Feminist Approaches to the Bible

by Phyllis Trible, Jane Schaberg, Tikva Frymer-Kensky

This book, developed from a popular symposium sponsored by the Biblical Archaeology Society and the Smithsonian Institution, invites readers to ask how modern notions of gender equality can be reconciled with the largely patriarchal world in which the Bible was written and understood. Four outstanding scholars—Phyllis Trible, Tikva Frymer-Kensky, Pamela J. Milne and Jane Schaberg—examine the stories of a number of prominent women in the Bible, including Eve, Miriam and Mary Magdalene, to highlight the various ways feminists have approached the biblical text and its traditional interpretation by men. They ask how these stories reflect the concerns of women, and in what ways women are treated, described and given voice by the biblical writers. In addition, they look at the lives of the Bible’s women from a modern perspective and, in so doing, ask how modern, 21st-century readers should relate to the text. Can this inherently patriarchal document be reclaimed as source of spiritual inspiration for modern women, as argued by Trible and others? Or, as viewed by Milne, has the Bible been so distorted by patriarchal tradition that feminists simply have no choice but to reject it all together? Readers will critically grapple with these and other tough questions in Feminist Approaches to the Bible.
Now available in this convenient eReader edition, Feminist Approaches to the Bible allows readers to take full advantage of all of the portability and functionality of their eReader devices, including convenient in-text links that jump directly to specific chapters and notes.

Genres: Feminism

116 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1995

Reviews

[Janice]

This book is actually a series of lectures presented at the Smithsonian in a symposium in 1994. The presenters are several women who are Professors of Theology at various universities. The subject matter ranges from a re-thinking of the story of Adam and Eve; a look at the patriarchical themes throughout the Bible, as well as in many pagan societies; a review of the role of Mary Magdalene. The book ends with a panel discussion with all the presenters. Even though this was several years ago I think the book is worth reading by anyone interested in a more indepth look at how feminists can be Christian.

[Hannah Ruth]

This is an excellent collection of 4 symposium lectures and a panel discussion (all from 1994). It's very articulate and thought-provoking, and covers everything from Old Testament forgotten women to mythical goddesses and the problems of interpreting scripture in the New Testament. I am wishing for the billionth time that I could read Hebrew!

[T]

The Mary Magdalene chapter was a barn burner.