Overview
In Holy Misogyny, bible scholar April DeConick wants real answers to the questions that are rarely whispered from the pulpits of the contemporary Christian churches. Why is God male? Why are women associated with sin? Why can't women be priests? Drawing on her extensive knowledge of the early Christian literature, she seeks to understand the conflicts over sex and gender in the early church—what they were and what was at stake. She explains how these ancient conflicts have shaped contemporary Christianity and its promotion of male exclusivity and superiority in terms of God, church leadership, and the bed. DeConick's detective work uncovers old aspects of Christianity before later doctrines and dogmas were imposed upon the churches, and the earlier teachings about the female were distorted. Holy Misogyny shows how the female was systematically erased from the Christian tradition, and why. She concludes that the distortion and erasure of the female is the result of ancient misogyny made divine writ, a holy misogyny that remains with us today.
Full Product Details
Author: April D. DeConick
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing Plc
Imprint: Bloomsbury Academic USA
Dimensions:
Width: 13.70cm
, Height: 1.50cm
, Length: 21.30cm
Weight: 0.240kg
ISBN: 9781623565565
ISBN 10: 1623565561
Pages: 200
Publication Date: 07 November 2013
Audience:
General/trade
,
College/higher education
,
Professional and scholarly
,
General
,
Tertiary & Higher Education
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active
Availability: Manufactured on demand
We will order this item for you from a manufactured on demand supplier.
Reviews
April DeConick has collected materials from a wide range of early Christian evidence. The result is a brave book, in a straight-forward style accessible to a non-specialist audience, on an uncomfortable subject. -- Jorunn J. Buckley, Associate Professor of Religion, Bowdoin College, USA An intriguing, important, and appropriately dangerous book. DeConick brings her study of the difficult canonical and apocryphal texts into conversation with contemporary concerns in a satisfying and accessible way. Her style is both technical and easy-going. This is a book for the general public as well as the academic classroom. I learned a great deal from it and am left with many questions to chew on happily and to discuss. The reader is aided in the search for 'Lady God,' and in the struggle to create societies that abhor and reject violence to the female body. -- Jane Schaberg, Professor of Biblical Studies and Gender/Women's Studies, University of Detroit Mercy, USA April DeConick, a world class scholar, has written a must-read book for those interested in gender issues in relationship to God. By integrating her vast knowledge of extracanonical and canonical texts, she expansively analyzes the effect of misogyny on conceptions of the female body and the profound difference such marginalization has made, even today for women's ecclesiastical leadership and ordination. -- Ann Graham Brock, Associate Professor of New Testament and Christian Origins, Iliff School of Theology, USA The near-programmatic downgrading and degrading of women is one of the most shameful aspects of traditional Christianity. In this powerful book, DeConick rejects conventional theological and hermeneutical attempts to soften the absence of the divine and human female by challenging head-on the vilification of women and the othering of their bodies in early Christianity. This bold discussion makes for uncomfortable but essential reading - and rightly so. -- Francesca Stavrakopoulou, Senior Lecturer in Hebrew Bible, University of Exeter, UK Overall, DeConick has a lot of interesting things to say about gender and sexuality in the early church... I do think her account is appropriately dangerous, and can hopefully jar Christians into action to reverse the long tradition of misogynistic interpretation of Scripture and misogynistic action in the Church. -- Englewood Review Of Books - Vol. 4 # 17.75 DeConick's research traces the root of the problem beyond he usual interpretations of scripture, theology, and the social structures of the times to something deeper and much more perverse... -- Foreword 'Despite the fact that the subject is well-known, almost cliche in certain circles, DeConick brings some new information and insights to the table in her analysis...The most important anthropological message in her eye-opening work is that every tradition, including its scriptures (which claim the greatest authenticity and authoritativeness) is diverse and historically constructed...' -- Anthropology Review Database Highly recommended for readers willing to look at recent archaeological evidence to question traditional religious beliefs and conclusions. -- Library Journal 'The book is academically rigorous, but at every point DeConick interprets her data in the light of her intended conclusion...This volume is suitable for libraries at the intersection of women's studies, the history of Christianity, and theology.' - Choice: Current Reviews for Academic Libraries '[This book] is a superbly researched 200-page compendium by [the author] presenting the origins of such Christian doctrinal issues as to why God is male, the association of women with sin, the denial of priesthood to females, and more. Informed and informative, thoughtful and thought-provoking [this book] is a strongly recommended read for anyone concerned with the origin of gender equality issues within the contemporary Christian community.' - The Midwest Book Review 'The book is academically rigorous, but at every point DeConick interprets her data in the light of her intended conclusion. Full documentation and bibliography are included...' - Choice Magazine DeConick... has done a wonderful service for all readers interested in the history