Parenting as Spiritual Practice and Source for Theology: Mothering Matters [Hardcover]

This volume investigates how mothers can understand parenting as spiritual practice, and what this practice means for theological scholarship. An intergenerational and intercultural group of mother-scholars explores these questions that arise at the intersection of motherhood studies, religious practice, pastoral care, and theology through engaging and accessible essays.  Essays include both narrative and theological elements, as authors draw on personal reflection, interviews, and/or sociological studies to write about the theological implications of parenting practice, rethink key concepts in theology, and contribute to a more robust account of parenting as spiritual practice from various theological perspectives. The volume both challenges oppressive, religious images of self-sacrificing motherhood and considers the spiritual dimensions of mothering that contribute to womens empowerment and well-being.  It also deepens practical and systematic theologies to include concern for the embodied and everyday challenges and joys of motherhood as it is experienced and practiced in diverse contexts of privilege and marginalization. 

1. Introduction
   
2. The Race of It All: Conversations between A Mother and Her Son
   
3. Inspired Mothering
   
4. And the Hall Was Burned to the Ground: Mothers and Theological Body Knowledge
   
5. Transgressive Mothering As Wo/mens Human Rights Work& Holiness and the Human
   
6. On Good Mothering: Practicing Solidarity in the Midst of the Breastfeeding Wars
   
7. Motherhood as Self-Giving and Self-Receiving Relationship
   
8. A Mother-Whore Is Still a Mother: Revelation 17-18 and African American Motherhood
   
9.  Miscarriage Matters, StillblÃ`