The Resignation of Eve: What If Adam's Rib Is No Longer Willing to Be the Church's Backbone?
Henderson is a self-described “spiritual anthropologist,” who probes into people’s spiritual lives. In this intriguing book, he examines the role, or lack thereof, that women play in the Christian church. He points out that research indicates that women tend to form the backbone of churchgoing even as many churches restrict the roles available to women. Consider: the majority of weekly churchgoers and church volunteers are women. Still, he notes, an increasing number of women are reevaluating their “spiritual options”: some resign themselves to their church, some join a different faith, others practice their faith in new ways, and still others leave the church altogether. In The Resignation of Eve, Henderson shares stories of the women he interviewed, followed by his own commentary—he doesn’t always agree with the conclusions of the women he profiles. In addition, he shares statistics on how women feel about their spiritual experiences. He concludes that, for many women, the church is not a safe place “to be yourself.” A provocative look at the often overlooked role that women play in the church. --June Sawyers