of women in the early church and provides a helpful, if at times painful, analysis of why the fight for equality in the church is so challenging. -- Lisa Rand, Light To Read Blog Though DeConick is a scholar and this book the fruit of her scholarship, her writing is remarkable accessible for lay audiences, and even quite humorous. Holy Misogyny is an invaluable resource for those looking to find the historical roots of the ongoing struggle for women's equality in the Christian tradition. --Jamie L. Manson In this compelling book April D. DeConick applies her characteristic interest in marginalized early Christian groups to a topic that has drawn considerable scholarly attention in the past several decades: the study of women, sex, and gender in early Christianity. Holy Misogyny is an accessible and imaginative historical reconstruction of the textual and extratextual conflicts behind early Christian displacement of both 'the female aspect' of deity and women's bodies, identity, and authority. -- Justin Glessner, University Of British Columbia Near East Archaeology
April DeConick has collected materials from a wide range of early Christian evidence. The result is a brave book, in a straight-forward style accessible to a non-specialist audience, on an uncomfortable subject. -- Jorunn J. Buckley, Associate Professor of Religion, Bowdoin College, USA An intriguing, important, and appropriately dangerous book. DeConick brings her study of the difficult canonical and apocryphal texts into conversation with contemporary concerns in a satisfying and accessible way. Her style is both technical and easy-going. This is a book for the general public as well as the academic classroom. I learned a great deal from it and am left with many questions to chew on happily and to discuss. The reader is aided in the search for 'Lady God,' and in the struggle to create societies that abhor and reject violence to the female body. -- Jane Schaberg, Professor of Biblical Studies and Gender/Women's Studies, University of Detroit Mercy, USA April DeConick, a world class scholar, has written a must-read book for those interested in gender issues in relationship to God. By integrating her vast knowledge of extracanonical and canonical texts, she expansively analyzes the effect of misogyny on conceptions of the female body and the profound difference such marginalization has made, even today for women's ecclesiastical leadership and ordination. -- Ann Graham Brock, Associate Professor of New Testament and Christian Origins, Iliff School of Theology, USA The near-programmatic downgrading and degrading of women is one of the most shameful aspects of traditional Christianity. In this powerful book, DeConick rejects conventional theological and hermeneutical attempts to soften the absence of the divine and human female by challenging head-on the vilification of women and the othering of their bodies in early Christianity. This bold discussion makes for uncomfortable but essential reading - and rightly so. -- Francesca Stavrakopoulou, Senior Lecturer in Hebrew Bible, University of Exeter, UK Overall, DeConick has a lot of interesting things to say about gender and sexuality in the early church... I do think her account is appropriately dangerous, and can hopefully jar Christians into action to reverse the long tradition of misogynistic interpretation of Scripture and misogynistic action in the Church. -- Englewood Review Of Books - Vol. 4 # 17.75 DeConick's research traces the root of the problem beyond he usual interpretations of scripture, theology, and the social structures of the times to something deeper and much more perverse... -- Foreword 'Despite the fact that the subject is well-known, almost cliche in certain circles, DeConick brings some new information and insights to the table in her analysis...The most important anthropological message in her eye-opening work is that every tradition, including its scriptures (which claim the greatest authenticity and authoritativeness) is diverse and historically constructed...' -- Anthropology Review Database Highly recommended for readers willing to look at recent archaeological evidence to question traditional religious beliefs and conclusions. -- Library Journal 'The book is academically rigorous, but at every point DeConick interprets her data in the light of her intended conclusion...This volume is suitable for libraries at the intersection of women's studies, the history of Christianity, and theology.' - Choice: Current Reviews for Academic Libraries '[This book] is a superbly researched 200-page compendium by [the author] presenting the origins of such Christian doctrinal issues as to why God is male, the association of women with sin, the denial of priesthood to females, and more. Informed and informative, thoughtful and thought-provoking [this book] is a strongly recommended read for anyone concerned with the origin of gender equality issues within the contemporary Christian community.' - The Midwest Book Review 'The book is academically rigorous, but at every point DeConick interprets her data in the light of her intended conclusion. Full documentation and bibliography are included...' - Choice Magazine DeConick... has done a wonderful service for all readers interested in the history of women in the early church and provides a helpful, if at times painful, analysis of why the fight for equality in the church is so challenging. -- Lisa Rand, Light To Read Blog Though DeConick is a scholar and this book the fruit of her scholarship, her writing is remarkable accessible for lay audiences, and even quite humorous. Holy Misogyny is an invaluable resource for those looking to find the historical roots of the ongoing struggle for women's equality in the Christian tradition. --Jamie L. Manson
