Women and Religion in the First Christian Centuries

by Sawyer,Deborah F.

• ISBN13: 9780415107488
• ISBN10: 0415107482
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 1996-10-15
• Publisher: Routledge

Summary

Women and Religion in the First Christian Centuriesfocuses on religion during the period of Roman imperial rule and its significance in women's lives. Discussing the rich variety of religious expression, from pagan cults and classical mythology to ancient Judaism and early Christianity, and the wide array of religious functions fulfilled by women, the author analyzes key examples from each context, creating a vivid image of this crucial period which laid the foundations of Western civilization. This study challenges the concepts of religion and of women in the light of post-modern critique. As such, it is an important contribution to contemporary gender theory. In its broad and interdisciplinary approach, this book will be of interest to students of early religion as well as those interested in cultural theory.

Table of Contents

Introduction	1	(16)
Part I The setting -- Ancient Greece and Hellenization
Ancient Rome and Women's Lives	17	(15)
Women within Judaism and Christianity	32	(17)
Part II Women in narrative and religious practice
The Greco-Roman Imagination	49	(10)
Gods and Goddesses	59	(14)
The Religion of Jewish Women	73	(18)
From Diversity to Conformity	91	(28)
Part III Religion and gender
Magna Mater and the Vestal Virgins	119	(11)
Wisdom, Lilith and Mothers	130	(16)
Sisters in Christ or Daughters of Eve?	146	(12)
Epilogue	158	(2)
Notes	160	(16)
Bibliography	176	(5)
Index	181