Womanspirit Rising: A Feminist Reader in Religion [Paperback]

Carol P. Christ (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 28, 1992

Womanspirit Rising

The classic anthology on feminist spirituality --
Now with an update preface in which the editors discuss its initial reception and continuing impact.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

Now with an updated preface and a new index--the classic anthology on feminist spirituality. "Remains the most inclusive and incisive single collection of critical feminist texts in the field."--Harvey Cox, author of Many Mansions

About the Author

Carol P. Christ is the author of Diving Deep and Surfacing and Laughter of Aphrodite.

Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: HarperOne (February 28, 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060613777
• ISBN-13: 978-0060613778
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.2 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #137,055 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

38 of 40 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must have for those interested in feminist studies!, June 29, 1999

By 

Tara D. Kiene "Tara" (Durango, CO USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Womanspirit Rising: A Feminist Reader in Religion (Paperback)

This book and its successor, Weaving the Visions, are the keystones of my library of feminist religious studies. The contributors expose us to feminist critiques of religion from many perspectives and backgrounds. This book is an uplifting source of inspiration for men and women alike. At the same time, it remains a pinnacle of scholarship in its field. I would highly recommend it to anyone with even a remote interest in feminist religious thought!

24 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Feminist Spirituality at its finest!, July 20, 2001

By 

A. Y. Smittle (Winchester, VA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Womanspirit Rising: A Feminist Reader in Religion (Paperback)

I was introduced to this book in a feminist spirituality class, taught by a methodist (woman) minister. This and its sequel, Weaving the Visions, helped change my spiritual life. It affirmed the feminine face of God for me, and it did help me to know there are others out there seeking the Femininity of God. That we all have our own, bizarre path to the Divine One; be it one sex or another. This book opens up to a world of feminist thought and ritual; how different feminists, scholars and religious leaders experience divinity and come to terms with it. There are Christians, Jews and Pagans here. An excerpt from "The Color Purple" which Christ seems to favor in other publications. Truly a wonderful work of art for women. A feminist must have.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Resource, March 15, 2010

By 

Tiffany Johnson (Denver, CO) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Womanspirit Rising: A Feminist Reader in Religion (Paperback)

Womanspirit Rising is an important book for anyone looking to explore religion outside of the traditional patriarchal understanding. It provides a new perspective and new options for the experience of religion, spirituality, and the divine, particularly for women who have experienced isolation or oppression in their religious tradition. The volume brings to attention the realities of not so long ago when women were absent or ignored in the study of religion, within the context of academia and in the larger realm of society. The essays contained in this volume are written by many of the most important female religious scholars including Mary Daly, Rosemary Radford Reuther, Phyllis Trible, Judith Plaskow, and Carol P. Christ. These women, along with many other contributors, wish to challenge the traditions of Jewish and Christian religious traditions and the burden of inferiority of women that has emerged from and been sustained by them.
The contributing authors vary on their approach to the equality of women (whether they should be equal to men or be elevated above them), the anthropomorphic language of god/ess, whether or not religious understanding can be restored to a place where women can find liberation and value, and the relationship between women and nature. Thankfully, the editors allow these differences to be held in tension within the volume. This provides a plethora of language to surround and begin to define the importance of women's experiences within the realm of religious understanding. I found healing in the openness for religious expression in new terms: those according to women and their experiences.
This collection readily addresses the reality that the idea of a male god has oppressive consequences for women in other realms of life outside religion; male conceptualization of god has given male humans control and power in all of society. One of the most meaningful chapters for me, "Why Women Need the Goddess" by Carol Christ, was about the social and political implications of the image of a goddess. Instead of being oppressed by men and a male god, a new vision of the divine is offered, one where women have power and control over their own lives in a way that is affirmed by their understanding of the divine. This provides hope for women not only in religious contexts, but in the world of work, home, and public society.