In the Beginning Were the Women
Matriarchs, Mystics, Wise Women, and Warriors in the Hebrew Bible
9780827216860
242 pages
Chalice Press
Overview
Have you ever felt a profound longing for the unheard voices of faith, sensing that the stories you know are only part of a much grander narrative? For centuries, the vibrant experiences of women in the Hebrew Bible have been obscured, their names unuttered, their perspectives untold, leaving many of us with an incomplete understanding of God's people and God's loving nature. We've been left to wonder what wisdom, what power, what truth lies beneath the surface, waiting to be rediscovered. Perhaps you, like many, grapple with patriarchal interpretations of faith, seeking a spiritual connection that celebrates the full spectrum of divine love rather than constraining it to narrow, male-centric views. This journey can leave you feeling unmoored, searching for a deeper truth that resonates with your own intricate, multidimensional life.
Now, In the Beginning Were the Women, a transformative work, emerges from Claire K. McKeever-Burgett, a Christian feminist theologian and storyteller dedicated to bridging spirituality with social justice, who has spent years meticulously unearthing these sacred narratives. Following in the footsteps of feminist and womanist theologians, she offers an illuminating pathway to reclaim and celebrate the women who shaped our spiritual foundations. McKeever-Burgett, a preacher at heart, crafted this book so these stories "read well on the page, as well as preach well with others”.
Author Bio
Claire K. McKeever-Burgett is an author, creative contemplative, and spiritual leader who has dedicated her life to bridging spirituality and social justice. With a background in English and Professional Writing from Baylor University and a Master of Divinity from Vanderbilt Divinity School, she has served as a clergy, led congregations, and facilitated transformative writing, movement, and liturgical practices centered on healing and embodiment. A mother, certified birth and postpartum doula, and a yoga, dance, and martial arts instructor, Claire lives with her family in Nashville, Tennessee. She writes regularly on Substack: Blessed Are the Women (and other Good News for all of us).
