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She Who Is: The Mystery of God in Feminist Theological Discourse

Elizabeth A. Johnson

4.15 · Rating details · 675 Ratings · 51 Reviews

Winner of the Louisville Grawemeyer Award in Religion. This classic explains what feminist theology is and how can we rediscover the feminine God within the Christian tradition. A profound vision of Christian theology, women’s experience, and emancipation.

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Paperback, 10th Anniversary Edition, 344 pages

Published May 1st 2002 by The Crossroad Publishing Company (first published 1992)

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Nov 30, 2008 Marguerite rated it really liked it

Shelves: gotta-have-faith, feminism

I read this during theology studies, though not as part of the curriculum. (I took it with me to West Virginia while doing mission work with church youth groups.) I wish I'd read it sooner. It's changed the way I think about God and the way I think about the institutional church. It helps me that Elizabeth Johnson writes from within the Catholic Christian tradition. While this book is painstakingly researched and clearly presented, it doesn't keep the subject matter academic or theoretical. A gu ...more

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Jan 22, 2018 Sabrina Peters rated it it was amazing

Great introduction to feminist God-talk, whether or not you agree with her conclusions.

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Feb 22, 2013 Elizabeth Hall rated it it was amazing

Shelves: feminism

You know that scene in Raiders of the Lost Ark where Indy is looking for the Holy Grail, and he chooses the most humble cup among all the gem-encrusted, golden splendor before him? I love that scene, because it rings so true to my idea of God, and of Jesus—of course Jesus would drink from a simple cup. I had the same feeling after finishing Elizabeth A. Johnson’s She Who Is—a feeling that here, truly, is where God dwells. But in this case, the feeling is not a foregone conclusion—it is more like You know that scene in Raiders of the Lost Ark where Indy is looking for the Holy Grail, and he chooses the most humble cup among all the gem-encrusted, golden splendor before him? I love that scene, because it rings so true to my idea of God, and of Jesus—of course Jesus would drink from a simple cup. I had the same feeling after finishing Elizabeth A. Johnson’s She Who Is—a feeling that here, truly, is where God dwells. But in this case, the feeling is not a foregone conclusion—it is more like the release of unconscious tension, the feeling you get when you finally receive some long-awaited good news. This book brought feminism and Christianity together for me, and the experience was liberating and deeply satisfying.

Be aware: this book isn’t an easy read. It is a scholarly work, and the author places her thoughts within the context of classical theology. I sometimes had to reread passages, look up unfamiliar words, or accept that I would understand the gist of a paragraph (usually one that included a lot of Latin) without getting it word for word. But oh, was it worth the work it took to read this book. The rewards were manifold: a deeper understanding of historical Christian thought (especially classical theology—think Aquinas and Augustine), a revelation of the roots of patriarchy within Christianity (you know, that image of the Father in Heaven on a throne—he has a white beard, right?), and an explication of the work of women that Christianity has marginalized or left out altogether. By the time I finished this book, I understood that I had unconsciously accepted that my own religion didn’t hold women in as high esteem as it holds men, and that I shouldn’t accept it at all, consciously or unconsciously. Such an approach to the divine is wrong: not just socially, but spiritually. Not just in human consciousness, but in divine consciousness.

This truth, it seems, should be self-evident. And yet the concept of the divine feminine has been so buried within Christianity that the religion as a whole resists the idea of naming God She as something untoward, bordering on blasphemous. Even the Holy Spirit, which is traditionally the aspect of the Trinity that can be associated with the feminine, is not always named She. And when it is, the Spirit tends to be seen as lesser than the other parts of the Trinity.

Through a careful examination of the right way to speak about and conceive of God, Elizabeth Johnson frees Christianity from the restrictive bonds of patriarchy. The pages of She Who Is are filled with passages like this one: “What then has gone wrong? For despite the value of maternal metaphors in human language and the legitimacy of their occasional appearance in biblical texts and theological tradition, it is highly characteristic of Christian speech that the origin and care-giver of all things is named almost exclusively in terms of the paternal relationship.” (p. 172) Again and again, Ms. Johnson exposes the ways in which Christian speech and thought have taken male metaphor—and the historical gender of the man Jesus—to fashion a God that is, despite theological admission that God cannot be fully understood or categorized in human terms—literally as well as metaphorically male.

By bringing feminine metaphor to the forefront, and exploring the ways in which the personification of Biblical Wisdom known as Sophia permeates all of creation, Ms. Johnson excavates the lost feminine in Christianity. Like the divinity she describes, the pages of this book are dynamic, renewing, life-giving, sustaining, everywhere suffering with those in pain and yet far from helpless. Ms. Johnson’s concern is to empower women to see themselves as truly imago Dei, made in the image of God.

