by
Viola Larson
Presbyterian Women’s new little catalog, “Best Books for Presbyterian
Women,” offers some good books. For instance, N.T. Wright’s series, “For
Everyone” is very good and easy reading. And although I haven’ read it _I
Want To Live These Days With You: A Year of Daily Devotions,_ taken from the
writings of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, should be the kind of devotional that
brings, to the reader, the strength of Christ in the midst of trying times.
However, Jack Rogers’ book, _Jesus, the Bible and Homosexuality, _and
Douglas F. Ottati’s book, _Theology for Liberal Presbyterians and Other
Endangered Species, __which both argue for specific sides to social issues,
_are offered without a counter side. These particular books fit the needs,
interests and positions of some Presbyterian women yet there seems to be no
alternative books offered for other Presbyterian women. But, it may be that
there are no alternative books published by Presbyterian Publishing
Corporation.
Included in the offering is A Multitude of Blessings: A Christian
Approach to Religious Diversity by Cynthia Campbell_. Campbell’s book,_
which pushes pluralism, is, surprisingly, listed under “Support the Mission
of the Church Worldwide.”
One book that is listed, Helpmates, Harlots, and Heroes, 2nd ed., by Alice
Ogden Bellis, is useful when attempting to understand feminist and womanist
identity as well as feminist hermeneutics. In fact, I have not found a
clearer book or chapter in a book on these subjects. However, once the
author begins applying feminist hermeneutics used by various feminist
theologians the biblical text is totally dismantled. God’s story is lost and
the women of the Bible are all leveled to unremitting goodness. Accordingly
and untruthfully, using the author’s focus, there are no evil women in the
scriptures.
Looking at Presbyterian Publishing’s new catalog as well as my own library I
find there are some good additions that might be placed alongside these
books. One of the new books offered in the Presbyterian Publishing’s new
catalog is Thomas the Other Gospel by Nicholas Perrin. This book places the
Thomas gospel in its proper time period and allows the reader to understand
how it was formed. The book has the recommendation of N.T. Wright and
Marianne Meye Thompson.
And speaking of Thompson, who is a Presbyterian, and Professor of New
Testament Interpretation, she also has an excellent book published by WJK
Press in 2000. The Promise of the Father: Jesus and God in the New
Testament. The back cover explains:
God’s identity as Father’ served as an example for the entire community of
faith as one who promotes mercy, justice, and humility. Jesus’ address to
God as Father’ thus did not introduce a new private experience of intimacy
with the divine, rather, it evoked Israel’s ancient and corporate hope of
God’s saving power and covenant faithfulness.
Alongside Thompson’s book one might read, for a fuller understanding of
Reformed faith, Encountering God: Christian Faith in Turbulent Times, by
Andrew Purves and Charles Partee, published in 2000. Pastoral Theology in
the Classical Tradition is another good book written by Purves and published
in 2001.
Now if I could ‘slip the surly bounds” of the Presbyterian Publishing
Corporation, my suggestions could go on forever. It is good, however, to
have boundaries. Still, just one more suggestion, all Presbyterian women
should have The Book of Confessions and it, alongside the Scriptures, could
be the missing alternative to such books as Jack Rogers’ _Jesus, the Bible
and Homosexuality.