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Faith and Feminism: A Holy Alliance
Why do so many women of faith have such a strong aversion to feminism? And why do so many feminists have an ardent mistrust of religion? These questions are at the heart of Helen LaKelly Hunt's illuminating look at the alliance between spiritual conviction and social action. Intelligent and heartfelt, Faith and Feminism offers a perceptive look at the lives of five spirited and spiritual women of history, women who combined their undying faith with feminist beliefs and who made the world a better place by doing so.
• St. Teresa of Ávila, a woman whose bravery in confronting her shadows gave her the strength to connect with the world and live a life of divine action.
• Lucretia Mott, a Quaker minister, who rose from her quiet upbringing to become a passionate speaker and activist working tirelessly on behalf of justice and peace.
• Sojourner Truth, a Christian slave, who spoke out with unwavering courage to claim her God-given rightful place as an African American and a woman.
• Emily Dickinson , an extraordinary poet, who touched the world with her ability to capture and transform the experience of suffering.
• Dorothy Day, a radical journalist, who lived a life of voluntary poverty as a way of expressing her passion for the Christian faith and care for those in need.
A remarkable book that focuses on the idea that spirituality and feminism are really different expressions of the same impulse to make life more whole, Faith and Feminism offers a powerful catalyst for reflecting on our sense of self -- and for living and loving according to our deepest values.
• St. Teresa of Ávila, a woman whose bravery in confronting her shadows gave her the strength to connect with the world and live a life of divine action.
• Lucretia Mott, a Quaker minister, who rose from her quiet upbringing to become a passionate speaker and activist working tirelessly on behalf of justice and peace.
• Sojourner Truth, a Christian slave, who spoke out with unwavering courage to claim her God-given rightful place as an African American and a woman.
• Emily Dickinson , an extraordinary poet, who touched the world with her ability to capture and transform the experience of suffering.
• Dorothy Day, a radical journalist, who lived a life of voluntary poverty as a way of expressing her passion for the Christian faith and care for those in need.
A remarkable book that focuses on the idea that spirituality and feminism are really different expressions of the same impulse to make life more whole, Faith and Feminism offers a powerful catalyst for reflecting on our sense of self -- and for living and loving according to our deepest values.
240 pages, Paperback
First published July 20, 2004
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243 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
June 13, 2014
A few quick words: The stories were interesting, though I thought the author could have done more with them. Still, to make this accessible to a wider audience, they served their purposes nicely. A few other reviewers have commented that it was a stretch to call these women "feminists" - the only one I thought was more of a stretch was Dorothy Day, ironically - the information on her life highlighted public service in general, though not necessary equality between the sexes. Still, showing how each of these women defied social norms to claim their place, both in their private and public lives, fits.
The last chapter, the afterword and the reading guides were most compelling to me. Personally, I find the separation of faith and feminism, most common in the West, to be of great interest. I've been reading much more about Islamic feminism, which highly incorporates religion and equality. While it has existed for some time, perhaps unrecognized or by an array of different labels, the idea that a woman does not have to deny her faith and religion to claim her place and rights is an important one. The West seems the most guilty of insisting the two must be separate, but for many women, this schism involves denying an important piece of herself. This black-and-white, feminism vs faith, does not resonate with many women, and in some cultures, is certainly alien. We need to look at what we have in common, accept each others' spiritual beliefs, and work for equality, regardless of spiritual beliefs or ascribing to a particular religion. This emphasis in the final pages, as well as noting what can be done better - listening instead of speaking, bridging divides, was of particular interest, and did relate to the five stories.
The five stories did make me want to research these women further, and the analysis provided a Christian call for the similar bridging of the religious vs. secular feminism I've been reading from Muslim women. It's an important discussion that needs to be brought to the attention of the West, not only for women in the West, but for how we reach out to women globally.
