Women in Christian Traditions

Rebecca Moore is Professor of Religious Studies at San Diego State University. She is the author of Voices of Christianity: A Global Introduction, and co-author of A Portable God: The Origin of Judaism and Christianity, with Risa Levitt Kohn. Her most recent book is Understanding Jonestown and Peoples Temple.

• Contents Acknowledgments ix Introduction: Why Study Women in Christian Traditions? 1 1. In the Beginning ... Eve 19 2. The Women Disciples in the Kingdom of God 27 3. Women and the Conversion of an Empire 47 4. Saints, Seers, and Scholars in the Middle Ages 67 5. Women Reformed, Women Resistant 87 6. Spirit-Filled Women in the Nineteenth Century 107 7. Churchwomen on the Margins and in the Mainstream 129 Conclusion: The Church of Martha and Mary 153 Questions for Discussion 157 Notes 159 Works Cited 181 For Further Reading 195 Subject Index 197 Index to the Bible and New Testament Apocrypha 207 About the Author 209

"A very useful introductory book to women's roles in Christian history. It provides a solid overview of feminist scholarship from the beginnings of Christianity to the present. It will play a key role in courses on this history." - Rosemary Radford Ruether,Claremont School of Theology and Graduate University "A major contribution to the literature on women in Christianity. Moore effectively synthesizes the last thirty years of scholarship. . . . Using the template of saints, seers and scholars, she has managed to bewonder of wondersboth comprehensive and brief. Both readable and informative, this book will inform undergraduates in courses on the history of Christianity and in women's and gender studies classes. And some might want to buy it for a religious leader who should be better informed on the issues!" - Nadia Lahutsky,Texas Christian University "The book would be an excellent source in an introduction to Christianity or a class on women in religion." (Religious Studies Review) "An excellent conversation starter and would be a wonderful addition to any course syllabus looking to inspire classroom dialogue." (Reading Religion) "Women in Christian Traditionsdirects a feminist lens at what would be, in less skilled hands, an unmanageable corpus of topics and source materials, and achieves a work that surveys the breadth and depth of its topic in a way that is informative, fresh, and engaging." (Sociology of Religion) "Women in Christian Traditionsis a work that will be indispensible in course on gender and religion. Indeed, this work is essential reading for anyone interested in gender or religion. Its scope provides historians, scholars of religions, sociologists, and feminist theorists, as well as clergyand those interested in gender and religion outside of academia or religiona resource that is at once brief and thorough, concise and comprehensive." (Sociology of Religion) "The scope is impressive, and this overview would serve as a valuable text in an introductory womens studies course." (Anglican and Episcopal History) "Moore accomplishes a seemingly incredible feat: she tells the story of women in Christianity through 2,000 years of history...Noteworthy for itsbreadth and depth, Moores projectwill encourage smart conversations about women and Christianity." (Choice) "What a pleasant surprise to find a book on women and Christianity that is not a rant against the evil inherent in this misogynistic religion. Rebecca Moore presents a balanced narrative of womens well-earned place in the history of Christianity, and a significant place it is indeed. Written with students in mind, it probably will succeed in making the reading list of many college courses. This is a good thing; it may be the best choice now available." (Catholic Historical Review) "Moores volume is a thoroughly enjoyable book thateffectively outlines the continuous and significant role that women have played in the historical development of the Christian tradition. She provides an accessible sweep of Christian history with special attention to the way that women have affected its development by incorporating engaging narratives focused on the lives of influential women." (Catholic Book Review)