Further information: Sandy Johnson: Sisters and Saints–Women in American Religious History
Expanded description:
Text: Ann Braude, Sisters and Saints: Women and American Religion. Oxford University Press, 2008. Available new (soft cover) on bookfinder.com at prices ranging from $9.47 to $35.00 and used from $8.32 to $35.00.
Additional reading online: Historical and biographical information not otherwise easily available
Week One: The Paradox of Women in American Religious History
Religious communities in the United States have always included more women than men, yet most accounts of religious history focus on male leaders. How can we add women’s actions to this story?
Week Two: Puritans, Quakers, Colonial period
Ann Hutchinson gathered women to discuss sermons and share household tips. When men started attending, she ended up on trial. And that was before the witches!
Week Three: Nineteenth Century: Shakers, Perfectionists, Mormons, Christian Science
Women led some religious movements, and were kept from leadership in others.
Week Four: Catholic Sisters (and their Protestant Counterparts)
Women’s gifts were accepted (and often honored) in some areas – notably education and nursing.
Week Five: Women’s Missionary Societies
Women’s groups in churches funded much of the Missionary movement. And then were invited to fold their organizations into denominational groups. What happened with that?
Week Six: Temperance and Suffrage
Women seeking the vote often based their arguments on women’s moral superiority – and on the harm being done to women by men abusing alcohol.
Week Seven: New Theologies: Feminist, Womanist
The twentieth century women’s rights movement led to contributions in theology, and to conversations about pronouns and inclusive language,
Week Eight: Women in Religious Leadership
Ordained women outnumber ordained men in some protestant denominations. What kind of history is that making?