Reviews for Taking Back God: American Women Rising Up for Religious Equality

The average rating for Taking Back God: American Women Rising Up for Religious Equality based on 2 reviews is 4.5 stars.

Review # 1 was written on 2014-09-06 00:00:00 David White This book is a fascinating, exceptional account of prominent issues for American women in the Abrahamic religions. The ordination of Catholic women, the shaming of femininity and prioritizing of fragile machismo in Protestant denominations, the sometimes cruel division between men and women in mosques as well as the intricate issues surrounding the hijab for American Muslim women, and the exclusion of Orthodox Jewish women from authority. I highly recommend this book for anyone interested in learning more about religion in America. My only problems with this book are the utter exclusion of nonbinary genders, LGBTQ people (mentioned a few times in passing), and race issues outside of American Muslims. Sound familiar? While there are a few pages dedicated to the problems of homophobia in Abrahamic religions and I appreciate that, it clearly isn't Tanenbaum's expertise. Also, she seems only vaguely aware of Pagan religions that worship the/a Goddess but includes no details nor respect. Fortunately, Tanenbaum includes an Afterward with her email address - she WANTS input and understands that this book is part of a vast, diverse, ongoing movement.

Review # 2 was written on 2013-01-31 00:00:00 Michael Hester This is one of the better books I've read in recent memory. Leora Tanenbaum's treatment of the Abrahamic faiths and how women are treated within them is very good. The questions the book poses, and the voices it presents have stuck with me since reading the book. When I was finished I honestly felt like I had a stronger footing within my own faith, and that I had a better understanding of the state of things within these faiths. Any woman of faith looking for a book to connect her with the voices of other women of faith should pick this book up.