Dating Jesus: A Story of Fundamentalism, Feminism, and the American Girl

By Susan Campbell

Book Overview

By the age of twelve, Susan Campbell had been flirting with Jesus for some time, and in her mind, Jesus had been flirting back. Why wouldn't he? She went to his house three times a week, listened to his stories, loudly and lustily sang songs to him. She even professed her love for him through being baptized. In this lovingly told tale, Susan Campbell takes us into the world of Christian fundamentalism--a world where details really, really matter. And she shows us what happened when she finally came to admit that in her faith, women would never be allowed a seat near the throne.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0807010723
• ISBN13: 9780807010723
• Release Date: February 2010
• Publisher: Beacon Press
• Length: 224 Pages
• Weight: 0.78 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 5.7" x 8.7"

Customer Reviews

What a hoot!

I am weary of the depressing, dark memoirs of late and found this to be a refreshing change. With great wit, grace, and good humor, this memoir of growing up the Missouri Ozarks in a fundamental church is an outstanding read. Great for book groups.

Jesus was a feminst- thank you, Lord!

Dating Jesus demonstrates Campbell's unrivaled ability to use her personal experience to explore and and expose broader social issues, such as women's role in traditional Christian religions. While she writes of her experience as a fundamentalist, the struggles, themes, and disappointments will be familiar to so many women who have felt let down by their churches. Raised as a Catholic, I also had a strong relationship with Christ and with my church, until, painfully, I realized I would never be treated fairly there. Campbell poignantly reminds us that Jesus was a feminist and I needed that reminder desperately. This book is a great read for anyone who thinks about gender equity, women's rights, religion and the role of the church in our lives and in society. I have the privilege of reading Susan Campbell regularly as she writes for my local paper, the Hartford Courant. Her writing is always thought-provoking and gutsy with enriching personal insights and humor. Dating Jesus will get you thinking about your relationship with religion: it has already profoundly affected mine. Thank you Susan!

an engaging approach

What a delight to read Susan's book. What could be a dry subject is made engaging with Susan's personal style. She intercepts thought provoking ideas and historical perspectives with her witty sidebar comments. I especially enjoyed the final chapter where she pulls all of her history together and attempts to make some final conclusions, if that is at all possible. This book should be a must in all religious and feminist studies classes. It encourages the reader to look at their own belief systems.