Knowing God in lo cotidiano: Interlacing the voices of Latina women, studies in theo-spirituality and film, and female voices in the Hebrew scriptures.

摘要

Utilizing an interlacing methodology, this study seeks to reflect missiologically on the theo-spirituality of single Protestant Latina women in Los Angeles (LA). Film was engaged to access women's stories and theo-spirituality. The selected film texts, and the women's stories were interlaced with Writings/Wisdom texts---Lamentations, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes---as well as with stories of women in Hebrew Scripture---Hagar, Tamar, Rahab, the Hebrew midwives, the daughter of Jephthah, Rizpah---focusing significantly on Ruth and Naomi. The history of interpretation, including feminist readings, is examined. These are interlaced with the sensibilities of select single Protestant Latinas who read Scripture expecting to hear God's voice. Though this trio of voices and montage of faces (LA Latinas, filmic and biblical women) is often not heard or seen by the academy, church or society, they are present and audible, for those who have eyes to see and ears to hear (Matt. 13:16). The themes of resilience (in the face of suffering), resistance (in the face of injustice) and revelation (how God is known by and through these women) emerge. Through very ordinary/everyday experiences/events of life---lo cotidiano ---God is revealed to and through single Protestant Latina women. Thus, the women of Hebrew Scripture and the Latinas of LA reveal God's character and activity in the world. They are agents of the missio Dei in Los Angeles and beyond.