Dorothee Soelle

Unquestioning obedience--in politics, religion, and gender roles--leads to disaster. But how are we to overcome these pernicious traditions without hurtling toward anarchy and antinomianism? In this updated edition of a classic text, theologian Dorothee Solle examines historical patterns of obedience and oppression and suggests a model of timeless "creative disobedience" that leads to liberation for all. Appealing to the figure of Jesus, whose earthly ministry was marked by submission to the will of God, not to oppressive institutions, Solle reminds us that this kind of revolutionary response is required of all of us. She offers a revealing account of her own evolution as a female scholar searching for the meaning of God--a search that led not to a rejection of her faith, but to the theological justification of faithful and creative disobedience.

Dorothee Soelle enjoyed a solidly-established reputation as theologian in both Europe and the United States. Works such as 'Christ, the Representative', 'Political Theology', and 'Suffering' have shown her to be a writer who combined scholarship with clarity of expression, and made theology come alive through her human warmth and compassion. 'Revolutionary Patience', however, reveals yet another facet of Soelle as both person and writer. With disarming simplicity, the prayer-poems in this book reflect the author's own deep Christianity as she attempts to make sense, in the light of the Gospel, of a world brutally scarred by oppression, filled with cries of the hungry and the hunted. These poems are also prayers, of a kind rarely heard in our churches, but disturbingly evocative of Amos, Isaiah, and Jesus. These pages offer stones, not bread, for any who might open them looking for spiritual comfort or consolation. Yet, for those with ears to hear, 'Revolutionary Patience' will also be a treasured experience as Dorothee Soelle's lines sing and sting their way into the reader's mind and heart.

Exploring the religious impulse known as mysticism - the "silent cry" at the heart of all the world's religions. Mysticism, in the sense of a "longing for God," has been present in all times, cultures, and religions. But Soelle believes it has never been more important than in this age of materialism and fundamentalism. The antiauthoritarian mystical element in each religion leads to community of free spirits and resistance to the death-dealing aspects of our contemporary culture. Religion in the third millennium, Soelle argues, either will be mystical or it will be dead. Therefore, Soelle identifies strongly with the hunger of New Age searchers, but laments the religious fast food they devour. Today, a kind of "democratized mysticism" of those without much religious background flourishes. This mystical experience is not drawn so much of the tradition as out of contemporary experiences. In that sense, each of us is a mystic, and Soelle's work seeks to give theological depth, clarity, and direction. This, her magnum opus, conjoins Soelle's deep religious knowledge and wisdom with her passion for social justice into a work destined to be a classic of religious literature.

One of our generation's most prophetic religious voices recounts her remarkable life-journey.

Bringing together issues of religion and life, politics and personal identity, feminism and liberation theology, Dorothee Soelle presents a powerful critique of modern society, striking at dehumanizing elements that combine to oppress both women and men. Over the years, Soelle had challenged European and American readers with incisive commentary on a variety of social, ethical, literary, and theological topics. This work embodies the constant drive to radicalization and the passionate involvement that have always been the hallmark of her writing.

"A valuable contribution to the literature of theology and ethics, combining in a fascinating way biblical, theological, pastoral, and socioethical themes. . . The study is of immense value because it identifies the modern idolatry that views suffering as absurd and devoid of meaning. . . The book is a marvelous exercise in cultural self-analysis that is preliminary to any meaningful exorcism and redirection." --Kenneth Vaux Theology Today "Passionate, imaginative, learned, literary, pithy, and at every point searching, Suffering is a notable achievement, not least because it pricks the heart and conscience, making the reader share in the deep experience of suffering that lies behind its writing." --James A. Carpenter Anglican Theological Review