The Feminist Gospel: The Movement to Unite Feminism With the Church

Rating:
Summary: Superb Analysis of the Feminist Influence Upon the Church
Review: Mary Kassian provides a much-needed review of the development of feminism and its impact on the modern-day church. Coming from the perspective of a person who is Biblical grounded and well acquainted with the concerns of women, Kassian offers priceless insight on the pitfalls of the feminist mindset. The concept of "naming" flows throughout this book. Naming refers to women defining their own identity, creating their own place in the world, and even establishing God as the person/force who most effectively exalts the value of women. When Biblical truth clashes with any aspect of this naming process, the truth is sacrificed or "reinterpreted" in a manner that will support it.

Kassian's work has four basic sections: naming self, naming the world, naming God, and assessing the right to name.

In the first three sections, Kassian describes the evolution of feminism both outside and inside the church. Most readers will get bogged down in these sections, because she is so painstakingly devoted to detail. In section four, however, she pulls the previous three sections together as she assesses the right to name from a Biblical perspective.

Kassian offers an excellent review of feminism in this work. The motivators behind the issues of women serving as elders/pastors and gender-neutral Bible translations are much easier to identify as a result of Kassian's effort. I recommend this book highly, especially to pastors, church leaders and teachers.