Ecofeminists in the North must listen carefully to women in the South since common problems can only be solved by understanding cultural and historical differences. When women of the South reflect on ecological themes, these questions are rooted in life and death matters, not in theory, nor statistics. As Ruether writes, "Deforestation means women walking twice as far each day to gather wood ....
Valuing Lives, Healing Earth: Religion, Gender, and Life on Earth analyzes and amplifies advocacy for gender and ecological justice in Asia, Africa, and the Americas, focusing on women who embody commitments to healing the earth and valuing lives rendered vulnerable by problematic social systems. The volume features essays from leading scholars Ivone Gebara (Brazil), Aruna Gnanadason (India), Rosemary Radford Ruether (U.S.), and Sylvia Marcos (Mexico) among renowned, established, and emerging scholars concerned with religion, environment, gender, and the many intersections between them in real life. The volume highlights scholarship on practical work by women globally, who labor toward greater justice for a diverse humanity and biodiverse nature, exerting collaborative solidarity, grounded love, and realistic hope for the future. This timely book presents compelling arguments of the intimate connections between gender, ecology, colonialism, indigeneity, and Christianity from global perspectives. Pertinent case studies, rigorous social analyses, and sound theological reflections make this book a must read for scholars, activists, Christian leaders, and students. In the gloomy days of record temperature, wildfires, and tropical storms, the authors offer hope and vision to fight climate change. Kwok Pui-lan, Dean's Professor of Systematic Theology, Candler School of Theology at Emory UniversityRosemary Radford Ruether's contribution to ecofeminist theology cannot be overestimated. This signal volume, including voices from all over the world, is a fitting unfolding of the trajectory Rosemary set ... in her pioneering effort to value each living creature, human and otherwise, and to heal Earth of the wounds inflicted by a ruthless human(un)kind. These essays ... provide a partial roadmap for moving forward as a global community. From diverse starting points, the authors explore crucial issues that a great theologian projected. What a legacy, what a challenge! Mary E. Hunt, a feminist theologian, is co-director of the Women's Alliance for Theology, Ethics, and Ritual (WATER) This timely collection is an homage to Rosemary Ruether's foundational work linking social and environmental justice. A collaboration of diverse feminist writers from both the Global South and the Global North, the book delivers a sophisticated and nuanced engagement with current critical issues involving climate, biodiversity, and human diversity in its complexity. The alleviation of human suffering and healing the earth emerge as important components of the pursuit of justice. Frida Kerner Furman, Professor Emerita, Religious Studies, DePaul University
Ecofeminists in the North must listen carefully to women in the South since common problems can only be solved by understanding cultural and historical differences. When women of the South reflect on ecological themes, these questions are rooted in life and death matters, not in theory, nor statistics. As Ruether writes, "Deforestation means women walking twice as far each day to gather wood ....
Internationally acclaimed author and teacher Rosemary Radford Ruether presents a sweeping ecofeminist theology that illuminates a path toward "earth-healing"--a whole relationship between men and women, communities and nations. "This is theology that really matters."--Harvey Cox
The essays in this dynamic compilation are a testament to dance as a healing art. Widely interdisciplinary in nature and written by women dancers from around the world, they illustrate a rich array of dance practices, cultures, and disciplines and show how this expressive therapy can be both empowering and exhilarating. The women’s narratives all share a deep appreciation for the connection between mental, spiritual, and physical dimensions, offering dance as a transformative power of renewing and rebuilding that bond. Both personal and professional, the stories weave a vivid tapestry of lived experiences and insights, balance, and a community healed by dance.
Change Yourself and the World—One Circle at a Time By reviving the ancient practice of circling, women all over the world are discovering a way to transform themselves, their communities and the 'world—one circle at a time. "In this profound yej: practical guide, Beverly Engel reveals how every woman, no matter what age, nationality, race or religion, can find meaning, connection, healing and empowerment by meeting together in circle groups and how women can—and! must—lead the way in making the changes that will save humanity and Mother Earth. In Women Circling the Earth you'll learn about the various types of circles, how to start-arid structure a circle that creates a safe and sacred space and how to expand circling to other environments, including business and educational settings. You'll be inspired by the wisdom of the leaders of the women's circle movement. Finally, you'll learn how, by living your life by circle principles, you can take the message and the healing of the circle to others.
The damage human beings are doing to the atmosphere, the seas, the rivers, the land, and the life- forms of the planet is extreme and deadly. It constitutes a crisis that demands all of humanity's wisdom, ingenuity, and commitment. The whole human community needs to be involved in the response to this crisis - young and old, women and men, farmers, politicians, gardeners, teachers, planners, scientists, engineers, artists, builders, cooks, and theologians. In Earth Revealing - Earth Healing, the authors attempt to make clear the way in which Christian theology opens out into a theology of Earth revealing and challenges us towards a practice of Earth healing. Earth Revealing - Earth Healing offers a rethinking of theology as a significant part of the rethinking that the human community must do in its stance toward creation. Aware that some theological attitudes have contributed to exploitative attitudes and to disregard for the good of the planet, the contributors are also convinced that the biblical and theological tradition has resources that can be retrieved and developed as an ecological theology. Such a theology can contribute to the healing of our planet. The chapters of Earth Revealing - Earth Healing stretch across a number of theological sub- disciplines and related areas. Among the perspectives from the Christian theological tradition, there are reflections on the theology of the Trinity, Christology, Christian anthropology, the theology of the Holy Spirit, and contemporary feminist theology. There are also more general philosophical and cultural perspectives, including discussions of place and of landscape traditions. Finally there are practical perspectives, including discussions of globalization, the challenge of suffering and bioethics. Essays and contributors are The Landscape Tradition: A Broader Vision for Ecotheology," by Stephen Downs; *Globalization and Ecology, - by Christine Burke, IBVM; *'For Your Immortal Spirit Is in All Things': The Holy Spirit in Creation, - by Denis Edwards; *Enfleshing the Human: An Earth-Revealing, Earth-Healing Christology, - by Duncan Reid; *God's Shattering Otherness: The Trinity and Earth's Healing, - by Patricia Fox, RSM; *Embracing Unloveliness: Exploring Theology from the Dung heap, - by Lorna Hallahan; *Up Close and Personal: In the End, Matter Matters, - by Anthony Lowes; *The Relationship Quilt: Feminism and the Healing of Nature, - by Lucy Larkin; *A Timely Reminder: Humanity and Ecology in the Light of Christian Hope, - by Gregory Brett, CM; *Ecotheology as a Plea for Place, - by Phillip Tolliday; *Situating Humanity: Theological Anthropology in the Context of the Ecological Crisis, - by James McEvoy; and *Bioethics, Ecology, and Theology, - by Andrew Dutney. Denis Edwards is a senior lecturer in systematic theology at Catholic Theological College and in the ecumenical consortium at the Adelaide College of Divinity, Flinders University. He has written other books on theology and is a priest of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Adelaide. "
Women's paths to personal wholeness and self-healing are explored through an eco-feminist, reader-response analysis of four fictional narratives. Included in these are Mary Austin, Harriette Arnow, Ellen Galford, Ibis Gomez-Vega, Sally Carrighar.
