Kidd endeavors in this book to inform her reader “about the deep and immense journey a woman makes as she searches for and finds a feminine spirituality that affirms her life” (p. 1). The book is sectioned into the four parts of the journey: awakening, initiation, grounding and empowerment.
However, Kidd goes far beyond the typical feminine journey. In this book, Kidd, who was formerly a writer of inspirational Christian literature, is actually chronicling her rejection of biblical Christianity and her move into the “Divine Feminine,” or the goddess Sophia. Her “awakening” is similar to many others who have traveled this path. It begins with mysticism (p. 14), develops interest in Roman Catholic monasticism and spiritual directors, moves to Jungian analysis, and finds encouragement in Gnosticism, Eastern Mysticism and Native American spirituality. All of these elements are abundantly present in The Dance of the Dissident Daughter.
Where does this all lead? Kidd writes, “To embrace Goddess is simply to discover the Divine in yourself as powerfully and vividly feminine” (p. 141). And when you embrace yourself as divine you become the final authority. “My ultimate authority is the divine voice in my own soul. Period” (emphasis hers) (p. 76).
The Dance of the Dissident Daughter is the sad tale of a rebellious woman who has found a way to reject true Christianity, yet claim the high ground of spirituality by worshipping a false god who ultimately is nothing more than herself. Her books, nevertheless, are easily available at Christian bookstores—on and off line. That says more than we may want to know about the state of Christian books today.
By the way, The Feminist Mistake by Mary Kassian is the perfect rebuttal to this feminist journey.