I Found God in Me: A Womanist Biblical Hermeneutics Reader

by Mitzi J. Smith (Editor)

I Found God in Me is the first womanist biblical hermeneutics reader. In it readers have access, in one volume, to articles on womanist interpretative theories and theology as well as cutting-edge womanist readings of biblical texts by womanist biblical scholars. This book is an excellent resource for women of color, pastors, and seminarians interested in relevant readings of the biblical text, as well as scholars and teachers teaching courses in womanist biblical hermeneutics, feminist interpretation, African American hermeneutics, and biblical courses that value diversity and dialogue as crucial to excellent pedagogy. "The seed for this wide-ranging volume in womanist biblical hermeneutics was first planted at Howard University Divinity School and has now grown into an excellent collection of essays which constitute a significant contribution to an ever-growing corpus. It provides rich and rewarding reading for those--female and male alike--who would wish to hear the Bible as a liberating word of life for our time--especially for African and African-American women. Highly recommended." --Gosnell L. Yorke, Institute for African Renaissance Studies, University of South Africa, Pretoria, South Africa "Smith has brought together outstanding studies by established scholars and skilled doctoral candidates and given us a challenging and thought-provoking collection of essays. It is good reading for pastor and academician for pastors to see the many implications of a growing movement for fellowship in the black church; for academicians to engage in a continuing activity that is not dissipating but growing, a movement which has significant implications for the interpretation of Scripture and the development of Christian theology and ethics in the future. The church and the academy are indebted to Smith for this significant, stimulating study." --Thomas B. Slater, McAfee School of Theology, Mercer University, Macon, GA Mitzi J. Smith, PhD, is Associate Professor of New Testament at Ashland Theological Seminary/Detroit. She is author of The Literary Construction of the Other in the Acts of the Charismatics, the Jews, and Women (Pickwick 2011), and coeditor of Teaching All Interrogating the Matthean Great Commission (2014).

Genres: Religion, Theology, Nonfiction

326 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 5, 2015

Reviews

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an interesting collection which I was introduced to because my pastor mentioned he had used it for one of our sermon series. As a lay reader bits got a little over technical and some of the church vocabulary lost me but I am glad I worked through it and feel I got the main ideas out of my reading.

[Melanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Part 1 was a little tough for me to get through (more focused on theory), but part 2 (providing examples of womanist interpretations) was easier to read and really interesting.

[Mollie · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Womanist discourses are in favor of strategic essentialism that associates black womanhood primarily with the struggle against racism, sexism, and classism."

[Michael R. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent Women's History Month read

The compilation of groundbreaking essays is Dr Mitzi Smith continued mining the depth of womanist scholarship. This volume is a must read to track the history, challenges and roadmap for future exploration. A library resource that offers solutions for reconciliation and healing. My go to reader.