Keeping God's Silence

by Rachel Muers

This ground-breaking book provides a new perspective on Christian practices of silence.
An original, theologically informed work, written by a significant Quaker theologian
Provides a new perspective on Christian practices of silence
Considers the theological and ethical significance of these practices
Relates silence, listening and communication to major contemporary issues
Takes forward theological engagement with feminist thought
Contributes to ongoing research into the theology of Dietrich Bonhoeffer.

258 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2004

Reviews

[Daniel Rempel · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Keeping God’s Silence, Muers thrown the most-helpful wrench into accounts of God’s speech. Most poignantly, Muers probes what God may be doing when God is not speaking (for surely God does not speak without ceasing). Rather than a lack of speech indicating God’s absence, Muers argues that God’s silence opens space for God to hear, and in this hearing provides the context for human freedom.

[loafingcactus · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brilliant! Muers takes the concepts of silence from Gemma Corradi Fiujmara, feminism also primarily from a particular source that I cannot find and the moment and with who I do not agree and the theology of Jungel and Bonhoeffer and combines it into a feminist and theological discussion of silence. Bonus, a closing chapter on privacy, which is a kind of silence which can also be reviewed from a feminist and theological perspective.

Muer's brand of feminism requires rejecting oppositions such as masculine/feminine and most of her book is rejecting the oppositions of listener/speaker. That backs her into a philosophical corner where she is forced to hold a few absurd positions. I think that the oppositions exist, but so do all the transitory and transformational concepts she discusses.