And so she does. To read She Who Is is to understand Christian thought in a completely new way—one that is inclusive of the experience and suffering of women throughout history and throughout the world, one that seeks the right way to speak about divine nature, one that explores the symbols of the Trinity with an eye toward embracing all of humanity. Throughout the book, Ms. Johnson emphasizes the unknowable nature of holy mystery, as well as the limited explication that any metaphors, male or female, can bring to this mystery. And yet, by revealing the long-obscured feminine aspects of divinity within a religion that has been defined by patriarchy since it became codified in Greek philosophy, she brings our understanding a little closer to that mystery, so that we might feel we are, truly, in the presence of a living God—She Who Is. ...more

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Jun 23, 2008 Andrew rated it it was ok

Shelves: religion-theology

This book fell into what I consider a lot of really bad ideas about a feminine nature of God, and an alternative thereof. I don't disagree with the project at all, but I feel there are some serious mistakes in Johnson's approach.

One of her major points is finding feminine characteristics in the linguistics of the Bible. She points to Shekinah, a few OT references and mainly to Sophia. While I find those do legitimize a change in the view of God, they are scant, more linguistic than revelatory, a ...more

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Nov 25, 2014 T.Kay Browning rated it really liked it

Maybe sits a little too firmly in orthodoxy to really get me excited, but it was still a great book. Walking the line between orthodoxy and authentic feminism is done really well in this book. I just want to sit down with her and have a good long talk and I would come out a much better person. Best read of the semester, I think.

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Oct 07, 2009 Annie rated it really liked it

Shelves: reflections

several years ago, a religious mentor of mine insisted i read this book. i am glad she did. "She Who Is" is a bit dense, and slightly repetitive-- nonetheless, conceptualizing god as a woman has had a powerful impact on my spirituality.

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Jun 22, 2007 Kevin rated it it was amazing

Recommends it for: everyone

A great introduction to Catholic feminist theology. Johnson has a mastery of the tradition and language of Catholic theology which makes for a brilliant work.

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Sep 24, 2017 Emily rated it liked it · review of another edition

Recommended to Emily by: Marcus

Shelves: read-in-2017

She Who Is is an academic nonfiction book explaining the crucialness of using feminine metaphors and descriptions when speaking about God and the mystery of God. Historically, masculine metaphors and descriptions have dominated discussion of God, which contributed to the growth and continued promotion of the patriarchy.

Johnson is a member of the Sisters of St. Joseph, as well as being a professor at Fordham University. Her Catholic background leads her to use many examples and references to imag She Who Is is an academic nonfiction book explaining the crucialness of using feminine metaphors and descriptions when speaking about God and the mystery of God. Historically, masculine metaphors and descriptions have dominated discussion of God, which contributed to the growth and continued promotion of the patriarchy.

Johnson is a member of the Sisters of St. Joseph, as well as being a professor at Fordham University. Her Catholic background leads her to use many examples and references to images that are not used in the Protestant church. Primarily, her discussion of the use of Sophia-Wisdom as a title for God relies heavily on verses from the Book of Wisdom, an apocryphal book that I had no prior experience with. This made it difficult at times for me to understand her arguments.

I put this book on my TBR after a friend from my high school youth group stated it was a book he wanted his toddler daughter to read some day. This friend is a Methodist minister and read this book for a class in divinity school. This book is definitely a book meant for trained theologians, as there were numerous terms and concepts that I had to look up. Some of them I still don’t understand completely. The book also suffers from that typical academic book trait of discussing minutiae that literally no one else thinks is realistic--in one part of the book, she proposes that the term “God” needs to be retired as a descriptor for the Creator as that term has been used to justify religious atrocities. Like ok, in most parts of the world referring to God as “She” is a controversial thing, much less removing the most common English term as a descriptor.

Despite the difficulties, I found a lot of Johnson’s arguments compelling. She discusses how the dominance of masculine descriptors for God not only makes it difficult for women to realize their full potential in the church, it reduces God to a certain idolatrous male image. Her discussion of how the Trinity traditionally has been viewed with the Holy Spirit as sort of a “lesser being”, despite all 3 aspects being equal, was fascinating. This view is particularly harmful as the Spirit has traditionally been given female characteristics, implying again that patriarchal structures have played a role in its reduction of status. She discusses how the classical view of God sees God as a distant male figure apart from the world and how that relates to human relationship and suffering. She shows how God should be seen as a mother figure as God has great creative powers that closely follow female creativity in birth and mothering.

