January reading log

[kassia]

The Forgotten Desert Mothers : sayings, lives, and stories of early christian women by Laura Swan
The Complete Poems of Emily Dickinson ed. Thomas H. Johnson
Dancing After the Whirlwind : Feminist Reflections on Sex, Denial, and Spiritual Healing by L. J. Tessier
Buddhist Women On The Edge : Contemporary Perspectives from the Western Frontier ed. Marianne Dresser
The Female Diaconate : an historical perspective by Matushka Ellen Gvosdev
Chastity as autonomy : women in the stories of the apocryphal acts by Virginia Burrus
The Cult of Isis Among Women in the Graeco-Roman World by Sharon Kelly Heyob
Feminism in Christianity : an orthodox christian response by Deborah Belonick
The Heroine's Journey by Maureen Murdock
Science and Health with key to the scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy
But She Said : Feminist Practices of Biblical Interpretation by Elisabeth Schüssler Fiorenza
Practical Mysticism : a little book for normal people by Evelyn Underhill

Comments

[merton-lover.livejournal.com]

Visiting from Naamah's blog...

I've read The Forgotten Desert Mothers. I had hoped it would have more depth.
What did you think of The Female Diaconate and Feminism in Christianity? As an Episcopalian with a crush on Orthodoxy, those titles draw me in.

[elbren]

Welcome!

The Desert Mothers: Spiritual Practices from the Women of the Wilderness by Mary C. Earle looks like it'll be more like what I was wanting Swan's book to be, myself, but I haven't read that one yet. Benedicta Ward's translation of The Sayings of the Desert Fathers includes all the mothers, and is the best of that section of my shelf. (Are you on librarything? You can see my whole collection at http://www.librarything.com/catalog/theophila )

Ok. Belonick and Gvosdev. Both those two are slim and pretty lame, and I pretty much read them for "balance" after Mary Daly. Belonick walks the party line so closely that her mention at the end "oh, and we really should restore women to the diaconate" sounds exactly like the conservative position it actually is, and not the radical notion the hierarchy treats it as. Gvosdev also is a short book for the illumination of those who treat women like the plague when it comes to ordination, and so is pretty boring to me, although it is accurate historically. The best resource on that question is FitzGerald's Women Deacons in the Orthodox Church. On feminism in orthodoxy in general, I recommend Elisabeth Behr-Sigel for theology and Ancient Taboos And Gender Prejudice: Challenges For Orthodox Women And The Church by Leonie B. Liveris for history.

Maybe I'll get around to posting my own thoughts on the matter one day.

[elbren]

If what you want to know about Orthodoxy and feminism is "what is the party line?", well, in that case, Belonick is exactly what you want.

If what you want to know about the female diaconate is "how can I explain it to Orthodox clergymen?", well, in that case, Gvosdev is exactly what you want.

It's not what I was wanting, though, exactly, therefore the disparaging. They're still good to have around for reference, for me.

[merton-lover.livejournal.com]

I want to learn about the party line perspective and also what Orthodox women who don't feel that way are saying. Sounds like the Belonick would do well for the first. What can you recommend for the second? Authors, websites...?

[elbren]

Elsabeth Behr-Sigel is very good. I've heard of Eva Topping's work, but I haven't actually read any yet - she sounds like she might be good as well.

Liveris (mentioned above) is ok. Her book is mostly about the history of the ecumenical / feminist debacle. It contains pointers to a variety of viewpoints. It records many women being Silenced.

Orthodox don't stray too far from the party line and stay orthodox.

[merton-lover.livejournal.com]

Hmm, my apologies if two comments show up. I tried to post one and it's not here now.

I want to learn about the "party line" perspective and also hear from Orthodox women that hold different views about women's roles. Belonick sounds like it would fulfill the first criteria. Can you recommend authors or websites for the second?

[elbren]

Also! I haven't read it, but it's on my list - Orthodox Women Speak : Discerning the "Signs of the Times" ed. Kyriaki Karidoyanes FitzGerald.