At the Root of This Longing: Reconciling a Spiritual Hunger and a Feminist Thirst [Paperback]

Carol L. Flinders (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 19, 1999

In this brilliant exploration of the apparent conflicts and tensions between feminism and contemplative spirituality, Carol Lee Flinders uncovers how a life of meaning, self-knowledge, and freedom depends on both.

In 'At the Root of This Longing'

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Many feminists have been skeptical about traditional spirituality, and their mistrust has not been entirely unfounded. The forms of self-sacrifice often required by the spiritual life--including silence and suppression of desire--are conditions that have been imposed on women for centuries. But, as Carol Lee Flinders makes clear, spirituality and feminism do not have to be diametrically opposed. Drawing on Western and Eastern spiritual traditions, Flinders traces her own developing awareness of the "mutual necessity" of the two disciplines and makes provocative suggestions about the potential of a feminist movement guided by spiritual principles. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Publishers Weekly

In an intriguing combination of personal and scholarly prose, Flinders (Enduring Grace) works through the details of her attempt to reconcile the conflicts she found between her "commitments to feminism" and her "spiritual path and practices." Living most of her adult life in a "spiritual community" with author and meditation teacher Eknath Easwaran, Flinders has contemplated the works of women mystics including Julian of Norwich, Teresa of Avila and Clare of Assisi. But how can these women's (and her own) experiences of peace and God jibe with the often angry feminist Flinders finds herself to be? In historical context, she examines today's sexism and violence against women?the legacy of patriarchy that, she says, is not a natural condition at all?and uncovers parallels between Gandhi's Indian revolution against British colonialism and the challenges facing Western women today. Flinders concludes that reclaiming the ancient "sacred feminine" is not at odds with political feminism, but rather necessary for it. In the spirit of Women Who Run with the Wolves and Reviving Ophelia, this book has the potential to change women's lives. $30,000 ad/promo; author tour.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: HarperOne; 1 edition (May 19, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 006251315X
• ISBN-13: 978-0062513151
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.3 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #896,939 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Carol Lee Flinders received a Ph.D. in Comparative Literature from the University of California at Berkeley, specializing in medieval studies. She then spent fifteen years writing about natural foods, co-authoring the popular Laurel's Kitchen cookbooks and writing a weekly syndicated newspaper column.

In 1990 Carol returned to her field of study and wrote Enduring Grace: Living Portraits of Seven Women Mystics. Subsequent books include At the Root of This Longing: Reconciling a Spiritual Hunger and a Feminist Thirst, Rebalancing the World, and Enduring Lives. She has taught courses in mystical literature at UC, Berkeley, and at the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley.

Carol is a Fellow of the Spirituality and Health Institute, Santa Clara University, and serves on the Board of Advisors for the REVEAL conference. She is currently adjunct faculty at the Sophia Center in Culture and Spirituality, Holy Names University, Oakland, CA, where she teaches courses on mysticism and contemplative spirituality.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

32 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars important, compelling and transformative book, September 21, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: At the Root of This Longing: Reconciling a Spiritual Hunger and a Feminist Thirst (Paperback)

Carol Lee Flinders has written a very important book, one that I hope will capture the public's imagination as it has mine. I'm sharing my copy with everybody! I heard Ms. Flinders speak at a conference in July and felt compelled to buy her book, as I failed to see how Catholic women mystics could hold the key to emancipation from our (Western) modern, masculine culture and Judeo-Christian religions. Weaving the personal with the political and then proving that those paradigms are just constructs of the mind, Ms. Flinders shows us all - men and women - how feminism and true spirituality seek the same thing: more humanity, more love, more compassion, more attention and more care of humans for the earth and for each other. I sincerely hope men don't feel excluded by the word "feminism", as this book pertains as much to them as to any woman. My thanks to Carol Lee Flinders.

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars lots to think about, March 17, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: At the Root of This Longing: Reconciling a Spiritual Hunger and a Feminist Thirst (Hardcover)

Carol Lee Flinders has embarked on the difficult task of reconciling feminism and spirituality. She, like several other scholars and writers today, recognizes the conflict between these two concepts and also the attraction each has for women. Flinders does a fine job outlining the tensions between feminism and spirituality, including the tension between finding voice and reveling in silence. Her ideas are cross-cultural and sweeping and lead to interesting and insightful connections; her probing of both Ghandi's ideas and the myths of Christian saints offers wonderful complications to the text. She depends too heavily on restating Gerda Lerner's work--I highly recommend readers read Lerner's The Creation of Patriarchy and The Creation of Feminist Consciousness themselves because these histories are well-written and important--though it becomes integral to Flinders' approach. The end of At the Root of This Longing loses its balance a bit and falls into unchecked essentialism, sentimentality, and optimism. However, overall, Flinders does important and articulate work for today's thinking, searching women and rightly emphasizes a balance between the personal and the political. She also points out the importance of working toward reconciliation for future generations.

20 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars At the Root of this Longing, March 25, 2000

By 

Lisa Niver (New York, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: At the Root of This Longing: Reconciling a Spiritual Hunger and a Feminist Thirst (Paperback)

A wonderful and thought-provoking book full of insight. A must read for anyone with intelligent questions about spirituality, feminism and religion. As a Jewish woman, I found I could relate to this book and I would recommend it highly. I was able to use information from this book to find my path in feminism and Judaism. Thank you to Carol Lee Flinders!