Feminist Theory and Christian Theology: Cartographies of Grace

Guides to Theological Inquiry

by Serene Jones

This long-awaited text charts clearly and comprehensively the enormously important area of feminist theory -- and brings it into fruitful conversation with Christian theology. Jones introduces the primary concerns that animate feminist theory through discussion of critical texts and through women's narratives. She shows how they pose uncomfortable questions, and leave no corner of the Christian tradition unchallenged. Jones unfolds feminist theory in three broad categories that analyze human identity and gender, oppression, and ethics. She then illustrates their potential for illuminating theological categories of experience, truth, text, and norm to revitalize three key traditional Christian doctrines: faith, sin, and church.

Genres: Theology, Feminism, Nonfiction, Philosophy, Gender, Christian

224 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2000

About the author

A highly respected scholar and public intellectual, the Rev. Dr. Serene Jones is the 16th President of the historic Union Theological Seminary in the City of New York. The first woman to head the 180-year-old institution, Jones occupies the Johnston Family Chair for Religion and Democracy. She is also currently the President of the American Academy of Religion, which annually hosts the world’s largest gathering of scholars of religion. Jones came to Union after seventeen years at Yale University, where she was the Titus Street Professor of Theology at the Divinity School, and Chair of the University’s Program in Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies . The author of several books including Trauma and Grace, Jones, a popular public speaker, is sought by media to comment on major issues impacting society because of her deep grounding in theology, politics, women’s studies, economics, history, and ethics.

Reviews

[Kayla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great starter for understanding the complexities of feminist theory, and the significant interplay between feminist theory and orthodox Christian theology.

[Andy Fuqua · Rating 2 out of 5]

The book is certainly thought provoking. I often find it helpful to pause and see (as best I can) through the eyes of someone different, in this case a woman’s perspective. However, I find it problematic that Jones could write an entire book on Christian theology without a single substantive reference to the source of Christian theology, the Bible. It felt very much like she was constructing a straw person to tear down. Much of the theology she was critical of isn’t what I glean from Scripture. So what is she criticizing? Luther and Calvin mostly. For the record, I agree with some of her criticism. I just wish she would’ve interacted with Scripture, since it is the primary source of the theology she claims to critique with feminist theory.

[Julia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Serene Jones focuses on women's experience and how it is critical to feminist theory and theology. She discusses many ideas that are problematic to feminism and how they need to be adjusted in order to reach the full humanity for men and women.

This was a pretty interesting book, and a good introduction to feminist theory; I read this as part of a feminist theology course.

[Shannon T.L. · Rating 3 out of 5]

a decent book overall, but some problematic things about lesbian and trans women which made me deduct several stars.

[Kate Davis]

rec'd by Jo-Ann Badley in our first conversation on being a woman in the church (although I already had it on my list...?)