I can’t say I recommend this book for everyone--it’s dense and it took me 3 weeks to read its 316 pages, even with 40 of those pages being notes/references. But I learned a lot and I will definitely be looking more closely at the language I and my religious constituents use in referring to God. ...more

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May 18, 2017 Ephrem Arcement rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

This book has been on my radar for many years now, and I'm happy to have finally gotten around to reading it. Sr. Elizabeth's clear and concise argumentation benefits her subject well in this exploration of God from a feminist perspective. How should this book be evaluated 25 years since its initial publication? For many, her insights have become the accepted norm. For others, a strong resistance remains. Is there any hope to bridge the divide? Slowly but surely I think the chasm is being traver ...more

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Jul 20, 2017 Josh rated it it was amazing

This book is not just a great book on feminist theology; that would be a merit in itself. It is, however, also an important statement on the doctrine of God in Christian theology. The greatness of this work is that it blends feminist critique with the wealth of the tradition. She accomplishes the impossible by bringing the two together, preserving both the insights of the past with the liberative elements in feminist discourse. Very powerful and important book! For me, it will continue to be an ...more

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Apr 10, 2018 David Ruiz rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Siendo este mi primer acercamiento a la teología feminista lo considero una excelente aproximación para comenzar a hablar de una manera adecuada sobre el misterio de Dios para libéranos de la forma clásica donde nos hemos hecho una imagen de Dios como masculino. Hablar de Dios a la luz de la realidad de las mujeres y comprendiéndola más allá del género apunta a la liberación de “la representación exclusiva y literal del Dios patriarcal. La cual sustenta así la continua subordinación de las mujer ...more

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Mar 01, 2018 M Christopher rated it it was amazing

Shelves: theology

A truly excellent theology, accessible and clearly written but without "talking down" to the reader. Grist for the mill for any preacher who wants to deal honestly with the feminine aspects of God in three persons.

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Sep 02, 2008 Cappy rated it really liked it

Shelves: theology

Theology as a "symphony of voices, sharply discordant at times (pg. 11)."

The "legendary Noah Principle: no more prizes for predicting rain; prizes only for building arks (pg. 17)."

Quoting Martin Buber, Johnson notes, "The races of man with their religious factions have torn the word [God] to pieces...Certainly they draw caricatures and write 'God' underneath (pg. 44)." The ill actions come FIRST, then God's name gets attributed to them. Not the other way around.

"Is it not the case that the very Theology as a "symphony of voices, sharply discordant at times (pg. 11)."

The "legendary Noah Principle: no more prizes for predicting rain; prizes only for building arks (pg. 17)."

Quoting Martin Buber, Johnson notes, "The races of man with their religious factions have torn the word [God] to pieces...Certainly they draw caricatures and write 'God' underneath (pg. 44)." The ill actions come FIRST, then God's name gets attributed to them. Not the other way around.

"Is it not the case that the very concept of the 'feminine' is a patriarchal invention, an ideal projected onto women by men and vigorously defended because it functions so well to keep men in the positions of power and women in positions of service to them? (pg. 49)"

The reason humans, in contrast to animals, sit atop Aristotle's gradation of being is that "Behaviorism notwithstanding, human persons are the most mysterious ans attractive reality that we experience and the only creatures who bear self-reflective consciousness (pg. 55)."

The birth of the "Both/And" comes on page 69.

"The Bible was not written to teach the natural sciences nor to give information about political history, but to witness to God's graciousness in the midst of a broken world (pg. 78)."

J.B. Metz's "Alps Experience": "A moment of wonder when we are overtaken by the grandeur of the natural world as it exists beyond us and without us, simply there in its own givenness and beauty, fragility and threatened state (pg. 123)."

"While the offer of grace is universal, it is the religions which thematize this offer in narrative and ritual, thereby clearly focusing on the Spirit's deeds of drawing all creation toward the holiness of God (pg. 139)."

Consider complementarity "as a smokescreen for the subordination of women since by its definition women are always relegated to the private, passive realm (pg. 154)."

"What is affirmed as faith, for evidence continues to contradict this, is that overwhelming evil does not have the last word (pg. 159)."

"The problem is not that Jesus was a man but that more men are not like Jesus (pg. 161)."