In this compelling book April D. DeConick applies her characteristic interest in marginalized early Christian groups to a topic that has drawn considerable scholarly attention in the past several decades: the study of women, sex, and gender in early Christianity. Holy Misogyny is an accessible and imaginative historical reconstruction of the textual and extratextual conflicts behind early Christian displacement of both 'the female aspect' of deity and women's bodies, identity, and authority. -- Justin Glessner, University of British Columbia Near Eastern Archaeology In this lucid and logically arranged book, April D. DeConick, professor of Religious Studies at Rice University, makes a presentation of the ways in which women appear or don't appear in the ancient religious record ... DeConick canvasses a broad range of sources and presents complexities that will interest advanced readers and provoke reflection among them ... The relevance of this book to questions of religion and gender is unquestionable. -- Mark Masterson, Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand Religion and Gender '[This book] is a superbly researched 200-page compendium by [the author] presenting the origins of such Christian doctrinal issues as to why God is male, the association of women with sin, the denial of priesthood to females, and more. Informed and informative, thoughtful and thought-provoking [this book] is a strongly recommended read for anyone concerned with the origin of gender equality issues within the contemporary Christian community.'-The Midwest Book Review 'The book is academically rigorous, but at every point DeConick interprets her data in the light of her intended conclusion...This volume is suitable for libraries at the intersection of women's studies, the history of Christianity, and theology.'-Choice: Current Reviews for Academic Libraries 'Despite the fact that the subject is well-known, almost cliche in certain circles, DeConick brings some new information and insights to the table in her analysis...The most important anthropological message in her eye-opening work is that every tradition, including its scriptures (which claim the greatest authenticity and authoritativeness) is diverse and historically constructed...' -- Anthropology Review Database April DeConick has collected materials from a wide range of early Christian evidence. The result is a brave book, in a straight-forward style accessible to a non-specialist audience, on an uncomfortable subject. -- Jorunn J. Buckley, Associate Professor of Religion, Bowdoin College, USA An intriguing, important, and appropriately dangerous book. DeConick brings her study of the difficult canonical and apocryphal texts into conversation with contemporary concerns in a satisfying and accessible way. Her style is both technical and easy-going. This is a book for the general public as well as the academic classroom. I learned a great deal from it and am left with many questions to chew on happily and to discuss. The reader is aided in the search for 'Lady God,' and in the struggle to create societies that abhor and reject violence to the female body. -- Jane Schaberg, Professor of Biblical Studies and Gender/Women's Studies, University of Detroit Mercy, USA April DeConick, a world class scholar, has written a must-read book for those interested in gender issues in relationship to God. By integrating her vast knowledge of extra-canonical and canonical texts, she expansively analyzes the effect of misogyny on conceptions of the female body and the profound difference such marginalization has made, even today for women's ecclesiastical leadership and ordination. -- Ann Graham Brock, Associate Professor of New Testament and Christian Origins, Iliff School of Theology, USA The near-programmatic downgrading and degrading of women is one of the most shameful aspects of traditional Christianity. In this powerful book, DeConick rejects conventional theological and hermeneutical attempts to soften the absence of the divine and human female by challenging head-on the vilification of women and the othering of their bodies in early Christianity. This bold discussion makes for uncomfortable but essential reading - and rightly so. -- Francesca Stavrakopoulou, Senior Lecturer in Hebrew Bible, University of Exeter, UK DeConick's research traces the root of the problem beyond he usual interpretations of scripture, theology, and the social structures of the times to something deeper and much more perverse... -- ForeWord Though DeConick is a scholar and this book the fruit of her scholarship, her writing is remarkable accessible for lay audiences, and even quite humorous. Holy Misogyny is an invaluable resource for those looking to find the historical roots of the ongoing struggle for women's equality in the Christian tradition. --Jamie L. Manson DeConick... has done a wonderful service for all readers interested in the history of women in the early church and provides a helpful, if at times painful, analysis of why the fight for equality in the church is so challenging. -- Lisa Rand, Light to Read blog Overall, DeConick has a lot of interesting things to say about gender and sexuality in the early church... I do think her account is appropriately dangerous, and can hopefully jar Christians into action to reverse the long tradition of misogynistic interpretation of Scripture and misogynistic action in the Church. -- Englewood Review of Books - Vol. 4 # 17.75 Highly recommended for readers willing to look at recent archaeological evidence to question traditional religious beliefs and conclusions. -- Library Journal
Author Information
April D. DeConick is the Isla Carroll and Percy E. Turner Professor of Biblical Studies and Chair of the Department of Religious Studies at Rice University, USA. She is the author of numerous books on early Christian history, including The Thirteenth Apostle: What the Gospel of Judas Really Says.