The last chapter, the afterword and the reading guides were most compelling to me. Personally, I find the separation of faith and feminism, most common in the West, to be of great interest. I've been reading much more about Islamic feminism, which highly incorporates religion and equality. While it has existed for some time, perhaps unrecognized or by an array of different labels, the idea that a woman does not have to deny her faith and religion to claim her place and rights is an important one. The West seems the most guilty of insisting the two must be separate, but for many women, this schism involves denying an important piece of herself. This black-and-white, feminism vs faith, does not resonate with many women, and in some cultures, is certainly alien. We need to look at what we have in common, accept each others' spiritual beliefs, and work for equality, regardless of spiritual beliefs or ascribing to a particular religion. This emphasis in the final pages, as well as noting what can be done better - listening instead of speaking, bridging divides, was of particular interest, and did relate to the five stories.
The five stories did make me want to research these women further, and the analysis provided a Christian call for the similar bridging of the religious vs. secular feminism I've been reading from Muslim women. It's an important discussion that needs to be brought to the attention of the West, not only for women in the West, but for how we reach out to women globally.
May 29, 2020
Interesting biographies with that perspective of St. Teresa of Avila, Lucretia Mott, Sojourner Truth, Emily Dickinson & Dorothy Day. Near the end of the book she alluded to the fact that many 60's feminists took spirituality out of the equation and many women of faith had a hard time reconciling parts of the Feminist movement with faith tradition. She brought out a poignant point:
CK Chesterton said "Tradition means giving a vote to the most obscure of all classes, our ancestors. It is the democracy of the dead". Hunt followed this up with "To ignore our tradition is to reject the prayers and wishes that our mothers and grandmothers held in their hearts for us". I never really though of faith in this manner.
CK Chesterton said "Tradition means giving a vote to the most obscure of all classes, our ancestors. It is the democracy of the dead". Hunt followed this up with "To ignore our tradition is to reject the prayers and wishes that our mothers and grandmothers held in their hearts for us". I never really though of faith in this manner.
March 29, 2022
i will preface this by saying that i do not identify as a Christian but i do identify as a Feminist.
i was browsing the library shelves and saw this one. i was curious as to why Gloria Steinem, whom i’ve never regarded as religious, would have written a foreword for a book about Christianity.
i’m a very curious person, always looking things up and asking too many questions. i quite enjoyed this book. i found it very enlightening and interesting. i really like the way the author wrote and i appreciated the message she was trying to craft. the author focuses on five women who identified within the Christian faith and how they are examples of how the two ideologies of Christianity and Feminism can be intertwined.
this was written in 2004 so i would like to see an updated version that maybe touches on things that have happened since then. this is definitely centred around American Christianity and American Feminism. the author did not cover what, in my opinion, is one of the major dichotomies between women of faith and feminism even though one of the women she was using as an example would have been the perfect introduction. (the anti-abortion movement/pro-choice movement)
perhaps that was a strategic choice. nevertheless this is one i would want to pick up to have and go back to in the future as i continue to read more feminist literature.
i realize this may seem like an unconventional read of mine but i assure you it is not. i tend to read things like this often but i’m just hesitant to really post about it.
i was browsing the library shelves and saw this one. i was curious as to why Gloria Steinem, whom i’ve never regarded as religious, would have written a foreword for a book about Christianity.
i’m a very curious person, always looking things up and asking too many questions. i quite enjoyed this book. i found it very enlightening and interesting. i really like the way the author wrote and i appreciated the message she was trying to craft. the author focuses on five women who identified within the Christian faith and how they are examples of how the two ideologies of Christianity and Feminism can be intertwined.
this was written in 2004 so i would like to see an updated version that maybe touches on things that have happened since then. this is definitely centred around American Christianity and American Feminism. the author did not cover what, in my opinion, is one of the major dichotomies between women of faith and feminism even though one of the women she was using as an example would have been the perfect introduction. (the anti-abortion movement/pro-choice movement)
perhaps that was a strategic choice. nevertheless this is one i would want to pick up to have and go back to in the future as i continue to read more feminist literature.
i realize this may seem like an unconventional read of mine but i assure you it is not. i tend to read things like this often but i’m just hesitant to really post about it.
