I don't think I'm the right person to be reviewing this publication given that only about one set of reseach notes on one page attracted my reading attention. This journal builds on the style of Vashti's Voice, [the extra "s" makes a difference -- ed] a feminist theology journal published between 1978 and 1991. It aims to "provide a forum for ideas, dialogue, creative expression and research . . . foster the ongoing development of theologies, particularly feminist theologies ... " There is no doubt that this widely-contributed to edition, and I hope the editions to come, will be of interest and comfort to those within the Christian churches and communities, even to those who consider themselves unavoidably Christian. But somehow the language of the variety of essays, poems and thoughts seems to me something I have left behind and don't wish to worry at like a bitch with a bone.

Searching, sharing, struggling, questioning, declaring awareness, listening, being challenged, feeling ambivalence an array of common enough religious jargon within an array of topics from a meeting of religious women in India to a poem titled "Waiting for God"; or a soul-searching essay about being at St John's College; to book reviews about Christian women. Special praise should go to the five women editors for the number of contributions. And the fact that more Catholic women are now entering the wider Christian feminist scene is also a plus.

To all those who want to read about the Christian journeys of women, and I suspect that might be me occasionally, then do subscribe. I don't think Christian voices will necessarily be the only ones printed therein. A bit less introspection, and broader perspectives on what feminism is, from contributors who are beating a totally different path could be attractively healthy and appreciated. . .

. . . it's not that the writing in this edition is smug or particularly unoriginal. It's just that I want to read something that says "this matters" to me. See if it matters to you.

Liz Robinson