Sisters and Saints Women and American Religion

by Braude, Ann

• ISBN13: 9780195333091
• ISBN10: 0195333098
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2007-11-21
• Publisher: Oxford University Press

Summary

"Women are the backbone of the church," says an old African-Americanaphorism. Since the 1660s, women have made up the majority of members in almostall American religious groups. They have provided essential financial and socialsupport and worked tirelessly in the background of church-based activities.Throughout American history, women have raised money for churches andsynagogues, embroidered altar clothes, taught Sunday school, prepared parishmeals, and sung in the choir. They have educated their children in their beliefsand taken them to their places of worship. Yet it is primarily men who havehistorically occupied the high rungs of church hierarchy and made the importantdecisions affecting their congregations. Ann Braude examines the central role ofwomen in American religious history, focusing on their efforts to achievegreater recognition and equal rights, their recent admission to religiousleadership, and the emergence of feminist theology in the late 20th century.Colonist Margaret Winthrop, African-American preacher Jarena Lee, ChristianScience founder Mary Baker Eddy, and Zionist leader Henrietta Szold are amongthe women discussed in these pages who have made major contributions to thespiritual and material growth of religious organizations in America.