Her Story: Women in Christian Tradition

by Barbara J. MacHaffie

An accessible, introductory text first published by Fortress Press in 1983, Her Story: Women in Christian History has sold over 30,000 copies of the first edition and has ably helped readers recover the oft-ignored or submerged stories of women in the Christian tradition, from biblical times to now. Barbara MacHaffie, who wrote the brief history and compiled a lively anthology of companion primary readings, has revised and updated the text and readings. In this new edition, history and primary readings are combined and augmented with helpful pedagogical tools. This new textbook, which offers sympathetic coverage of all Christian traditions, is supported by a dedicated companion Web site that includes chapter summaries, questions for discussion and Web links that vividly bring the stories of women to life in portraits, artifacts, and other primary materials.

Genres: History, Religion, Christianity, Church History, Nonfiction, Feminism, Theology

400 pages, Paperback

First published January 5, 1986

About the author

Barbara J. MacHaffie is Israel Ward Andrews and Molly C. Putnam Professor of Religion at Marietta College in Marietta, Ohio.

Reviews

[Lily · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a great book to read to gain a better understanding of the female experience within corporate Christianity. However, the perspective is largely limited to the privileged white woman. MacHaffie follows a chronological pattern and gives excerpts from her sources at the end of each chapter. It is thought provoking and wrestles with many unresolved issues.

[T · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my first reading of women in the Christian tradition and I truly enjoyed it! Thank you Jesus, I was sooo tired of reading about all the triumphs of biblical men! Granted, since this is my first reading into Women Christian lit, I dont have anything to compare it to so my five-stars are based on my first encounter with this genre of work.

Barbara MacHaffie created a very entertaining and historical timeline of women in the Christian tradition. Although some of the history was hard to grapple with at times (as most patriarchal stories are) I walked away from the material a stronger and better woman who felt more whole, complete, and informed about Her Story in the Christian Tradition. Of course, me being African American women, I would have liked to have seen more history of that side of things as well, but overall the presentation was very nice.

If you enjoy history, but you hesitate because it can be dry and boring sometimes, this book will surprise you. You will enjoy the journey and it will fill a void within you that you didnt know was there. You will be a better equipped,well-informed, and awesomely progressive woman or man. I hope you enjoy!

[Aurora Grace · Rating 4 out of 5]

MacHaffie was one of my professors just before she retired, and we ended up using this book in a class. A good summary of women in Christian tradition and history.

[Jessica J. · Rating 4 out of 5]

All possible opinions aside, Barbara MacHaffie once said, "In West Philadelphia, where I was born and raised..." in a class on Women in the Judeo--Christian Tradition and that was probably the most memorable classroom moment of my college experience. All two-dozen students simultaneously exchanged capital-L looks and not a single one of us cracked up until we made it to the hallway when the class was over.

[Patty · Rating 3 out of 5]

There were two texts for my class at Randolph-Macon this semester. I took Women in Christianity. We used this text for the first half of the class and then added another one for the last few weeks. I learned a lot about the faith I grew up in and with. I am just not sure why I and other women stick with Christianity. We have not been well treated over the years and I don't expect it to get better.

[Adam Ross · Rating 2 out of 5]

We used this book in a class taught by the author. Though written to justify the presence of women within the Sunday divine service, the book is unintentionally valuable for the Christian since it demonstrates that the first people to incorporate women as preachers, elders, and communion servers were the cultists, heretics, gnostics, and others who were strongly rejected by the true church.

[Радостин Марчев · Rating 3 out of 5]

Като основни насоки и изводи книгата ми се струва доста правдива. Главният й недостатък лично за мен е твърде "широката" цел, която си поставя, което неизбежно рефлектира на задълбочеността. Оттам и ниската оценка.

[Brandon Sims]

I got paid to proofread the works cited for this book - so you should read it.

(Plus I read it for a course taught by the auther - so again - you should read it!)

[Richard Worden · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very interesting and much needed history of women in ministry.