Reading marginally

by David Rutledge

This volume provides an introduction to the 'deconstructive' criticism of Jacques Derrida, discussing its relevance to feminism in general, and to feminist interpretation of the Bible in particular. The first part of the book provides a critical overview of current trends in feminist exegesis, and proceeds with an outline of some key strategies in Derridean theory which could prove useful for feminist critical purposes. The theological implications of deconstructive biblical interpretation are considered, and the book's final chapter offers a reading of Genesis 2:4b-3:24 in which some of these reading strategies are put to work. This study addresses a wide range of current issues in theology and biblical criticism, and offers a valuable perspective on the advent of postmodernism in contemporary religion.