Introducing womanist theology / Stephanie Y. Mitchem.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Mitchem, Stephanie Y., 1950-

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Womanist theology.

African American women--Religious life.

African American women.

Physical Description:

xii, 178 pages ; 21 cm

Place of Publication:

Maryknoll, N.Y. : Orbis Books, [2002]

Summary:

Introducing Womanist Theology demonstrates how theology by women of color is firmly rooted in their varied life experiences. By participating fully in the construction of theology instead of simply learning theology from others, black women are able to analyze church teachings, develop meaningful systems of ethics, and challenge ecclesiastical structures, if needed.

Introducing Womanist Theology describes the unique experiences of African American women and explores not only what theology is, but how it is constructed. It lays out the major components of womanist theology while showing the close links between womanist theology and womanist ethics.

By examining some of its major contributors and exploring challenges it faces, including relationships with feminist and black theologians, Introducing Womanist Theology provides a thorough and accessible entree into this vibrant comtemporary theology.

Contents:

1. Black Women: Race, Gender, and Class 3

Dynamics of Gender: "Be a Lady" 5

Dynamics of Race: "But You Are Black" 12

Questions of Class 15

Race with Gender with Class: Connecting the Dots 19

Becoming Womanists 22

2. Constructing Theologies 25

Contours of Theology 26

Dynamics of Theology 30

Defining Theology 35

Defining Liberation Theologies 38

Culture and Theology 42

3. Womanist Theology 46

"Ordinary" Theologies 46

Communal Dimensions 49

Constructing Womanist Theology 55

Defining Womanist Theology 60

4. Womanist Constructions 67

Signal Texts 68

Distinctive Approaches 74

Developing Methods of Womanist Work 77

Continued Development of Womanist Theology 81

5. Dialogue and Womanist Theology 86

Womanist or Black Feminist? Naming Ourselves 87

Dialogue between Womanists and White Feminists 91

Afrocentricity and Womanist Theology 93

Black Theology and Womanist Theology 96

Black Religious Traditions 98

Dialogue with Students: Teaching Womanist Theology 101

Womanist Thought in the Diaspora: Global Dialogue 102

6. Womanist Theology, Constructed 105

Suffering and Salvation 106

Reconsidering Christology 113

A Word about Womanist Biblical Scholarship 117

Questions of God 118

Personhood 121

7. New Challenges, Lingering Questions 124

Pastoral Theology 124

Ecumenical Dialogue 129

Connections with Traditional African Religions 132

Theology of Sexuality 138

Ethnography and Art: Expanding Womanist Methods 140.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 161-172) and index.

ISBN:

1570754217

OCLC:

49011352