Women We Should Be Reading
Over at Sojourner’s God’s Politics blog, Brian McLaren posted a list of women writers of spirituality and theology he recommends reading. He suggests –
- Sharon Baker: Her new book, Razing Hell, will put her on the front line of Christian thinkers asking important questions and responding to them in helpful ways.
- Phyllis Tickle: I’m one of many who has found in Phyllis a wise big sister and mentor. (The Great Emergence)
- Joan Chittister: She is a force of nature. Her books have enriched me for decades. (The Gift of Years)
- Rita Nakashima Brock: Rita’s book Saving Paradise is a masterpiece.
- Cynthia Bourgeault: Cynthia reminds me of Thomas Merton — she is a mystic with a brilliant mind who deserves far wider readership. (Centering Prayer and Inner Awakening)
- Sallie McFague: Sallie explores the boundaries of theology and feminism, ecology, and humanness. I find her ideas stimulating and challenging, page after page. (The Body of God)
- Nancey Murphy: Fuller Theological Seminary is fortunate to have this thought leader in postmodernism, science and faith, theological anthropology, and related issues. Her books have influenced me a great deal. (Beyond Liberalism and Fundamentalism)
- Jo-Ann Badley: Though she hasn’t published yet, this professor from Mars Hill Graduate School is one of the best Bible expositors I’ve ever been exposed to.
- Diana Butler Bass: Diana radiates balance and insight as she writes on church history, ethics, and politics. (A People’s History of Christianity)
- Sharon Watkins: She hasn’t published either, but her leadership of the Disciples of Christ denomination is exemplary, and her theological instincts are superb.
- Ruth Padilla DeBorst and Elisa Shannon Padilla: These two sisters, daughters of Rene Padilla, are formidable theological thinkers who deserve a far wider audience — not just as Latin American theologians, but as theologians of an emerging, holistic world Christianity. Both contributed to The Justice Project, which I helped edit.
I’ve read a number of these women and just added a few more to my to read list. Obviously, I think it is important that the voices of the whole church – men and women – get heard. All too often we only end up hearing from the male voices, so I appreciate the suggestions of women who are speaking important and transformative ideas into the church today. To that end I would love to hear your suggestions of women we should be reading. Please add your recommendations in the comments!
July 16th, 2010 at 9:36 am
Also Dr. Christine Pohl of Asbury Theological Seminary. Any of her stuff is good. Dr. Sandra Richter just published a book of lay-accessible OT study, too. Both beautiful people and brilliant writers.
July 16th, 2010 at 9:40 am
Sara Miles–”Take This Bread” and “Jesus Freak”
Nadia Bolz-Weber–”Salvation On The Small Screen”
July 16th, 2010 at 9:42 am
I have to mention the favorites who shaped my faith journey
Anne Lamott – Traveling Mercies
Sue Monk Kidd – Dance of the Dissident Daughter
Others who have impacted how I view my faith and my identity as a woman -
Kristina LaCelle-Peterson – Liberating Tradition: Women’s Identity and Vocation in Christian Perspective
Kwok Pui-lan – Postcolonial Imagination and Feminist Theology
Danielle Shroyer – The Boundary Breaking God
July 16th, 2010 at 10:28 am
Carol Howard Merritt – Tribal Church and upcoming Reframing Hope
July 16th, 2010 at 1:57 pm
Audre Lorde’s “Sister Outsider” was an amazing gift I discovered through another incredible gift: Nancy Eiesland — her book “The Disabled God: Toward a Liberatory Theology of Disability” is a profound call to bear witness to the intersection of incarnation, justice and redemption in a body broken for us.
The world is less without them.
July 19th, 2010 at 11:18 am
In the vein of ‘re-imagining’, I also recommend “The Goddess in the Gospels” by Margaret Starbird. She reminds me a lot of Sue Monk Kidd.
July 19th, 2010 at 3:39 pm
Does anyone have any fiction recommendations from women writers? I’ve read a lot of non-fiction this summer, and I need a break.
July 20th, 2010 at 8:35 am
hmm -
I don’t know what genre you like to read, but if you like fantasy writers I would recommend Jacqueline Carey, Sharon Shinn, Robin McKinley, and Anne Bishop.
Beyond fantasy – I’ve heard Sue Mink Kidd’s Traveling with Pomegranates is fantastic (I hope to read it soon). It’s a young adult book, but I recently enjoyed The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate by Jacqueline Kelly. In the mystery/thriller/historical fiction genre I enjoyed Labyrinth and Sepulchre by Kate Mosse and The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova.
July 20th, 2010 at 11:55 am
Thanks, EW. Any genre is fine with me, personally.
July 21st, 2010 at 8:36 pm
Linda Peacore just published her dissertation…The Role of Women’s Experience in Feminist Theologies of Atonement. its a great overview of feminist theology. Also, Elizabeth Johnson’s classic, She Who Is – feminist Trinitarian theology for a thoughtful discussion on language and the Church. I’m also a huge fan of Latina theologians such as Maria Pilar Aquino and Ada Maria Isasi-Diaz.
July 25th, 2010 at 3:14 am
It really bothered me that out of this list that Bryan was asked to compile, he listed two women who haven’t published anything. Really? He couldn’t list 11 female authors he finds inspirational or challenging or creative? That was a big disappointment. Shame on Bryan. If he really could only list nine, it would have been much better to say, check out these 9 women and here’s two to keep an eye on! Instead of, here’s a list of 11 women you need to read, but he can only list nine. Bleh.
I’m also a fan of Anne Lamott and Sara Miles. I like Joan Chittister a lot too. And also Zora Neale Hurston and Flannery O’Conner for fiction…
July 25th, 2010 at 3:23 am
Oops. I missed that Bryan listed Joan already… so how about Rosemary Radford Ruether? Also, while I’ve not read Lauren Winner, I’ve heard her speak and liked her, so someday I’ll get around to checking out her books…
July 30th, 2010 at 2:34 am
I have enjoyed Kathleen Norris- Acedia and Me, as well as others of her books. She writes very personally and honestly & she has shaped my faith journey
September 3rd, 2010 at 2:13 pm
I’d like to suggest “Taking Flight” by a compendium of authors. It was put together by Cynthia LaGrou and Caleb Seeling. It explores the delicate issues of gender in the church and includes some really great authors.
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