Feminist Ethic of Risk

by Sharon D. Welch

A Feminist Ethic of Risk proposes a new model for ethics and new life orientation for social justice. It directly addresses American and European "middle-class despair" over issues and challenges seemingly too large to tackle, such as environmental destruction or racism. Her ethic uproots classical assumptions and opens up the possibility of a strong religious vision or "theology of resistance and hope." This new edition includes a new chapter that situates the feminist ethic of risk in relation to other styles and options in religious ethics today.

Genres: Feminism, Theology, Religion, Nonfiction, Philosophy, Womens, Gender Studies

208 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 1989

Reviews

[Tom Hallberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Welch gives an amazing alternative ethic, especially to Western readers. As Westerners, we tend to want to control a situation. When we can't (especially in the political or human rights areas) we become cynical and disengage. Welch gives a way that says we never had control from the beginning. We never know the consequences of our actions. Therefore, we engage issues with informed risk taking. She grounds this ethic in feminist and womanist thinkers. I found this ethic refreshing in a world that seems to force us to make "this or that" choices. This ethic shows that we do not need to settle, but we can creatively resist that "duality" minds that is so pervasive.

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was introduced to the ethic of risk by a speaker to a social change volunteer group of which I'm a member. This book and its author was that speaker's introduction to the ethic of risk and her vehicle for introducing it to us. It is an academic book, written by a Religious Studies professor and takes some study to get to all the meanings. Welch uses literature by African American women (Paule Marshall, Toni Cafe Bambara, Mildred Turner and Toni Morrison) to construct and illustrate her concepts and argument. She also uses theologists's thought, including that of Paul Tillich. The ethic of risk is encountered when working for social change. Its opposite is the ethic of control. Learning to understand the ethic of risk , learning to understand those who have lived it, can give an activist support to continue in the face of big issues. It is particularly of interest to any activist now, in 2019, when the challenges are huge for social change and social justice. I admit that parts of this book were tough to understand, and it was revised in 2000, originally written in 1989, so some references can be dated. But it is so heloful in learning to see a way through without giving up in despair, and in helping the reader to understand the importance of listening to those who have lived the social challenges all their lives. I'll certsinly be reading the books she discusses. And I'll be reading and studying this book for a long time to come.

[Philip Yoder · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow.

[Tamara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic book that looks at activism as bravely accepting the risk of love, instead of power, control and domination.

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am giving this book only 4 stars instead of 5 because it is a difficult book to read. The terminology is sometimes difficult. And, the book could have used a few more internal headings.

That said, this is a very important book. The author is discussing topics that I certainly have never encountered. The most important point I am taking away is this: We have eroticized power in our theology (God is all powerful), and our fascination with and indeed worship of power affects our behavior. If our actions aren't absolutely, certainly going to have a permanent effect, we are less likely to take them. This leads to political inactivity, since so many problems that need to be addressed in our world are so complex. How could my actions be certain to have an effect? And so I am not active. In fact, I am passive.

I believe Sharon Welch would say that the divine is more tenuous, less certain, and more fluid, and is at the same time more real.

There are some lovely quotes in this book. This is my favorite quote, which she attributes to Alfred North Whitehead:

"When the Western World accepted Christianity, Caesar conquered; and the received text of Western theology was edited by his lawyers. . . . The brief Galilean vision of humility flickered throughout the ages, uncertainly. . . . But the deeper idolatry, of the fashioning of God in the image of the Egyptian, Persian, and Roman imperial rulers, was retained. The Church gave unto God the attributes which belonged exclusively to Caesar."

[Ed · Rating 3 out of 5]

So, great, paradigm shifting ideas buried in quite heady academia that my simple mind found it hard to read. The third pass through was the key for me. So, if your mind is quite a bit less simple than mine, the ideas in it make the read worth the read.

[Malika · Rating 2 out of 5]

A bit more scholarly than I like. I prefer more of a storytelling type prose.

[Mark · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good arguments but very dense and academic.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book plods along at times, but the ways of thinking/analyzing are well-worth the trek.