Bread Not Stone: The Challenge of Feminist Biblical Interpretation

Rating:
Summary: Very Powerful and Scholarly Work!
Review: This is going to be a combination rating. First of all, in content Fiorenza's book is easily 5 stars. She is exceptionally insightful into the process and presuppositions of biblical interpretation. One important stance that I appreciate is her argument that no interpretation of the biblical author's intended historical meaning is unbiased (like most claim to be). In other words, it's not possible for anyone interpreting the Bible to arrive at an objective historical evaluation of the text. Why? Because both the biblical authors and the Bible's interpreters are framed by their own social and political status. We must recognize this for two reasons. One, to see that the biblical culture and all mainstream interpretation comes from men, which subconsciously supports male dominance. And two, to hear the voices of women, those submerged in the biblical story and those who have not participated in biblical interpretation. When we hear all people's voices, especially those of the oppressed, we can free the biblical text from existing as historical "stone" to speak to us today as "bread" to the equality and justice that God intends!

As for readability this work is usually difficult going, and here I can only give it 3 starts. This is a very scholarly piece and requires a lot of patience for the average reader (like myself). Make sure you read the 1995 reprint of the book, which contains an Afterword that is very helpful in summing up her takes and includes her reflections on reviews of the book. If I were just starting out on this quest, this isn't the first book on biblical interpretation I'd read. Maybe start out with an easier work like Feminist Biblical Interpretation by Letty Russell, and especially Fiorenza's article in it.

All in all this is a great book. I feel fortunate to grasp probably only a small part of what she is thinking. I will be reading her follow-up books to this one: But She Said and Sharing Her Word. If you have patience, you will be truly blessed by Fiorenza's powerful insight into biblical interpretation, and you will see that the Bible from the eyes of women is equally as valid as from the eyes of men, and must be heard! (And if anyone out there knows how to get any of her lectures on tape, please let me know.)