Womanspirit Rising

This book is quite simply an essential buy for the feminist or neophyte feminist theologian. Though significant advances have been made in the field since the time of the book's first publication, the articles offer a sample of the diversity of feminist thought - from radical deconstructionists like Mary Daly to constructive theologians such as Elisabeth Schussler Fiorenza. I highly recommend this text as a good point of departure for those who think theology is necessarily patriarchal and oppressive (despite the fact that it often is).

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.

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!