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The Friendship of Women: The Hidden Tradition of the Bible
The Friendship of Women: The Hidden Tradition of the Bible
Friendship colors the very air we breathe; it is everywhere around us. It binds past and present and makes bearable the uncertainty of the future. In The Friendship of Women, Joan Chittister explores the sacred dimension of friendship through the lens of faith, tradition, scripture, and the social sciences, and reveals the often-overlooked voices and experiences of women in the Bible. She recovers and reclaims the witness and wisdom of such women as Lydia, Prisca, Deborah, and Phoebe; of Esther, Martha, Veronica, and Elizabeth; and of Ruth, Anne, Miriam, and Mary Magdalene. Drawing a highly inspiring message from each of these women’s lives, Joan Chittister invites us to seek and embrace friendship as it is embodied between women, between God the Creator and all of creation, and between all human beings.
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A good relationship, the soul of a friendship, rests on a number of qualities. It gives a sense of security–we know that we are not alone in life. It provides a consciousness of social belonging–we know that given this friend we now have a welcome place in the groups of which we are a part. It holds a reassurance of personal significance–we know that we are worthwhile because there is someone who thinks so when we ourselves doubt it most. It implies a promise of assistance–we know that if something happens to us someone, somewhere will wake to the sound of the phone, and will come to help us. It opens up the prospect of guidance–we know down deep that when we are confused there is someone who will help us thread our way through the maze. And it fulfills the need for nurturance–we look for someone who will help us to become, to grow.
Awards
2001 Catholic Press Association, Second Place Book Award