Betcher Sharon V. :

Sharon Betcher is an independent scholar, writer, crip philosopher, and farmer living on Whidbey Island, Washington. She is the author of two academic texts, Spirit and the Politics of Disablement (Fortress, 2007) and Spirit and the Obligation of Social Flesh: A Secular Theology for Global Cities (Fordham University Press, 2014) as well as chapters within many anthologies. Her theo- philosophical work engages the critical lenses of ecological, postcolonial, gender, and disability studies theory.

Sharon Betcher’s cosmopolis of 'corporeal generosity' emits an eerie beauty. Its theopoetics for seculars does not exclude any theology worth practicing but reads Spirit in the cracks of bodies, cities, politics, wisdoms. In the brilliance of this “crip/tography” the sites of our acute vulnerability signal possibilities that we do not want to miss—whatever our discipline or art, our religion or irreligion.---—Catherine Keller, Drew University --- . . . A trend setter. This book is a path to help us find a new theology of hopefulness, a spirituality of resilience.---—Rev. Dr. Devorah Greenstein, Starr King School for the Ministry, Graduate Theological Union --- In this creative book, Sharon Betcher presents a strong case that theology does not have to end as dominant notions of the divine shatter in the life-or-death struggles of our increasingly intertwined lives. In fact,theology begins again where people of various faiths and of little faith begin to identify the work of the Spirit in their midst. That Spirit emerges from the complex intersections of our vulnerable lives, rather than descending from above, is good news to all those of us who are “weary and are carrying heavy burdens” (Matt 11:28).---—Joerg Rieger, Wendland-Cook Professor of Constructive Theology, Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University --- A powerful, poignant witness from an author who lives with and works through the lens of disability, Professor Betcher finds through such a perspective hopeful practices for 21st century urban living. This rich, poetic text pleading for “corporeal generosity” is profoundly within the Christian incarnational tradition while commending a radical practice of obligation stemming from Spirit as “prosthesis,” as an aid to neighbor love. I recommend this book as an outstanding example of constructive theology to move us from merely global to planetary citizens, supporting all of life in its diversity, deviancy, and limitation, as well as rejoicing in its joys and delights.---—Sallie McFague, Distinguished Theologian in Residence, Vancouver School of Theology, and Professor of Theology Emerita, Vanderbilt University. --- Spirit and the Obligation of Social Flesh makes a unique, creative, and timely contribution to an area of great interest in the study of religion and theology.---—Mayra Rivera, Harvard Divinity School