December 29, 2009
This book is moving and relevant. The stories of the various women and their religiously inspired passion for the development and liberation of women are impacting, and great examples to us in postmodern times. My only critique is that there is a lack of historical context and academic rigour - but that doesn't take away from its relevance as bringing these amazing women into the lime light.
August 14, 2012
The middle of the book is what I enjoyed most - the portraits of women who made such a difference. It is encouraging to see how a person's pain, loneliness, advocacy, among other things, can turn into a strong voice and ability to make a difference.
October 11, 2017
I loved the life stories shared here, but the overall tone was a bit more self-helpy than I was expecting.
October 31, 2018
Loved reading about different strong women through history who contributed in a variety of ways to promoting the equality of women. The research/support for the author's positions was a little thin.
December 5, 2014
This book is classified Religion, but to me, it's got several things in one. It's way more than meets the surface glance.
1) It's part academic. The author starts with a philosophy and some theory, and weaves it throughout her book, forming conclusions.
2) It's part biography. The author looks at five women in history through the lens of the theories she established.
3) It's part autobiography. The author adds her own story to the five, looking through the lens of those theories.
4) It's part pamphlet, propaganda (used loosely). There is a very distinctive call to action.
5) It's part study. There are pages of study guide near the end.
6) It's part resource. There are pages of practical suggestions on where to go or where to look if you want to take further action.
For me, feminism has always been a bad word. It means liberal, it means revolutionary, and smacks of argument. Hunt changed that for me in many ways with this book. She makes a sense for why religious feminists make logical sense. She connected with me when she said, "Someone with a religious sensibility develops an acute awareness of certain questions. Do I live out my beliefs? Am I the same person in public that I am in private? Am I experiencing life as it is, delicately interconnected? Am I working from anger? Am I working from love? I know many women in secular feminism who function from this same place of integrity, but the religious feminists I know have an advantage. Their faith requires and supports the continuous exploration of these questions, and their communities of faith are there to help them find their way when the journey becomes difficult."
Two things, for me, contribute to a high rating where others have deemed the book too simplistic.
1) I want to learn more. This book is so little about the 5 women. Their stories are just long enough and painted well enough to make me want to go in search of their histories a little more, especially Emily Dickinson and Teresa of Avila.
2) I'll think about this book for a long time.
I made copious notes, asked questions of myself and the text, and underlined lots of passages. I loved this book because it gave me some ideas to really wrestle with. Maybe it's just because I read it at the right time for me. But maybe because it's chock full of really interesting ideas.
1) It's part academic. The author starts with a philosophy and some theory, and weaves it throughout her book, forming conclusions.
2) It's part biography. The author looks at five women in history through the lens of the theories she established.
3) It's part autobiography. The author adds her own story to the five, looking through the lens of those theories.
4) It's part pamphlet, propaganda (used loosely). There is a very distinctive call to action.
5) It's part study. There are pages of study guide near the end.
6) It's part resource. There are pages of practical suggestions on where to go or where to look if you want to take further action.
For me, feminism has always been a bad word. It means liberal, it means revolutionary, and smacks of argument. Hunt changed that for me in many ways with this book. She makes a sense for why religious feminists make logical sense. She connected with me when she said, "Someone with a religious sensibility develops an acute awareness of certain questions. Do I live out my beliefs? Am I the same person in public that I am in private? Am I experiencing life as it is, delicately interconnected? Am I working from anger? Am I working from love? I know many women in secular feminism who function from this same place of integrity, but the religious feminists I know have an advantage. Their faith requires and supports the continuous exploration of these questions, and their communities of faith are there to help them find their way when the journey becomes difficult."
Two things, for me, contribute to a high rating where others have deemed the book too simplistic.
1) I want to learn more. This book is so little about the 5 women. Their stories are just long enough and painted well enough to make me want to go in search of their histories a little more, especially Emily Dickinson and Teresa of Avila.
2) I'll think about this book for a long time.