"Imagine the infinite and finite together, although, granted, the infinite is unimaginable. Where should one draw the line that divides them? (pg. 232)" ...more

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Aug 07, 2012 Robert D. Cornwall rated it it was amazing

Shelves: holy-spirit, jesus, religion, social-justice, spirituality, theology

Western Christian theology has for the most part been expressed in masculine terms. The Trinity is understood to be Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. While the Spirit is malleable enough to include the feminine, we tend to focus on the masculine, monarchian vision of God. Elizabeth Johnson, a Feminist Roman Catholic Theologian (recently silenced as a Catholic teacher) wrote some years ago a powerful exposition of theology from a feminist perspective. As a male Euro-American theologian/pastor I must ...more

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Jan 07, 2013 Paul rated it liked it

Shelves: scholarship, theology

A 4.5-5-star book when it comes to highlighting the patriarchal assumptions in the ways we talk about God and the effects that talk can have for the status and faith of women. But Johnson alternates between cogent, elegant prose and word soup, and her descriptions of the various elements of the Trinity seem dropped into the middle of the book, almost as if they were written for a different project and inserted because they have tangential application to the broader point. The opening chapters, t ...more

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Feb 24, 2015 Doublezerodomino rated it liked it

Shelves: gender-studs, historical, psych

Feminist Theology class requirement; very enjoyable and informative read. Not my favorite from the class so far as it is an older publication and does not have updated resources. Sister Elizabeth Johnson is evidently dedicated to her work reconciling feminist discourse with judeo-christian, mostly Catholic, values. My reaction to it all is to push against a gender binary system, to reject imposed standards of gender and welcome human equality regardless of genetic sex.
Long road to travel, much ...more

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Apr 08, 2015 Trish Remley rated it really liked it

I read this book in bits and pieces over a long period of time (couple years). Although I don't remember all the details, I do remember the underlying themes. Very nice to read such a book presenting Catholic thought in a different manner. Why does the male hierarchy exist? Why is God thought of as male only? I don't and it's refreshing to read some background and feminist theology. Thank you for lending me this book Sister.

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Jun 05, 2008 Megan rated it it was amazing

Recommended to Megan by: Daniel Harrington, S.J.

Shelves: theology

Best quote: “If evil and suffering cannot be explained away, given a positive interpretation, or made intelligible, what is the point of speaking of the suffering God, even in feminist theology? Only this: that such discourse facilitates the praxis of hope. Against the background of the history of human injustice and suffering, the suffering God is a most productive and critical symbol for it cannot be uttered without human beings hearing the challenge to solidarity and hope."

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Jul 20, 2016 Carmel Ann Sperti rated it it was amazing

This is an incredibly challenging piece of theology to read, both for its content and complexity. Elizabeth Johnson weaves a tight and balanced argument for believers to embrace both male and female images of God, using Scripture and scholarship blended with her own deep spirituality. A must-read for admirers of her theology. If you are looking for hard-line, combative feminism, however, you will be disappointed, as this author never lets an agenda overcome her scholarship and clear thinking.

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Dec 28, 2015 Phyllis Fredericksen rated it liked it

I was interested in reading this book as it was reviewed as stating the argument for inclusive language when speaking about God. It did to an extent;however, it leaned more toward feminine language for God. Not wrong, but I feel that inclusive is much better. Language is very important to me and I feel that we should acknowledge God as both female and male....we are made in God's image after all. I used the book as a meditation, but found that it was a tad over my head...interesting though.

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Jan 27, 2013 Marylee Raymond rated it really liked it

This is a real academic book. I'm reading it for book group at church (the women's ministry -- "It Was The Women Who Stayed"). Tough reading -- a zillion footnotes. Very academic, but the feminism bursts through. Can't wait for book group (I wonder how many folks actually finished the book...)

What made the Vatican put their underwear in knots anyway??

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Mar 09, 2015 Francine rated it really liked it

This is a great book. I am a big fan of Elizabeth Johnson's work.

It is a bit slow and academic which might put off some readers but, stick with her.

I've read lots of authors on the topic, some from the era that this book was written and some more recent. It is a foundation sort of text on the topic of the feminine nature of God.

Recommended.

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Mar 25, 2013 Ann rated it really liked it

I have not read much theology. However, I found this book fascinating as Johnson traces the history of how an androcentric world has co-opted the language of scripture to create a world view of G_d as male and how this has lead to the continued subservient role of women in many religious/world settings. Scholarly, but readable.

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Jan 31, 2015 Michelle Marvin rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: on-my-shelf-but-i-haven-t-read-them

Definitely a 'classic' in third wave feminist theology literature. I wish she hadn't concluded with a dark chapter on human suffering, but had followed it up with a more practical, call-to action. There is plenty that one could argue about in this book, but, as an Elizabeth Johnson fan, I have to say that I was even more pleased with the book overall than I had expected to be.

