|
Review Summary: Thank you She Who Is |
Date: 2001-05-28 |
|
| |
|
Details: I was first introduced to this classic when I began researching my undergraduate thesis on women's oppression in Christianity. I was then, and still am, thoroughly impressed with Johnson's work. Her scholarship is impecable, reasoning very solid, and takes a well-rounded approach. This work is founded in tradition, yet manages to break from the aspects of tradition which are oppressive. Her philosophical background is also quite solid. You can't get any better than Elizabeth Johnson. She is masterful at weaving theological discourse and spirituality together. This is not a theological head-trip! The relevance of her work not only applies to theologians, it applies to laypersons as well. The sections on Sophia are particularly moving. Johnson also manages to address the issue of exclusive God-language in a subtle manner, which a reader would be hardpressed to take offense to, and presents new inclusive ways of speaking about God founded in biblical scholarship, All in all, this is a fantastic work of theology with elements of spirituality. I can't recommend it enough! |
| |
|
Review Summary: ALL ABOUT SOPHIA |
Date: 2001-01-28 |
|
|
| |
|
Details: This was written about Jesus being Sophia incarnate, and that Sophia would come to earth herself to live with her children, and to cause people to become friends with God. This would also be found in the Sophia of Jesus Christ in the Nag Hammadi Library, James Robinson. In the Other Bible, the book Trimorphic Protennoia states God would come back the second time in the likeness of a female. Johnson's book is the topping of the doctrines of the Essenes at Qumran found in the Other Bible. Barbara Thiering's book "Jesus The Man", is clear indication that Jesus was an Essene, married and fathered children. So in order to solve the mysteries surrounding the life of Jesus, one must search all the records for themselves. |
| |
|
Review Summary: Our Imago Dei |
Date: 2000-09-13 |
|
| |
|
Details: Using Feminist Theology, Johnson makes a remarkable comparison and introduction using the Old Testament story of Sophia, Wisdom. Brilliantly she explains Spirit Sophia, Jesus-Sophia, and finally Mother-Sophia adding a feminine spin on the discourse. We come away understanding a care giver God, a Jesus who is a nurturer, and God as a Mother of birth, bringing forth life and teaming with creation. |
| |
|
Review Summary: scholarly and prophetic |
Date: 2000-08-23 |
|
|
| |
|
Details: This book is a remarkable balance of scholarship and inspiration. The author, who also wrote Consider Jesus, has a mastery of Christian theology, including patristic and medieval. She has also incorporated a great deal of contemporary reflection on the suffering God and God's love and compassion. What impressed me most about the book, however, is that while the author sees how important language is in determining how people believe and how they understand themselves and God, she herself isn't just playing language games. Her analysis of sophia, Jesus, and God is all done in the service of seeking truth, a truth that is both informative and inspiring. Surely not everyone with agree with Johnson's ideas, but she is such a clear and balanced writer, even those who disagree will be challenged by her book. I recommend it highly. |
| |
|
Review Summary: An insightful and critical survey of God-talk |
Date: 1999-04-23 |
|
|
| |
|
Details: It should be obvious that there are many male-oriented interpretations of the reality and presence of God, but their male-ness goes unnoticed until an alternative feminist perspective makes it evident by contrast. Even when Johnson criticizes some feminist ideas about God, her clear and forceful descriptions break open categories of how we might think about God. No theology of God, no course about God, is adequate without taking into account the balanced and scholarly analyses Johnson provides. |
| |
|
out of 10 Reviews
