes no apology for this book being a feminist theology text. Yet, she seems to lament in the introduction to the 1994 edition that as frequently happens in a patriarchal system, which has historically removed women's voices and memory from the mainstream, this book is too often relegated to women's or feminist studies.
This text is a seminal study on the hidden or denied/repressed role of women. It is vitally important to remember the foundational basis of this book: "Believe in and respect yourself, stand up for your dignity and rights, and always remember the struggle" (pages xvi and xxxv). This densely packed book may intimidate some readers particularly if the reader has no background in feminist studies and theology, liberation theology, and Biblical exegesis. Yet with patience and perseverance, it provides fertile ground with which to explore the roles of women in the early church from a different perspective than is traditionally taught. Even though it was first published 27 years ago, if one (or even better with a small group ekklçsia) takes the time to wrestle with the book, they will come away with a clearer understanding of women's roles in the early church; the untapped power of an ekklçsia of women; and an imaginative and liberating vision to reclaim woman-self as created equal in "the image and body of Christ" (page 351).
This book, originally published in 1983, was republished in 1994 as the Tenth Anniversary Edition. The updated edition remains essentially the same except for an introduction which addresses many of the critiques of the first edition. Schüssler Fiorenza makes no apology for this book being a feminist theology text. Yet, she seems to lament in the introduction to the 1994 edition that as frequently happens in a patriarchal system, which has historically removed women's voices and memory from the mainstream, this book is too often relegated to women's or feminist studies.
This text is a seminal study on the hidden or denied/repressed role of women. It is vitally important to remember the foundational basis of this book: "Believe in and respect yourself, stand up for your dignity and rights, and always remember the struggle" (pages xvi and xxxv). This densely packed book may intimidate some readers particularly if the reader has no background in feminist studies and theology, liberation theology, and Biblical exegesis. Yet with patience and perseverance, it provides fertile ground with which to explore the roles of women in the early church from a different perspective than is traditionally taught. Even though it was first published 27 years ago, if one (or even better with a small group ekklçsia) takes the time to wrestle with the book, they will come away with a clearer understanding of women's roles in the early church; the untapped power of an ekklçsia of women; and an imaginative and liberating vision to reclaim woman-self as created equal in "the image and body of Christ" (page 351).
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A PATHBREAKING AND THOUGHT-PROVOKING HISTORICAL & THEOLOGICAL WORK
Elisabeth Schüssler Fiorenza (born 1938) is a leading feminist theologian, who identifies herself as a Catholic. Read more
Published on July 30, 2010 by Steven H. Propp
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Chapter 5: "The Early Christian Missionary Movement"
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Published on December 8, 2009 by Jane E. Friesen
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