Sister Death: Political Theologies for Living and Dying

Life and death are seen as opposing forces, but Beatrice Marovich argues that this view is influenced by Christian political theology. She proposes that life and death are family, and that a racialized political theology that pits them against each other in a state of war must be disrupted. Sister Death offers an alternative view in which life and death are contested, tense, and mutually empowering, and features original works by Krista Dragomer that stage an ongoing conceptual conversation with the text.

Format: Hardback
Length: 304 pages
Publication date: 07 February 2023
Publisher: Columbia University Press

Death is often perceived as the ultimate adversary of all living beings, representing a stark binary in human existence. However, Beatrice Marovich contends that such interpretations of mortality have been significantly shaped by a strain of Christian political theology that has left its mark on both religious and secular narratives. In her book, Sister Death, Marovich adapts the figure of "Sister Death" from Saint Francis of Assisi to argue that life and death should be seen as part of a larger family.

Drawing on a diverse range of sources, including Toni Morrison, Jacques Derrida, psychoanalysis, and grassroots "death positive" movements, Marovich critiques a racialized political theology that perpetuates the notion of life and death as opposing forces in an endless war. In the face of ongoing extinctions, she calls for a disruption of this dominant narrative to recognize death as a collective, multispecies event.

Sister Death presents an alternative perspective, suggesting that life and death are not mortal enemies destined for mutual destruction. Instead, they are engaged in a contested, tense, and sometimes mutually empowering form of connection—a sisterhood. Through eloquent and accessible prose, Marovich weaves together the insights of various disciplines to offer a profound reevaluation of the relations between life and death.

Furthermore, the book includes a series of original works by artist Krista Dragomer that serve as a visual counterpart to the text, staging an ongoing conceptual conversation that deepens the reader's understanding of the themes explored.

In conclusion, Sister Death offers a thought-provoking and transformative perspective on the relationship between life and death, challenging readers to reconsider their assumptions and embrace a more inclusive understanding of the human experience.

Weight: 496g
Dimension: 147 x 225 x 21 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780231208369