Blessed One: Protestant Perspectives on Mary

by Beverly Roberts Gaventa (Editor), Cynthia L. Rigby (Editor)

Despite her prominence in the Christian narrative, Mary has largely been neglected within the Protestant church. Recent interest in such issues as feminism, spirituality, parenting, and ecumenism, however, force a serious reexamination of Mary's place in Protestant faith. In Blessed One , widely respected Protestant scholars seek to answer three basic who is Mary? how does Mary's story intersect with contemporary life? and what does Mary teach us about God? This thoughtful and highly accessible book will be of great interest to all engaged in the debates of the contemporary church, Protestants and Roman Catholics alike. Contributors include Nancy Duff, Beverly Roberts Gaventa, Joel Green, E. Elizabeth Johnson, Cheryl Kirk-Duggan, Nora Lozano-Diaz, Daniel Migliore, Bonnie Miller-McLemore, Cynthia Rigby, and Katherine Sakenfeld.

Genres: Theology

168 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2002

Reviews

[Lily · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not an easy read, but a rather academic collection of articles on Mary, mother of Jesus, from a Protestant perspective. We used briefly in a woman's circle, but not to anyone's particular satisfaction, probably because of inadequate concentration on specific articles. I have since heard Beverly Gaventa as lead lecturer for a seminar series on Paul. I believe she was working on an updated interpreter's guide to Romans at the time. I was most impressed by her thoughtfulness and noted her venturesomeness on feminist themes.

[Dorinda Violante · Rating 3 out of 5]

A diverse collection of essays giving historical perspectives on Mary and exploring our Reformed take on the woman who helped us encounter God through the work of the Spirit and her willingness to respond to God's call on her life.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I checked this out for sermon prep and was pleasantly surprised at the ease of reading for a non-specialist and the range of scholarly perspectives from womanist to Latin American to cultural studies. Mary has so much evidence compared to most women in the Bible and diversity of ways her character can continue to instruct, inspire, and convict bear revisiting not just at Christmas.

[H. Givens · Rating 2 out of 5]

It makes the intellectual experts seem a bit silly when they keep dwelling on things that are totally obvious.