I have a question for the handful of people who read my blog: Do any of you know of some good books or journals articles on postcolonialism, and specifically feminist and liberation theology?I am working on a large final paper project for my global missions summer class on a post-colonial theological worldview of missions and need some good sources. Since I know some of you role around in those circles I thought I’d ask 🙂 If you could leave a comment with the source I’d REALLY appreciate it!
Thanks!
-jeremy
One question you might want to ask is: How concerned about the idea of “missions” do you think many feminist and liberation theologians are?
My answer would be: “Not much.” This isn’t a judgment of feminist and liberation (specifically Latin American and African American) theology, however. I think that most feminist and liberation theologians probably feel that they have more important things to deal with than writing about “missions.”
With that said, there are numerous resources on feminist theology: Rosemary Radford Reuther (“Sexism and God-Talk”), Elizabeth Johnson (“She Who Is”), Mary Daly (“Beyond God the Father”), and various works by Sally McFague (arguably one of the top five Christian theologians living today, male or female).
On liberation theology, primary sources: Of course there is Gustavo Gutierrez (“A Theology of Liberation: Perspectives”). I would also recommend, however, the writings of Jon Sobrino (particularly “Jesus the Liberator,” but also the follow-up to it, “Christ the Liberator”).
Again, I don’t think you’ll find much there where the language of “post-colonialism” is used, in the sense of its association with Christian (typically Protestant) missions. But if you want to know about feminist and liberation theological perspectives from the people who actually began and have a huge stake in each individual movement, then the Reuthers and Sobrinos are what you want.
Hey thanks Andrew! Yeah i’m not so much concerned with their perspectives on mission (or wondering if they in fact are!) as I am with constructing a post-colonial EVANGELICAL biblical worldview of mission.
So I think I want to go to some of these primary sources to get their perspective of post-colonial non-Western theology in an effort to try encourage the wider Western Church to be more conversant with differing theologies as it does global missions in a post-colonial era.
thanks man! appreciate the recommendations…
-jeremy
I have this book sitting on my desk:
The Touch of Transcendence: A Postcolonial Theology of God by Mayra Rivera. I haven’t read it yet, I will shortly for review on Everyday Liturgy. I have also seen a Postcolonial Biblical Reader on Amazon.
NICE! Thanks for the suggestions, Thom…
-jeremy
although not specifically about post-colonialism, feminism or liberation theology, you may find the “IVP Dictionary of Mission Theology” helpful. It’s a resource packed with anything and everything pertaining to missions.
You might pick up a copy of *Going Postal Over Post-Colonial Evangelicalism* by I.P. Rainwater (White European Male Press: 2010). Also, there is *Post-Colonialism for Dummies* by Imma Smartoo.
Best wishes on your paper!
John…one word: bahahaha!
Thanks for the laugh and the well wishes. I may have you read it over before I hand it in!
Also David, I had heard about that book and will definitely check it out for my paper…thanks for the input!
-jeremy
wordand world has book recommendations on the sujects you’re interested in.