Overview
Finding Eve's spirit in the teachings of Jesus, authors Roberta Pughe and Paula Sohl explore her bold, self-directed, and inquisitive nature as a model for women today who have been negatively affected by the oppressive and hierarchical fundamentalist Church. Drawing on personal experiences, Paula and Roberta analyze fundamentalist systems from political, theological, and psychological perspectives to unveil the ways patriarchal religious dogma stifles women's voices and spirits. Filled with profound theological reflections, moving stories of women embracing their power, and healing ritual ideas and dance, Resurrecting Eve offers women a return to their rightful place of equality and authority within Christianity.Synopsis
In this daring and original examination of the Church, authors Roberta Pughe and Paula Sohl endeavor to decriminalize Eve, reimagining her as a modern-day mythic mentor. They explore Eve’s bold, self-directed, and inquisitive nature as a model for women today who have been negatively affected by oppressive and hierarchical fundamentalist dogma. Roberta and Paula find Eve’s spirit in the teachings of Jesus and his vision of God’s domination-free order. Like Jesus, Eve was willing to break the rules in her quest for consciousness, discovering in the process the fullness of both her humanity and her divinity. Jesus’ respect for women, his use of story, and his honoring of children and childlikeness were key elements in his ministry of healing resurrection. Filled with profound theological reflections and moving stories of women embracing their spiritual power, Resurrecting Eve offers women a new perspective on gender roles within Christianity. The authors also introduce dance and healing ritual ideas as well as a form of Christian chakras.
Publishers Weekly
Pughe, a psychotherapist and interfaith minister, and Sohl, a Presbyterian elder, argue for reflection on "the repression of women and the feminine as the motivating force behind [Christian] fundamentalist and dominionist dogma." Pughe and Sohl were both raised within a Christian fundamentalist worldview, attended Calvin College together, and later threw off the bonds of what they consider fundamentalist Christian oppression. Up front is an astute analysis of the Christian right's political attitude about "a woman's place," and an equally well-done reinterpretation of Eve, as the title would suggest. But Christian readers may balk once Pughe and Sohl reveal that the remainder of their project ties feminist Christianity to the seven chakras. Even as they weave an Eastern, New Age flair into a Christian understanding of the body, sexual orientation and love, Pughe and Sohl never stray from a biblical foundation. Yet whether they will persuade their main audience, "women who have had direct experience of Christian fundamentalism," to try out transformative rituals such as the "Cocoon" (which requires listening to music in the fetal position) or the "Blood Ritual" (which involves touching female genitalia while bathing) is doubtful. Perhaps only those who, like the authors, have already jettisoned the Christian fundamentalist worldview will be ready to take the leap of faith that Pughe and Sohl advocate. (May)
Copyright 2007 Reed Business InformationEditorials
Publishers Weekly
Pughe, a psychotherapist and interfaith minister, and Sohl, a Presbyterian elder, argue for reflection on "the repression of women and the feminine as the motivating force behind [Christian] fundamentalist and dominionist dogma." Pughe and Sohl were both raised within a Christian fundamentalist worldview, attended Calvin College together, and later threw off the bonds of what they consider fundamentalist Christian oppression. Up front is an astute analysis of the Christian right's political attitude about "a woman's place," and an equally well-done reinterpretation of Eve, as the title would suggest. But Christian readers may balk once Pughe and Sohl reveal that the remainder of their project ties feminist Christianity to the seven chakras. Even as they weave an Eastern, New Age flair into a Christian understanding of the body, sexual orientation and love, Pughe and Sohl never stray from a biblical foundation. Yet whether they will persuade their main audience, "women who have had direct experience of Christian fundamentalism," to try out transformative rituals such as the "Cocoon" (which requires listening to music in the fetal position) or the "Blood Ritual" (which involves touching female genitalia while bathing) is doubtful. Perhaps only those who, like the authors, have already jettisoned the Christian fundamentalist worldview will be ready to take the leap of faith that Pughe and Sohl advocate. (May)
Copyright 2007 Reed Business Information