Overview

Pregnancy is a period of time that institutes great change in the lives of those who are pregnant. Regardless of whether a pregnancy concludes with the birth of a live child or not, there are experiences that are common for many people who are pregnant. Yet as a site of theological reflection pregnancy is underrepresented. This landmark book seeks to begin the conversation within theology about pregnancy, the positive and negative experiences, and the potential for pregnancy to be understood theologically. Chapters consider a number of avenues in this exploration, from early pregnancy loss to trauma in labour, from adoption to the end of reproductive years at the onset of menopause. Throughout, this book seeks to understand the resources that theology brings to the experiences of pregnancy as well as the situations of oppression and underrepresentation that currently exist. Allowing for intersections of race, parenting, childlessness, and disability, this book approaches pregnancy from different theological perspectives in order to complexify the theological response and engagement as well as produce constructive resources for both the academy and the church. Contributors include Chine McDonald, Julie Gittoes, Margaret Kamitsuka and Rachel Muers.

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9780334065388

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"""This beautifully curated collection reveals the ambiguities, privileges, disruptions, pain, trauma, and silences that pregnant and 'un/pregnant' bodies experience in Christian discourse. I was moved and challenged by the poetic, personal, and critical reflections – from surrogacy, abortion, trans pregnancy, single motherhood, fat bodies, Dalit women, to menopause – that centre pregnancy and birth as sites of feminist theological meaning making."" -- Dawn Llewellyn"

Author Information

Karen O'Donnell is Academic Dean and Lecturer at Westcott House, Cambridge. A feminist, ecumenical, practical theologian, her interdisciplinary research interests span theology, spirituality, and pedagogy. She is the author of Broken Bodies and The Dark Womb, which was longlisted for the 2023 Michael Ramsey Prize. Claire Williams is a teacher and researcher at Regents Theological College, and the author of Peculiar Discipleship.

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