See the excellent article just released on the web today by
Christianity Today senior associate editor Agnieszka
Tennant entitled:
What (Not All)
Women Want
The finicky femininity of Captivating
by John and Stasi Eldredge.
This is the most popular non-fiction book on the Christian Bestsellers List,
September 2006. This is also a hugely popular book on Christian college campuses like Taylor University where I teach.
Tennant responds personally and thoughtfully to the
stereotypical view of Christian femininity advocated by the authors. I
hope many students will read this article and begin to think more critically
about the book’s content.
I never like to be just negative without providing an
alternative so here are . . .
Some books we should be buying for the women in our lives.
On becoming a thoughtful Christian female theologian:
Confessions
of a Beginning Theologian
by Elouise
Renich Fraser
On femininity by Van Leeuwen of Eastern University:
Gender
& Grace: Love Work & Parenting in a Changing World
by Mary
Stewart Van Leeuwen
On the story of a woman with traditional views being
inspired by the Bible:
When
Life and Beliefs Collide
by Carolyn
Custis James
Lost
Women of the Bible: Finding Strength & Significance through Their Stories
by Carolyn
Custis James
On the journey of a woman searching the Scriptures:
Equal
to Serve: Women and Men Working Together Revealing the Gospel
by Gretchen
Gaebelein Hull
On the biblical issues:
Discovering
Biblical Equality: Complementarity Without Hierarchy
by Ronald
W. Pierce (Editor), Rebecca
Merrill Groothuis (Editor), Gordon
D. Fee (Editor)
To be fair, see also the critique of this book at:
Journal
of Biblical Manhood and Womanhood Responds to Discovering Biblical Equality
(IVP,2004)
For parents by McMinn of Wheaton College:
Growing
Strong Daughters: Encouraging Girls to Become All They’re Meant to Be
by Lisa
Graham McMinn
On scholarship and women:
Living
on the Boundaries: Evangelical Women, Feminism And the Theological Academy
by Nicola
Hoggard Creegan, Christine
D. Pohl
On struggles as a woman:
Redeeming
Eve: Finding Hope Beyond the Struggles of Life
by Heather
P. Webb
On femininity and spirituality:
Eve’s
Revenge: Women and a Spirituality of the Body
by Lilian
Calles Barger
One reply on “Eldredge’s Captivating Distorts Christian Femininity So Read These Books Instead”
Hello,
My name is Marissa Cwik and I work for Christians for Biblical Equality. CBE is a non-profit organization comprised of individual and church members from more than 80 denominations who believe that the Bible, properly interpreted, teaches the fundamental equality of men and women of all ethnicities and all economic classes. Recently a contributor on our blog site sumbitted a link to this post on your site. Thank you for your post and excellent recommendations for alternative reading. In a classic “great minds think alike” moment our bookstore had a sale on alternative books to Captivating that included many of the ones you mentioned.
I want to invite you to particpate in the conversation on our blog as well as the resources available with our organization. Please feel free to contact me with any questions or feedback!
Blessings,
Marissa Cwik