Hamington (Women's Studies/Mount St. Mary's Coll.) surveys feminist critiques of the role of Mary in Catholicism and calls for a fundamental deconstruction of the Church's beliefs. According to Hamington and the authors he quotes, the cult of Mary in the Catholic Church is essentially a social construct, which has been manipulated by the male hierarchy down the centuries in order to oppress women. In this scenario, Mary's highly idealized status is really the projection of celibate men's fear of sexuality and their longing for an inaccessible mother figure. The exaltation of the Virgin, we are told, rules out any voice for the experiences of real women, who are sexual, passionate, and independent human beings. Hamington devotes iconoclastic chapters to the themes of Mary's perpetual virginity, her role as the all- powerful mother and mediator, and the concept of Mary as the New Eve. He draws heavily on the writings of feminist theologians Mary Daly, Rosemary Radford Ruether, and Elisabeth SchÅssler Fiorzenza, but his knowledge of the Catholic tradition, especially in the formative early centuries, is minimal and seems to be drawn from encyclopedias and poor secondary sources. The text abounds in sweeping and unverifiable assertions: e.g. that monasticism is masochistic and aspects of Marian devotion cause wife abuse. The author's desire to provide Catholics with relevant input is seriously undermined by his speaking from positions that few would recognize as Catholic, or indeed Christian: e.g. that Mary should be viewed independently of Christ and may be adored as a goddess. For Hamington, in fact, all statements of Christian belief are nothing but socially conditioned images that reflect human experience. A botched opportunity to present some potentially valuable insights.
Pub Date: Nov. 8, 1995
ISBN: 0-415-91303-9
Page Count: 224
Publisher: Routledge
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 15, 1995
Worthwhile reference stuffed with facts and illustrations.
A compendium of charts, time lines, lists and illustrations to accompany study of the Bible.
This visually appealing resource provides a wide array of illustrative and textually concise references, beginning with three sets of charts covering the Bible as a whole, the Old Testament and the New Testament. These charts cover such topics as biblical weights and measures, feasts and holidays and the 12 disciples. Most of the charts use a variety of illustrative techniques to convey lessons and provide visual interest. A worthwhile example is “How We Got the Bible,” which provides a time line of translation history, comparisons of canons among faiths and portraits of important figures in biblical translation, such as Jerome and John Wycliffe. The book then presents a section of maps, followed by diagrams to conceptualize such structures as Noah’s Ark and Solomon’s Temple. Finally, a section on Christianity, cults and other religions describes key aspects of history and doctrine for certain Christian sects and other faith traditions. Overall, the authors take a traditionalist, conservative approach. For instance, they list Moses as the author of the Pentateuch (the first five books of the Hebrew Bible) without making mention of claims to the contrary. When comparing various Christian sects and world religions, the emphasis is on doctrine and orthodox theology. Some chapters, however, may not completely align with the needs of Catholic and Orthodox churches. But the authors’ leanings are muted enough and do not detract from the work’s usefulness. As a resource, it’s well organized, inviting and visually stimulating. Even the most seasoned reader will learn something while browsing.
Worthwhile reference stuffed with facts and illustrations.Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2005
ISBN: 978-1-5963-6022-8
Page Count: -
Publisher: N/A
Review Posted Online: May 23, 2010
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
This a book of earlier, philosophical essays concerned with the essential "absurdity" of life and the concept that- to overcome the strong tendency to suicide in every thoughtful man-one must accept life on its own terms with its values of revolt, liberty and passion. A dreary thesis- derived from and distorting the beliefs of the founders of existentialism, Jaspers, Heldegger and Kierkegaard, etc., the point of view seems peculiarly outmoded. It is based on the experience of war and the resistance, liberally laced with Andre Gide's excessive intellectualism. The younger existentialists such as Sartre and Camus, with their gift for the terse novel or intense drama, seem to have omitted from their philosophy all the deep religiosity which permeates the work of the great existentialist thinkers. This contributes to a basic lack of vitality in themselves, in these essays, and ten years after the war Camus seems unaware that the life force has healed old wounds... Largely for avant garde aesthetes and his special coterie.
Pub Date: Sept. 26, 1955
ISBN: 0679733736
Page Count: 228
Publisher: Knopf
Review Posted Online: Sept. 19, 2011
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 1955
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