Book Review Essay: Unborn Bodies Resurrection and Reproductive Agency

Abstract

Margaret D. Kamitsuka (hereafter “the author”) is the Francis W. and Lydia L. Davis Professor Emeritus of Religion at Oberlin College. In her 2023 book, Unborn Bodies: Resurrection and Reproductive Agency,¹ she examines how Christian beliefs about the resurrection intersect with questions about reproductive choice. The author argues that both a right to life and the possibility of the resurrection extend to unborn bodies at all developmental stages. By reexamining traditional biblical interpretations, she seeks to build a more compassionate theological framework that respects human dignity throughout all stages of life. This approach aims to bridge divides in conversations about faith and reproductive rights.

The following book review provides a chapter-by-chapter analysis and critique of the author’s work. It begins with the volume’s Introduction and ends with its Conclusion, followed by an overall assessment of the publication’s contribution to the field of study.