Originally published in 2004. Feminist discourses have focused sustained and sometimes devastating critical attention on Christianity over the last fifty years. Today feminisms remain significant but often ambiguous forces in contemporary Christian theology. At a time in which questions about the success and viability of feminisms are increasingly posed, Feminist Christian Encounters makes a unique contribution to the ongoing investigation into the creative relationship between feminisms and Christianity. Angela Pears identifies some of the key theological and methodological mechanisms by which Christian feminist theologies are informed, sustained, and made possible by feminist values and critiques. Pears argues that certain strategies characterize the facilitation of this dialogue in contemporary Christian feminist theologies, enabling theologians to accept the values and critiques of feminisms whilst at the same time proclaim some level of commitment to Christianity. Engaging in a process of deconstruction of the methodologies of key Christian theological thinkers who have made use of feminisms in their theologies, this book reveals the mechanisms of feminist Christian encounter at work.

“My name is Courtney. I’m an accidental feminist.” Although many Christians wouldn’t identify themselves as feminists, the reality is that the feminist movement has influenced us all in profound ways. We unconsciously reflect our culture’s ideas related to womanhood rather than what’s found in the Bible. In this book, Courtney Reissig—a wife, mom, and successful writer—recounts her journey out of “accidental feminism,” offering wise counsel for Christian women related to relationships, body image, and more—drawing from the Bible rather than culture. Whether you’re a committed feminist, a staunch traditionalist, or somewhere in between, this book will help you answer the question, “What does it mean to be a Christian woman?” You’ll discover the joy, purpose and importance that are found in God’s good design.

Exploring six Gospel texts in which women encounter Jesus, Gench encourages readers to view these stories anew through the eyes of contemporary biblical scholarship.

Many women of faith are interested in having deep conversations with their friends and families about issues they face in their personal lives. Unfortunately, there is a dearth of feminist and theologically progressive materials for these women to turn to for counsel or advice. Simultaneously, there are a growing number of theologically trained biblical scholars, theologians, and ministers who are experiencing similar life challenges, but who are generally discouraged from writing about these experiences in ways that would be accessible to the general public. This book bridges the chasm between Christian laywomen and feminist theologians. For the last fifty years, feminist theologians have sought to reimagine Christian theology in ways that speak to the realities and complexities of women's lives. They have also sought to use women's experience as the starting point for theological reflection in the same way that men's lives have shaped the history of Christian theology for the past 2000 years. In this book, feminist Christian scholars of theology and religion use the tools of their trade to examine powerful personal life experiences and to search for new and empowering ways of understanding the power of the sacred as they have experienced it.

"Faith and Feminism unlocks storehouses of words old and new. The subtitle Ecumenical Essays indicates that these words, these tongues, belong to women of faith around the world--women who speak in diverse settings and situations. Though all the contributors claim the noun 'feminism, ' their developments of it range widely. To present their testimonies and engage the results marks the purpose of this book. Where dissonance and harmony intersect among writers, there readers confront choices, which, in turn, become their own testimonies." --from Chapter 1

From her unique position as a Japanese feminist theologian, Hisako Kinukawa provides readers with an intriguing new perspective on the encounters between women and Jesus in the Gospel of Mark. 'Women and Jesus in Mark' explores the meaning not only of those episodes in their context, but from the perspective of the author's own context as a contemporary Japanese Christian. In the world of the New Testament, impenetrable walls of religion and culture separated the sexes and structured a rigidly patriarchal culture. As 'Women and Jesus in Mark' points out, then, the women who approached Jesus--the hemorrhaging woman, the Syrophoenician woman, the anointing woman, as well as those who followed him--risked severe sanction for what must have been considered scandalous behavior. Kinukawa asks how their encounters with Jesus--and especially his responses--reflect the central message of Mark. 'Women and Jesus in Mark' contends that it is the interaction of biblical women with Jesus that draws from him the most fully liberating implications of the gospel.

This work builds on earlier works, which defend Confucianism against charges of sexism and present interpretations of Confucianism compatible with Feminism, but contributors go beyond the much discussed care ethics, and common arguments of how ren (humaneness) can ground an egalitarian humanism that include gender equality. Besides ethics and political philosophy topics, this volume includes discussions in other philosophical areas such as epistemology, metaphysics, and applied philosophy. Through the encounter of Feminism and Confucius’s perspectives, each contributor generates novel answers to the questions addressed. In some cases, authors raise new questions about the chosen topic, inadequacies in how it has been addressed in previous Confucian or Feminist discourse, and/or challenges for either or both Confucianism and Feminism.