Anzaldúa, Gloria E. LIGHT IN THE DARK/LUZ EN LO OSCURO: REWRITING IDENTITY, SPIRITUALITY, REALITY. Edited by Analouise Keating. Durham and London: Duke University Press, 2015 (271 pages, $25.95).

A compilation of essays by the late Gloria Anzaldúa which highlights the centrality of nepantla (the in-between-ness) through stories, personal reflection, feminist theory, and focus on the fluidity of borders.  An important read for those wishing to dive deeper into a world between borders of gender, place of origin, ethnicity, sexuality, and language. (Note: in her focus on nepantla, Anzaldúa writes fluidly between Spanish and English.)

Dillen, Annemie, editor. WHEN ‘LOVE’ STRIKES: SOCIAL SCIENCES, ETHICS AND THEOLOGY ON FAMILY VIOLENCE. Leuven, The Netherlands and Dudley, MA: Peeters, 2009 (362 pages, $38).

Abuse in families is a topic that cannot be ignored, especially by Christian churches that sometimes mistakenly preach words that could encourage it. Dillen’s collection of sociologically and theologically based articles provides a thorough explanation of many types of domestic violence.  Included are how cycles of violence begin and end, and how Christian churches sometimes play conflicting roles in helping and hindering. An important read for those who seek to end family violence, particularly pastors who bear responsibility for pastoral care.

Duggan, Joseph F. THE FEAST: RE-FORMING IGNATIAN SPIRITUALITY. San Francisco, CA: The Feast Press, 2015 (116 pages, $12).

Joe Duggan outlines a healthy, joyful approach to prayer and reflection grounded in the Ignatian tradition enhanced greatly with contemporary insights including feminism. Spiritual maturity involves embrace not obedience, celebration not penance. With this guide, many people will find their way to deeper self-understanding, richer community, and more abundant love of the divine.

Kao, Grace Y. and Ilsup Ahn. ASIAN AMERICAN CHRISTIAN ETHICS: VOICES, METHODS, ISSUES. Waco, TX: Baylor University Press, 2015 (355 pages, $45).

The first anthology of Asian American Christian ethicists, this volume introduces readers to the emerging, complex conversations that these scholars are nurturing. The Introduction is especially provocative as Asian Americans interface with Native Americans in the framing of issues. Attention to variety, contexts, and power differences make these essays valuable for teaching and strategizing.  Listen to our January 2016 WATERtalk with Grace Kao to learn more about this volume.

King, Ursula. SPIRIT OF FIRE: THE LIFE AND VISION OF PIERRE TEILHARD DE CHARDIN. Maryknoll, New York: Orbis Books, 1996, 2015 (258 pages, $26).

The women in his life and the women whose lives he touched make Pierre Teilhard de Chardin a unique figure in Western religious history. Ursula King includes photos and stories, history and analysis in this biography of the French Jesuit who shaped a great deal of contemporary Catholic thinking about science and religion. Excellent bibliographic tools for more exploration.

Knight, Jennie S. FEMINIST MYSTICISM AND IMAGES OF GOD: A PRACTICAL THEOLOGY. St. Louis, MO: Chalice Press, 2011 (184 pages, $24.99).

Through the personal journeys of four Christian women, Knight explores the harmful effects of traditional, patriarchal images of God and the sense of liberation that comes from redefining and re-imagining the divine. A useful companion for those on their own journey of re-imagination.

Kwok Pui-Lan, Cecilia González-Andrieu, and Dwight N. Hopkins, editors. TEACHING GLOBAL THEOLOGIES: POWER & PRAXIS. Waco: Baylor University Press, 2015 (216 pages, $34.95).

Teaching theology in a global context is crucial for a more accurate, inclusive understanding of religion’s role in an increasingly complex world. This fresh look at theology lays the groundwork for creating diverse practices and pedagogies. Useful for educators wishing to better communicate the complex realities of contemporary Christianity.

Lanzetta, Beverly. NINE JEWELS OF NIGHT: ONE SOUL’S JOURNEY INTO GOD. San Diego, CA: Blue Sapphire Books, 2014 (280 pages, $15.95).

A remarkable personal story undergirds Beverly’s interspiritual insights. Listen to her December 2015 WATERtalk to appreciate the commitment this mystic lives to world transformation as well as union with the Unnamable. Book and audio make a nice starting point for conversation on contemplation and monasticism in everyday life.

Manigault-Bryant, LeRonda S. TALKING TO THE DEAD: RELIGION, MUSIC, AND LIVED MEMORY AMONG GULLAH/GEECHEE WOMEN. Durham, NC: Duke University Press, 2014 (278 pages, $20.98).

By sharing the narratives of seven Gullah/Geechee women from the South Carolina lowcountry, Manigault-Bryant illustrates the often-overlooked important cultural preservation the women provide for their communities. “Talking to the dead” for these women means maintaining relationships with the deceased through song, prayer, dreams and storytelling. An in-depth ethnography for those looking to expand their knowledge of the Gullah/Geechee people.

Panotto, Nicolas, editor. POPE FRANCIS IN POSTCOLONIAL REALITY: COMPLEXITIES, AMBIGUITIES AND PARADOXES. San Francisco, CA: Borderless Press, 2015 (145 pages, $12).

A Latin American Pope does not guarantee a postcolonial church. This and other insights make this volume a useful complement to the many uncritical accounts of the early years of the Francis papacy.

Silverman, Emily Leah. EDITH STEIN AND REGINA JONAS: RELIGIOUS VISIONARIES IN THE TIME OF THE DEATH CAMPS. Durham, UK: Acumen Publishing Limited, 2013 (191 pages, $39.95).

Stein, a Jewish Carmelite nun, was among the first women to receive a doctorate in philosophy.  Jonas was the first woman rabbi in Jewish history.  Both defied conformity until their deaths in Nazi concentration camps.  Using their scholarly writings, Silverman examines the “deviant” religious desires of these two pioneering women as foresisters to queer theology because they did not conform to traditional male or female, nor Jewish or Christian roles.