"This book continues the conversations begun in Emilie Townes's path-breaking A Troubling in My Soul: Womanist Perspectives on Evil and Suffering. Once again, Townes brings together essays by leading womanist theologians, interweaving a concern for matters of race, gender, and class, as these bear on the survival and well-being of the African-American community. In Embracing the Spirit the emphasis is not on evil and suffering, but on "hope, salvation, and transformation" for individuals and their communities."--Jacket

The first of its kind, this book is a systematic presentation of Lutheran feminist, womanist, and mujerista theologies: systematic, in that it addresses classical loci of systematic theology; contemporary, in that it is resoundingly constructive and relevant for the contemporary church; and feminist, in that the contributors write from a feminist perspective although they reflect a variety of positions within feminist discourse. The contributors to this multi-authored work share a common commitment to Lutheran theology as a continual process of reform. Luther is a partner in the conversation because of his theological insights and commitment to faithful criticism, which the writers seek to continue, not because his voice "settles a debate." The book focuses on central themes that Luther addressed and that are representative of Lutheranism today, including justification by grace through faith and Luther's theology of the cross. From diverse contexts, these Lutheran theologians, like Luther, seek reformation by giving voice to new perspectives in theology that continue to transform the church and the world. Along with Mary J. Streufert, contributors include: Krista E. Hughes, Kathryn A. Kleinhans, Kristen E. Kvam, L. DeAne Lagerquist, Mary E. Lowe, Lois Malcolm, Anna Mercedes, Cynthia Moe-Lobeda, Cheryl M. Peterson, Mary (Joy) Philip, Caryn D. Riswold, Deanna A.Thompson, Marit Trelstad, Alicia Vargas, and Beverly Wallace. "A remarkable addition to the rich history of Lutheran theology. Not only have these theologians opened doors to fresh, new worlds of Lutheran thought, they've done so in a way that honors the pastùby extending it forward. I can't wait to use Transformative Lutheran Theologies in class. I've been waiting twenty years for a text like this. Imagine teaching Luther's thought and placing it by side with these cutting-edge essays. Luther would no doubt be proudùmaybe even a bit envious."-Serene Jones, President and Roosevelt Professor of Systematic Theology, Union Theological Seminary, New York

This fresh new approach to African-American theology brings two creative theologians into a lively dialogue between womanist and Xodus" thought. Karen Baker-Fletcher writes from the perspective of womanism, reflecting the interlocking issues of sex, class, and race, that characterize the experience of African-American women. Garth KASIMU Baker-Fletcher writes from the perspective of what he has termed Xodus theology. With a name that resonates with reference both to the Exodus story, the Cross, and the self-naming identity of Malcolm X, Xodus reflects the perspective of a new generation of Black theology by males who have responded, among other things, to the challenges of womanist theology. In successive chapters based on core themes of theology, each author lays out his or her position. They then engage in mutual critique and dialogue. Both authors draw widely on the Bible and traditional theology, as well as incorporating elements from both African and African-American religious and cultural expression - from the novels of Toni Morrison and Alice Walker to rap and hip-hop. 'My Sister, My Brother' weaves a bright theological tapestry that integrates female and male experience, traditional and contemporary perspectives, in an African-American theology that promotes survival, resistance, healing, liberation, and transcendence. CONTENTS: Part I God: God as Spirit and Strength of Life; Xodus Intuitions of the Divine. Part II Christ: Immanuel, Jesus as Dust and Spirit; Jesus, the Scandal of a God with a Body. Part III Humanity: Xodus Anthropology; Womanhood, A Way of Being Human. Part IV Generations: Unto All Generations; Unto the Fathers' Fathers. Part V Church: Spirit-Church; Having Church." Part VI: Last Things: Future Now! Xodus Eschatology; Dust to Dust, Spirit to Spirit. A Womanist Eschatology.

Religious Resistance to Neoliberalism offers compelling and intersectional religious critiques of neoliberalism. Neoliberalism is the normative rationality of contemporary global capitalism that orders people to live by the generalized principle of competition in all social spheres of life. Keri Day asserts that neoliberalism and its moral orientations consequently breed radical distrust, lovelessness, disconnection, and alienation within society. She argues that engaging black feminist and womanist religious perspectives with Jewish and Christian discourses offers more robust critiques of a neoliberal economy. Employing womanist and black feminist religious perspectives, this book provides six theoretical, theologically constructive arguments to challenge the moral fragmentation associated with global markets. It strives to envision a pragmatic politics of hope.