Women and religion in England, 1500-1720
Book Description
In this illuminating exploration of faith and gender, Patricia Crawford reveals how women navigated the complex religious landscape of early modern England between 1500 and 1720. Drawing from extensive research, she demonstrates that understanding this pivotal period in religious history requires recognizing how deeply gender shaped spiritual beliefs, religious institutions, and sacred language.
Crawford examines how women encountered and experienced the divine during centuries of profound religious transformation. While the dominant religious ideology of the time positioned women as inferior to men, the author uncovers compelling evidence of women who transcended these limiting beliefs to leave lasting marks on history. These women found ways to exercise spiritual influence and authority within social structures they had no role in creating.
The study weaves together three essential themes: women's participation in the religious upheavals of the Reformation, civil wars, and Commonwealth period; the central importance of faith in women's daily lives and the diverse ways they practiced their beliefs; and the crucial role gender played in shaping religious experience during this era.
This comprehensive work combines cutting-edge scholarship on gender studies with original historical research, making the intersection of faith and femininity accessible to general readers while offering valuable insights for students of religious history, early modern England, and women's studies. Crawford opens new pathways for understanding how spiritual seekers have always found ways to connect with the sacred, regardless of societal constraints.
Who Is This For?
📖 Reading Level: Medium (200-400 pages) (~7 hours)
📄 Length: 268 pages
What You'll Discover
- ✓ Explore Godsdienst
- ✓ Explore Histoire religieuse
- ✓ Explore Vrouwen
- ✓ Explore Femmes
- ✓ Explore Church history
- ✓ Explore History
- ✓ Explore Frau
- ✓ Explore Mulher e feminismo