I made copious notes, asked questions of myself and the text, and underlined lots of passages. I loved this book because it gave me some ideas to really wrestle with. Maybe it's just because I read it at the right time for me. But maybe because it's chock full of really interesting ideas.
February 20, 2014
I wasn't completely bowled over by this book. The stories of the five women Dr. Hunt uses to demonstrate her point of faith and feminism working in tandem were interesting, but I felt that for all of them except Lucretia Mott she was making a real stretch to argue that they were motivated by what we would term "feminism." Most were women who were driven to make a difference (Emily Dickinson being the exception, in my opinion), but it seemed to me that she was trying to make their stories fit her point, more of an afterthought than the focus of the book. I found the stories were the most interesting part of the book, so I wish the author had given them more space. She says that she spent years in the research of the stories, but the brevity of each story doesn't seem to do that research justice. The author a member of the Hunt family of Dallas, and the things she has done with the family fortune to help women around the world is admirable. This is where we see a true example of faith and feminism at work.
October 21, 2015
Loved reading this book about five woman who greatly affected this world through their faith-fueled feminism. And Helen's writing style and truths she presented along the way were written at a level I personally connected with - I would read more from her!
"If there is bloodshed on the cathedral steps, we must also recognize the bloodshed inherent in combating political oppression. If we are so angry at the deeply flawed parts of religious institutions that we cut ourselves off from our spiritual birthright, we make no gains. Instead our anger is exacerbated by profound loss. I say preserve the anger, yes, but also preserve our right ot our spiritual traditions. The patriarchy may have stolen our freedoms, but we don't have ot be complicit in the abandonment of our souls."
"If there is bloodshed on the cathedral steps, we must also recognize the bloodshed inherent in combating political oppression. If we are so angry at the deeply flawed parts of religious institutions that we cut ourselves off from our spiritual birthright, we make no gains. Instead our anger is exacerbated by profound loss. I say preserve the anger, yes, but also preserve our right ot our spiritual traditions. The patriarchy may have stolen our freedoms, but we don't have ot be complicit in the abandonment of our souls."
November 26, 2014
A back cover review claims that this book "unmasks the false dichotomy between faith and feminism" which really sums up the mindset that this book is designed appeal to. Worth pointing out also that although this book is obviously Christian, nowhere on the cover does it use the word Christian... rather preferring less accurate and less helpful terms like "faith", "religion", and "spirituality". Sigh. Overall, a tad superficial but a very easy read that has some interesting readers digest style biographies of some important figures in Christian faith.
June 30, 2009
The author is not the actress, she's a psychologist who has studied women of faith like Dorothy Day and Lucretia Mott. The feminism movement has largely excluded faith from it's movement. She said the journey toward wholeness is claiming your pain, integrating your shadow, finding your voice, taking action and living communion. I found it fascinating.
February 23, 2013
The part I actually found most inspiring about this book was the reflective discussion and journaling questions at the end. They really sparked some timely thoughts and conversations for me. I also especially enjoyed the chapter on Emily Dickinson, as I've always found her interesting and relatable.
April 6, 2012
I really appreciated the author's thesis that one's faith can enrich one's feminism. She asserts the interconnected nature of faith/spirituality and the search for social justice. I enjoyed her portraits of five women of faith and feminism. I would have liked a deeper look at their lives.
January 29, 2008
Fluff read. But I liked it.
February 26, 2009
Didn't go as in depth as I'd like but it was interesting. I liked the stories of Sojourner Truth and Lucretia Mott.
May 6, 2015
Enjoyed the look into these interesting women who were way ahead of their times.
May 14, 2015
Heroes of feminism! It was great to read about amazing women who were not afraid to be authentic and vulnerable.
October 27, 2018
Read it as part of a book group. Perfect to start a dialogue and self reflection. I think of the three bears...not, too much, not too little, just right for what I needed this past month.
Want to read
January 20, 2016This book is wonderful.
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April 7, 2017
An excellent introduction of the intersection of these 2 realms of thought and how very linked they actually are.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews