Mary Radford Ruether's book makes a significant contribution to our understanding of Mary's role in the vital doctrine of the contemporary church. In this unique study, she brings together much hard-to-find material. Her careful biblical scholarship enables us to reclaim a long-ignored part of our religious tradition. Useful for women's and other adult study groups, this book includes help for study leaders.

Even though feminine values have always been at the core of Christianity, its long history has often ignored or marginalized women’s key role in it. Margaret Starbird’s unique view from the feminine perspective serves the need many are feeling to search their traditional faith for fresh meaning and inspiration in these difficult times. Could Mary Magdalene have been Jesus’ wife? Starbird explores this possibility and the “sister-brides” who accompanied male disciples to forge a new understanding of gender-based faith and of sacred marriage with the Divine. She also gives us the rich heritage of stories about women’s generous service and encouragement for the inner journey, ranging all the way from little-known early saints to Mother Theresa. She points out that fundamental Christian values such as compassion, reconciliation, and the healing of crippled bodies and broken hearts are all strongly feminine in nature. Her view, though, is cooperative rather than contentious: She aims, not to discredit the masculine, but to right the missing gender balance she finds inherent in the faith. Distribution is limited to North America.

If you've tried Natural Family Planning and have discovered that your life is now awful - or if you feel judged or judgey, or if you trust NFP but your doctor doesn't, or if you're just trying to figure out how the heck to have a sex life that is holy but still human - you'll find comfort, encouragement, honesty, wit, and, most important, practical advice in The Sinner's Guide to NFP.

Cutting-edge contributions on early Christian Marys offer a variety of perspectives by leading scholars, and probe the earliest traditions on the Marys, both canonical and non-canonical, as preserved in Western and Oriental languages. Paperback edition is available from the Society of Biblical Literature (www.sbl-site.org).

Sylvia Browne, in her own inimitable style, again defies convention in this uniquely informative compilation of diligently researched facts and personal accounts about the premise of a female divinity - namely, the Mother God (also known as the feminine principle). Spanning time, from the earliest beginnings of humankind when ''Goddess worship'' was at its peak, to the current era with its myriad beliefs and religions, Sylvia takes us on a journey of discovery, where she discusses the suppression of the ''Mother Goddess'' by the male-dominated politics of modern-day religious dogma. Using a combination of historical data and poignant and heartwarming stories that reveal the power and miracles attributed to the Mother God, Sylvia leads us from the question of ''Does She exist?'' to the logical, fact-based conclusion that She does ... and then shows us how to call on Her to help us in our everyday lives.

Women are called to a life in ministry, even leadership roles. God calls both men and women to guide Christians towards truth, understanding, love, and discipline.

The author offers an interpretation of Mary that is theologically sound, spiritually empowering, ethically challenging, socially liberating, and ecumenically fruitful. She construes the image of Mary so as to be a source of blessing rather than blight for women's lives in both religious and political terms.