Winner of the Louisville Grawemeyer Award in Religion. This classic explains what feminist theology is and how can we rediscover the feminine God within the Christian tradition. A profound vision of Christian theology, women’s experience, and emancipation.
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Editorial Reviews
From Library Journal
As perhaps the best book of feminist theology to date, She Who Is is at once thoroughly orthodox, grounded in classical Christian thought, liberatingly contemporary, and rooted in women's experience. Johnson reviews the history of Christian language about God and explains the need for feminist language about God, thereby providing background for nontheologians. She then develops an inclusive and creative Christian spiritual doctrine. Highly recommended for all collections serving educated lay readers, theologians, and clergy.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Review
Readers will find this incisive survey to be the finest yet written in the area of feminist theological discourse. -- Choice
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
86 of 98 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
I was first introduced to this classic when I began researching my undergraduate thesis on women's oppression in Christianity. I was then, and still am, thoroughly impressed with Johnson's work. Her scholarship is impecable, reasoning very solid, and takes a well-rounded approach. This work is founded in tradition, yet manages to break from the aspects of tradition which are oppressive. Her philosophical background is also quite solid. You can't get any better than Elizabeth Johnson. She is masterful at weaving theological discourse and spirituality together. This is not a theological head-trip! The relevance of her work not only applies to theologians, it applies to laypersons as well. The sections on Sophia are particularly moving. Johnson also manages to address the issue of exclusive God-language in a subtle manner, which a reader would be hardpressed to take offense to, and presents new inclusive ways of speaking about God founded in biblical scholarship, All in all, this is a fantastic work of theology with elements of spirituality. I can't recommend it enough!
35 of 40 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Over the course of Christian history, women have been disenfranchised and oppressed. Patriarchal systems and androcentric mentalities have marginalized women sociologically and psychologically, even within the Christian community. Elizabeth Johnson believes this oppression stems from the language used for God. Because God is referred to exclusively and literally as a male, women have reduced roles within Christianity. Johnson seeks to use new imagery and metaphors for speech about God, in order to emancipate women from this oppression. Johnson recognizes that all language about God is inadequate, but using feminine imagery for God restores human dignity in women and men and helps with the flourishing of humanity.
Structurally, Johnson achieves this goal in four parts. In Part I, Johnson provides context and background for new speech about God. Because speech about God influences identity and praxis, new language for God must be sought. A solution to this problem can be explored using feminist theology, and Johnson provides basic feminist principles for theology. Lastly, Johnson discusses traditional approaches to speaking inclusively about God, and establishes that it is her intent to use only feminine imagery for God. Moving from the background to the foreground, Johnson builds her methodology, in Part II, by using three resources: experience, scripture, and classical theology. The experience of women is central to her theology, and while scripture is integral, Johnson seeks the reclamation of feminine imagery. Johnson also salvages certain principles in classical theology to use in her theology: the divine incomprehensibility, the need for analogy in God-speak, and the need for many names for God. In Part III, Johnson applies reclaimed feminine imagery to each Person in the Trinity. Beginning with the Spirit, and then moving to Jesus and God, Johnson explores what feminine imagery points to in God. Finally, in Part IV, Johnson uses feminine symbols, culminating in SHE WHO IS, to explain the immanent Trinity, the economic Trinity, and God's relation to the suffering world.
Structurally, Johnson achieves this goal in four parts. In Part I, Johnson provides context and background for new speech about God. Because speech about God influences identity and praxis, new language for God must be sought. A solution to this problem can be explored using feminist theology, and Johnson provides basic feminist principles for theology. Lastly, Johnson discusses traditional approaches to speaking inclusively about God, and establishes that it is her intent to use only feminine imagery for God. Moving from the background to the foreground, Johnson builds her methodology, in Part II, by using three resources: experience, scripture, and classical theology. The experience of women is central to her theology, and while scripture is integral, Johnson seeks the reclamation of feminine imagery. Johnson also salvages certain principles in classical theology to use in her theology: the divine incomprehensibility, the need for analogy in God-speak, and the need for many names for God. In Part III, Johnson applies reclaimed feminine imagery to each Person in the Trinity. Beginning with the Spirit, and then moving to Jesus and God, Johnson explores what feminine imagery points to in God. Finally, in Part IV, Johnson uses feminine symbols, culminating in SHE WHO IS, to explain the immanent Trinity, the economic Trinity, and God's relation to the suffering world.
67 of 81 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
It should be obvious that there are many male-oriented interpretations of the reality and presence of God, but their male-ness goes unnoticed until an alternative feminist perspective makes it evident by contrast. Even when Johnson criticizes some feminist ideas about God, her clear and forceful descriptions break open categories of how we might think about God. No theology of God, no course about God, is adequate without taking into account the balanced and scholarly analyses Johnson provides.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
truly inspired
For all who want an experience of God in a feminine dimension. This was one of the most important books I have ever read. You will meet God as you never have before. Read more
Published 21 days ago by Constance Cusumano
5.0 out of 5 stars
Provocative and Enlightning
It's a bit heavy to get through but well worth the time invested in studying it. I am one of the women who is convinced that there were more than 12 disciples and that there were... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Surya-Patricia Lane Hood
4.0 out of 5 stars
Good in Condition
The book looks nice and in great condition. Since it is a used one, those notes which appeared on the book helps a lot while reading for class
Published 2 months ago by sc020449
5.0 out of 5 stars
She Who Is: book delivery rating
She Who Is: Mystery of God in Feminist Theological Discourse by Elizabeth Johnson arrived ahead of schedule and in good nick. Read more
Published 7 months ago by Maria
5.0 out of 5 stars
A NOTED CATHOLIC FEMINIST THEOLOGIAN DISCUSSES "GOD LANGUAGE"
Elizabeth A. Johnson (born 1941) is a Christian feminist theologian and Professor of Theology at Fordham University, as well as a member of the Sisters of St. Read more
Published 12 months ago by Steven H. Propp
4.0 out of 5 stars
Challenging Perspectives
I found this book difficult and challenging to negotiate through. That's not necessarily a bad thing. Read more
Published on February 5, 2011 by C. Temple
3.0 out of 5 stars
Helpful and challenging, while ultimately disappointing...
Johnson makes a compelling case that much of historical Christian language, theology and praxis establishes an inherent superiority for men and an inherent inferiority for women... Read more
Published on January 13, 2011 by Chad Oberholtzer
4.0 out of 5 stars
(S)he Who Is
Professor Johnson jumps through a labyrinth of spinning theological hoops to say in nearly 300 pages what might have been said in one line: "You and I know that God is not... Read more
Published on May 26, 2010 by Richard B. Smith
5.0 out of 5 stars
World changing possibilities
Women in power decision-making positions absolutely could change the world perspective and become a direct channel to peace. Read more
Published on May 5, 2010 by Anita L. Mathews
4.0 out of 5 stars
Theology of Sophia
Johnson sets out in this book to articulate metaphors for God that are feminine in nature. This serves to counter-balance prodominantly masculine metaphors received from classical... Read more
Published on September 13, 2005 by Tedd Steele
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