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Dec 08, 2008 Katie Kent rated it really liked it

We read this in our theology book group - quite fascinating although difficult to understand at times. This book is a theology textbook - very thorough and full of doctorate-speak, but the concepts were easy enough to understand and interesting to discuss. I would definitely recommend it to those interested in feminist theology, or those having trouble relating to a male-depicted symbol of God.

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Feb 24, 2014 Laurie rated it it was amazing

Elizabeth Johnson is an excellent Catholic theologian. Her theology is based solidly in scripture and tradition. It's time for the church to move from the androcentric theology and ecclesial praxis that rose from the medieval feudal period.

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May 10, 2011 Miranda Fox rated it it was ok

I have issues with feminism as I think it tends to make as many problems as it addresses. This book was a good example of this and I wasn't a huge fan of the whole Sophia thing as it was used in this book

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Sep 12, 2011 Bec rated it liked it · review of another edition

Mostly useful. Struggled a bit with the emphasis on God's unknowability. At a certain point all discussion about God would have to cease if that was true. Strongest content was the chapters on God as Sophia.

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Jul 02, 2012 Chrissie added it

This was a very good, but very difficult, read. The author is very wordy and the book reads like a textbook. Nonetheless it is informative and eye-opening. A recommended read for anyone seeking more understanding about the language about God.

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Jul 29, 2008 Mandy rated it it was amazing

I read this book in Professor Irish's "Experience of God" course, and, like all the books and all the lectures in that class, it opened my eyes to a whole new view to theology. We read many theologians during the semester, but Johnson was one of my personal favorites.

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About Elizabeth A. Johnson

Elizabeth A. Johnson

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Johnson grew up in Brooklyn, New York, the oldest of seven children in an "Irish Catholic family." As a young adult she joined the religious order of the Sisters of Saint Joseph whose motherhouse is in Brentwood, Long island, NY. She received a B.S. from Brentwood College in 1964, an M.A. from Manhattan College in 1964.

1981, she became the first woman to earn a Ph.D. in theology at the Catholic Un Johnson grew up in Brooklyn, New York, the oldest of seven children in an "Irish Catholic family." As a young adult she joined the religious order of the Sisters of Saint Joseph whose motherhouse is in Brentwood, Long island, NY. She received a B.S. from Brentwood College in 1964, an M.A. from Manhattan College in 1964.

1981, she became the first woman to earn a Ph.D. in theology at the Catholic University of America (CUA). CUA is a pontifical university of the Catholic Church and is the only university in the U.S. founded and sponsored by America's bishops. Johnson recalls that her experience there was "rich, respectful, and collegial," but was also "lacking in female presence." During her studies there in the 1970s Johnson observes, "I never had a woman professor, I never read one woman author. There were none to be had. It was a totally male education." CUA attempted to remedy this when Johnson herself was hired into a tenure-track position in Christology. She became one of the first female theologians allowed to receive a doctorate by the church authorities, as a result of the "liberalization decrees that capped the Second Vatican Council." Feminism had begun impacting the thinking and dialog of female Catholic theologians, and pioneering feminist theologians Elisabeth Schüssler Fiorenza and Sandra M. Schneiders influenced Johnson on feminist topics, including using feminine metaphors and language for God. Inspired by their example, Johnson and other women graduate students formed a group, "Women in Theology."

She has served as head of the Catholic Theological Society of America and the American Theological Society.

While at CUA in 1980 she felt profoundly affected by events of the Salvadoran Civil War when four American women, including three nuns, working as missionaries and helping oppressed people to escape violence, were abducted and killed by a death squad. Johnson mourned the women, but she "redirected her anguish by carrying out their mission in her own field of theology."

Johnson notes that leaders of her religious community encouraged her to enter the field of theology and pushed her to continue in spite of obstacles. "When I applied for tenure at Catholic University, I received the full positive vote of the faculty. But the outcome was in doubt because some bishops were not happy with an article I had written," she says, referring to her article questioning the traditional view of Mary as "humble and obedient." Though she contemplated leaving rather than facing the "arduous process of interrogation," General Superior Sister John Raymond McGann advised her not to give up, and Johnson did receive tenure.

Johnson had taught science and religion at the elementary and high school level, then taught theology at St. Joseph's College (New York) and at CUA before moving to Fordham in 1991. At Fordham, she was named Distinguished Professor in 1997 and "Teacher of the Year" in 1998. ...more

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