Sexism and God Talk: Toward a Feminist Theology [Paperback]

Rosemary R. Ruether (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 080701205X | ISBN-13: 978-0807012055 | Publication Date: April 1, 1993

By the time Ruether finishes, systematic theology has undergone a radical critique from which it emerges transformed rather than simply modified or totally rejected. She has constructed a full-fledged feminist theology-the first within a Christian context. --The New York Times Book Review

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Sexism and God-Talk is one of those rare books that hits the right topic at the right time--and that has endured. Its thesis is summarized by Rosemary Radford Ruether herself (the Georgia Harkness Professor of Theology at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary) in her opening chapter and is worth quoting: "The uniqueness of feminist theology lies not in its use of the criterion of experience but rather in its use of women's experience, which has been almost entirely shut out of theological reflection in the past. The use of women's experience in feminist theology, therefore, explodes as a critical force, exposing classical theology . . . as based on male experience rather than on universal human experience." The book presents a revisioning of theological topics from a feminist perspective, including the use of male and female images of the divine in worship; the relationship between images of women, the body, and nature in Greek, Hebrew, and Christian thinking; and a new, woman-centered look at images of both Christ and Mary.

Clearly written, forceful without being overly dogmatic, this classic study remains what theologian Harvey Cox said of it upon its first release: "one of the most important theological books of this or any other season." --Doug Thorpe

About the Author

Rosemary Radford Ruether, one of the world's leading feminist theologians, is the Georgia Harkness Professor of Applied Theology at the Garrett-Evangelical Seminary. She is author of over thirty books, including Sexism and God-Talk (Beacon / 1205-X / $17.00 pb) and Womanguides (Beacon / 1235-1 / $15.00 pb), and lives in Evanston, Illinois.

Product Details

• Paperback: 312 pages
• Publisher: Beacon Press (April 1, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 080701205X
• ISBN-13: 978-0807012055
• Product Dimensions: 6 x 0.8 x 9.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #94,464 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Deepening Understanding, November 28, 2002

By 

Elizabeth (United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Sexism and God Talk: Toward a Feminist Theology (Paperback)

I think that this book is a very helpful introduction to feminist theology for someone who is already somewhat familiar with historical-critical analysis in religion and somewhat familiar with feminism. This book brings together the two traditions and presents a great framework from which to begin to explore feminist theology. This is probably not a good introduction for someone starting completely from scratch. There are less academic books, such as Introducing Feminist Theology by Anne M. Clifford which are easier to understand and navigate for the true beginner.
My favorite part of the book was the opening narrative written by Ruether (in the tradition of midrash) that imagines scenes from the Bible in a fresh and exciting light. It was inspiring, gave me goose bumps and helped me remember why I think that Christianity can be such an exciting and liberating spiritual path to follow.
The rest of the book systematically deals with topics that arise in "re-understanding" the Bible and Christianity in a way that honors and listens to women's voices which have, generally, been systematically excluded from the Christian tradition.
I didn't give it five stars because, like some of the other reviewers, I would have liked to see more evidence for some of her positions.

15 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Still Worth Reading 20 Years Later, February 19, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Sexism and God Talk: Toward a Feminist Theology (Paperback)

"Sexism and God-Talk" is based on lectures given by the author in the 1970's. The book was originally published in 1983, but it has much to say to Christians in 2002.

I gave the book 4 stars instead of 5, because I think that Ruether's comments about male puberty rites and the origins of mysogyny were weak and needed some documentation. There were a few other points in the book which I felt needed more documentation.

Nevertheless, "Sexism and God-Talk" is an excellent introduction to Christian feminist theology. Ruether is one of the few American writers to have defined Christian feminism in mainstream Western culture. She explains how being female came to be associated with evil in Western theological thought, and how, ironically, "Romantic feminism", which proposed that women were actually more spiritual than men, still was harmful to women.

Ruether insists that it is possible to be both Christian and feminist and that there is salvation within Christianity for all. She warns against reducing feminism to the hatred of men. Nothing is solved by that.

One need not agree with all of Ruether's political positions, such as her belief that democratic socialism is the best form of governance or her views on the situation in Palestine and Israel in order to appreciate her work.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Sexism and God-Talk, October 28, 2009

By 

Mark Seymour - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sexism and God Talk: Toward a Feminist Theology (Paperback)

In her fourth chapter on Anthropology: Humanity as Male and Female, Ruether is in search of an egalitarian Christian anthropology that leaves neither the male nor the female subjugated. She reviews the sexist anthropology that has dominated the Christian church for twenty centuries with intelligence and objectivity.
Ruether's conclusions are sound as well as incredibly appealing. Indeed, the history of the world and of the church is dismissive of anything about females as a sex that might be considered laudatory, exemplary or desirable. The claims made about females by supposedly brilliant theologians/clergymen of the past are an embarrassment to Christ, the church, and males. Her call for integration of the whole self in a non-dualistic way must have seemed revolutionary twenty-six years ago. I would add to her statements that males should heed her advice as well. Personality traits are not oppositional. Poor mental health is the result of making them so. The various journals of psychology are rife with studies pointing to superior emotional stability in people who do not repress aspects of their personalities.
I'm surprised and disappointed that Ruether did not suggest where we might look for more models of the "fullness we seek," as she phrased it. I believe she is correct, as scandalous as it may sound, that the historical Jesus possessed the perspective of only one man, and that it was severely circumscribed by things like culture, gender and time. "Has Christology," she asks, "been a model of redemptive personhood for women...?" (P. 115) Probably not. Christology, after all, is a human enterprise, and until recently, a human enterprise controlled by men. Clearly a new Christology is needed. As for models, however, she overlooks, I think, the obvious. What about the saints? The Liturgy of the Hours is replete with examples of men and women from numerous cultures and ages.
They lived great lives for God but they were frail, mortal humans like us. Many of the women exhibited traits that historically have been judged to be the province of men. Many of the men exhibited traits that historically have been relegated to women. Maybe this is what made it possible for them to live such lives - they made no such artificial distinctions.