Feminist theology /

For those unfamiliar with the issues, history, and literature associated with Christian feminist theology, this is your book. With only 61 pages of introductory material, Watson (church history and ecclesiology, Ripon Coll. Cuddesdon, Oxford) pulls it together nicely, highlighting feminist touchstone concerns like justice, liberation, inclusion, and representation. Nor is she loath to opine or offer critique where such seems to be warranted-for example, is Goddess spirituality really a reversal of patriarchal Christianity or more appropriately seen as a synthetic response to current cultural and religious needs? Two chapters-"Scripture and Tradition" and "Themes in Feminist Theology"-put her extensive if not exhaustive annotated bibliography in context. This 50-plus-page bibliography is wide ranging, thoughtful, but strictly focused insofar as it references English-language works intended for those primarily new to the field. That said, this emerging series can be credited with providing an accessible and useful introduction. Seminaries, women's studies programs, new scholars, and those preparing for qualifying exams will benefit tremendously as much from the introductory material as from the bibliography itself. Recommended.-Sandra Collins, Univ. of Pittsburgh (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.