Description
Book SynopsisOn December 6, 1989, a man armed with a semi-automatic rifle entered an engineering school in Montreal and murdered fourteen women before killing himself.
Rage and Resistance examines, from a theological perspective, how the massacre was “taken up” by the media, experts, politicians, and a variety of individuals and groups.
Trade Review``O'Donovan offers valuable food for thought, particularly regarding the media's interpretation of the Massacre. Tightly written gems reflect on how television makes events real in our culture and describe what O'Donovan refers to as `the myth of a coherent society.... For any Canadian feminist, particularly those for whom the Montreal Massacre was formative, chapters 2 to 4 are must-reads.'' -- Shawna Dempsey -- Herizons, Fall 2007, 200711
``O'Donovan's is a rare achievement, an artful integration of theological acumen, social analytics, and political relevance. She relies on `the stubborn particulars of grace' to face the ugliness of hate and violence against women in the 1989 Montreal Massacre and to make meaning for transforming Canadian landscapes. Rage and Resistance is a powerful and elegant narrative--a `writing against forgetting' and for empowerment to change the world. It calls out, `Let's take courage together'! -- Marilyn J. Legge, Associate Professor of Christian Ethics and June CallwoodProfessor in Social Justice, Victoria University in theUniversity of Toronto -- 200611
``O'Donovan's book expresses the qualities of her `spirituality of resistance.' It is a trenchant, detailed analysis of an event that shocked Canadians, but that in her view risks premature closure.... Her constructive theological approach would be of particular interest to anyone working on a fruitful dialogue between sociology and theology, as well as anyone seeking to expand theological categories to include violence.... O'Donovan has given us a dynamic and courageous book.'' -- Alyda Faber, Atlantic School of Theology -- Studies in Religion, Volume 37, Number 2, 2008, 200902
``I was surprised by the opening to the appendix of this book: "Here is an invitation" (107). Upon reading the invitation...I realized how this reflection effectively works not to give a final summation of its topic. Her book would be as good company in a methodologically-focussed interdisciplinary studies course as in a pastoral theology seminar. Students would have no problems finding something to write about. Individual readers will likely discover renewed passion for their own work too.'' -- Nathan Loewen -- Touchstone, Volume 27, Number 1, January 2009, 200902
``O'Donovan's work offers a refreshing perspective on a difficult topic. I highly recommend this book to anyone in the fields of gender studies and theology.'' -- Barbara Adle -- University of Toronto Quarterly, Letters in Canada 2006, Volume 77, Number 1, Winter 2008, 200807
Table of ContentsTable of Contents for Rage and Resistance: A Theological Reflection on the Montreal Massacre by Theresa OâDonovan Preface Introduction: Roughing It in the Bush 1. Mapping a Way Through Gregory Baum Theology and Sociology Baumâs âThree Theses on Contextual Theologyâ Dorothy Smith Gregory Baum and Dorothy Smith 2. How Does It Happen to Us as It Does? A Line of Fault Problematic: The Organization of Power Backdrop: A Struggle over Meaning The Social Construction of Knowledge: The Media Presentation An Alternative Discourse Articulation to the Social Problem Apparatus: Official Responses The Tenth Anniversary and Beyond 3. The Stubborn Particulars of Grace Naming Interruption Choice 4. What Shall We Tell Our Bright and Shining Daughters? Recurring Elements A Spirituality of Resistance The Road Out Conclusion: Look Again Here is needing to go on. Here is a strategic theology. Here is a question: Whence change? Here is back again. Appendix Writing against Forgetting Five Lines What I Know Factsheet: Violence against Women and Girls Notes Selected Bibliography Index
