The Kindness of God: Metaphor, Gender, and Religious Language
Soskice is able seamlessly to combine art, philosophy, sytematic theology, history, science and literature in order to perform theology creatively and at times even poetically. ,,, This book is a delight to read. The breadth of engagement is astonishing Tom Greggs, Journal of SJT When I began to read The Kindness of God, I could scarcely put it down... The book maintains a marvelous tone. Its manner is kind. It belabors nothing... The tone constructs both the author and the readeras people with interests, who care, who seek to understand something without heat. Everywhere there prevails a light touch. A light touch is such a rare thing... Soskice's scholarly voice is nearly unique. She shares with Thomas Aquinas the virtue of arguing with ideas, while leaving her opponents unnamed... The Kindness of God treats the... fraught topic of God and gender with a range, delight, and finesse that no one else, as far as I can think, could manage. Eugene F. Rogers Jr., Modern Theology [A] wonderful book... this is an enlightening piece of erudite research. It is a worthy book for the scholar and the general public interested in the search for appropriate metaphors that can link us into the reality of God. Thomas G. Grenham, Milltown Studies [A] stimulating book of essays Anne Thurston, Doctrine & Life Janet Martin Soskice's new book brings together material published since 1991 together with a substantial new piece and a short coda to the whole book... Her realism always draws the reader away from the flights of abstract fancy to the facts of women's lives as a starting point for theology. Gerald Hegarty, Expository Times ...[An] important collection of essays... Paul Richardson, Church of England Newspaper Here is a woman powerfully challenging the patriarchal tradition of her Church and doing it ... by careful scholarly exploration of its faith and spirituality... Peter Cornwell, Times Literary Supplement This book has two goals; to examine the imagery that the Bible uses for God, and to do so from a "constructive" feminist perspective, rather than one that is simply "critical". Janet Martin Soskice achieves both purposes brilliantly - not least because she expresses herself beautifully. It is rare to come across theology that reads so well. Andrew Davison, Church Times very accessible book...Soskice throws off many provocative insights...The book opens perspectives on matters of central theological importance which it will be rewarding to revisit. Fergus Kerr, The Tablet