The Bible and the Women

The Bible and Women · An Encyclopaedia of Exegesis and Cultural History

edited by
Mary Ann Beavis (Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada)
Irmtraud Fischer (Graz)
Mercedes Navarro (Madrid)
Adriana Valerio (Napoli)

A Critically Engaged Project in Cultural History

The volumes in this encyclopaedia study the Bible as "The Book" of Western culture. They explore how religion has shaped gender identity and roles, stereotypes and relationships between men and women in Western culture.

The interdisciplinary conversation found here brings together voices from the fields of biblical exegesis, cultural history, archaeology and art history, literary history and musicology.

In academic contexts where religious literacy can no longer be assumed, the encyclopaedia provides a useful tool for research in the humanities.

This series of volumes engages biblical interpretation from the standpoint of our contemporary social context and will promote the ideals of democracy and gender equality.

A Project in the History of Theology

This project intends to engage, in a critical way, both the Bible and the history of interpretation.

It presents the socio-political consequences which have resulted from particular interpretive traditions.

In particular, the series examines how gender inequality has been legitimized by referring to the Bible and tradition.

Since tradition is not monolithic, the encyclopaedia explores diverse interpretations arising out of various communities of discourse.

Presenting this complex history of interpretation in its cultural context provides a corrective to religious fundamentalism.

A Project that will put into practice the principles of multi-disciplinary gender research.

As an international, interdenominational and multi-disciplinary work, the encyclopaedia is not supplemental or compensatory to other historical projects. Rather, it presents a new conception of history, one that integrates gender as a key tool of analysis.