Lana Dalberg is a feminist lay theologian and storyteller who leads workshops linking spirituality and social justice in congregations and retreat centers throughout the United States. The Christian church has a history of torturing and killing midwives, healers, and psychic women; this despicable and unjust persecution of the most gifted people in the community makes us sick at heart. Today, even though women are exploring the Divine in many diverse ways, a lingering prejudice against them remains, and we realize that the patriarchy is still alive, even though it is gasping for air.
In Birthing God, Dalberg interviews women who are animated by Spirit and who share their stories of suffering and hope, faith and challenges. Among the more interesting profiles are those of a community organizer in El Salvador; a Union Seminary professor who was imprisoned and tortured in South Korea; a member of the Lutheran Volunteer Corps; a human rights advocate whose faith in Allah is renewed; and a disabled doctor who makes a decision to devote her energy to rabbinical studies.
These women become spiritual teachers for us as they model new occasions to know God, celebrate the Mother's diversity, see the Divine in each other, appreciate the sacredness of life, refuse to fear death, listen to Mother Earth, and let justice roll down like water.
