Quilting and Braiding: The Feminist Christologies of Sallie McFague and Elizabeth A. Johnson in Conversation

Rating:
Summary: Excellent analysis
Review: "Quilting and Braiding" is an excellent scholarly analysis of the Christologies of two leading feminist theologians. Schrein compares and contrasts these two theologians and offers a fair critique of both women's positions. In her first two chapters, Schrein examines the foundational thought of both McFague and Johnson, and explains the theological influences on both women. She proceeds to give a detailed explaination of both women's positions in Christology. McFague, coming from a Protestant background, is a constructionist at heart and seeks to find new ways of understanding Jesus as Christ, which eventually leads to her focus on the "cosmic Christ" rather than the person of Jesus and his particular message. Johnson, on the other hand (a Catholic), is a reformist and deconstructionist in her thought and seeks to extract from Christian tradition that which is valuable for the purpose of liberation; her Christology follows along the same lines and she is deeply concerned with getting as close as possible to the historical Jesus in order to further ascertain the true meaning of his ministry and, thus, a more meaningful understanding of the Christ for our time. This perspective leads to her focus on Jesus' teachings on the reign of God. In the end, Schrein gives both theologians high regard, but comes to the conclusion that Johnson has a more balanced position; an opinion that I am inclined to agree with. This work is not only valuable for understanding these two leaders in feminist theology, but it points to a broader understanding of Christology in the Christian tradition, and represents the value of feminist theology in this topic. A fine piece of work.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent analysis
Review: "Quilting and Braiding" is an excellent scholarly analysis of the Christologies of two leading feminist theologians. Schrein compares and contrasts these two theologians and offers a fair critique of both women's positions. In her first two chapters, Schrein examines the foundational thought of both McFague and Johnson, and explains the theological influences on both women. She proceeds to give a detailed explaination of both women's positions in Christology. McFague, coming from a Protestant background, is a constructionist at heart and seeks to find new ways of understanding Jesus as Christ, which eventually leads to her focus on the "cosmic Christ" rather than the person of Jesus and his particular message. Johnson, on the other hand (a Catholic), is a reformist and deconstructionist in her thought and seeks to extract from Christian tradition that which is valuable for the purpose of liberation; her Christology follows along the same lines and she is deeply concerned with getting as close as possible to the historical Jesus in order to further ascertain the true meaning of his ministry and, thus, a more meaningful understanding of the Christ for our time. This perspective leads to her focus on Jesus' teachings on the reign of God. In the end, Schrein gives both theologians high regard, but comes to the conclusion that Johnson has a more balanced position; an opinion that I am inclined to agree with. This work is not only valuable for understanding these two leaders in feminist theology, but it points to a broader understanding of Christology in the Christian tradition, and represents the value of feminist theology in this topic. A fine piece of work.

Rating:
Summary: Enlightening...
Review: I'm sure this book will be everything you're looking for...