Theologies from the Pacific

Reviews / Votes

"This is an important collection and collaboration between Pacific theologians, scholars, artists, and advocates who truly understand how to weave together past and present spiritual, political, and cultural concepts and forces shaping the Blue Pacific. They also know what's missing, and have signalled the need for younger voices, women, and people of all genders to join the talanoa and the movement for a sea of theologies in a liberated Oceania." (Katerina Teaiwa, Professor in Pacific Studies, Australian National University, Australia)

"As a scholar of contextual biblical hermeneutics and theology, I have waited for some time for such a volume from Pasifika . Gathering the voices of Pasifika theologians and activists, Jione Havea has put together an anthology which is more than a worthy sequel to the 'Prophets from the South' project of the Council for World Mission. Theologies of the Pacific is not only a welcome addition but will makea significant contribution to global theological education." (Kah-Jin Jeffrey Kuan, President and Professor of Hebrew Bible, Claremont School of Theology, USA)

"I have longed and waited for a theology emerging from the vast, deep, unpredictable-at times calm, at times turbulent-waters of the Pacific. That day has finally arrived! Like the soaring and roaring waves of the Pacific, Pasifika theologies are now soaring to new heights and roaring mightily to claim their rightful place in history. I welcome Theologies of the Pacific with excitement!" (Eleazar S. Fernandez, President and Professor of Constructive Theology, Union Theological Seminary, The Philippines)

" Theologies of the Pacific advances the project of illuminating the depths, fluidity, and plurality of the divine ('otua ) this side of the heavens ( itulagi ). These provocative essays, comprising the second wave of Pasifika theologies, navigate their 'roots' to create new 'routes' for indigenous voices and those who must be freed from colonizing impulses. Here is a God who understands dirt and water, impermanence, and life's inextricability from the created world that sustains us all." (Elaine A. Robinson, Professor of Methodist Studies and Christian Theology, Saint Paul School of Theology, USA)

" Theologies of the Pacific takes the reader on a journey where they can engage with the lived theologies of Pasifika. It is a timely masterpiece of incredible scholarship that provides challenging and transformative insights into issues of sexuality, climate justice, postcolonial critique and contextual theology. Each chapter offers prophetic theological engagements through a combination of personal reflection, lived religiosity, historical analysis, biblical hermeneutics, and liberative theology; the book is both engaging and life-affirming throughout." (Eve R. Parker, Department of Theology and Religion, Durham University, UK)

"The Pacific islands are still mostly overflown by the airplanes and attentions of continental powers that have long overfished their waters and overdetermined their political and economic fate, leaving an overburdening bootprint both colonial and radioactive. But in this volume, the overlooked culture, faith, and underrepresented theological voices of Pasifika are curated and celebrated. Jione Havea has cast a broad net into this 'sea of theologies,' gathering in widely diverse talanoa and practices from this too-long ignored region (once referred to as the 'fourth world,' today as the earth's last wilderness). These essays-both rooted and contemporary-offer deeply indigenized readings of scripture and tradition that challenge an overwrought and overindulgent western Christianity, as well as their own Pasifika churches still hobbled by an overbearing missionary legacy. Like their ancestors-who navigated a vast moana withan eye on the constellations and a hand in the water-the 'prophets of the south' represented in this collection are summoning what Bernard Narakobi called 'the wind and the current that can divert the oncoming storm!'" (Ched Myers, Bartimaeus Cooperative Ministries, California, USA)

"The work of the Center of Theological Inquiry on migration and climate change has been enormously enriched by theologians from the world's liquid Continent, a bellwether of our common future. I commend these communal and prophetic theologies of the Pacific to a global readership." (William Storrar, Director of the Center of Theological Inquiry in Princeton)