Women and American Religion

By Ann Braude

An old African-American churchgoers' saying rings true for most religious denominations in the United States: "Women are the backbone of the church." For centuries, women have been the majority of members in almost all religious groups. They provide essential financial and social support and work tirelessly in the background of all church-based activities. Yet it is largely men who occupy the high rungs of church hierarchy, and they are the ones who get most of the credit. Ann Braude examines the important role of women in American religious history, focusing on their recent admission to public religious leadership and their fight for equal rights and recognition through the centuries. Both noted and little known women--such as Margaret Winthrop, Jarena Lee, Mary Baker Eddy, Henrietta Szold, Aimee Semple McPherson, and Mary Daly--spring to life in the pages of this thorough, passionate book.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0195106768
• ISBN13: 9780195106763
• Release Date: January 2000
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
• Length: 144 Pages
• Weight: 1.15 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 7.8" x 9.6"
• Age Range: 12 to 17 years
• Grade Range: Grades 7 to 12

Customer Reviews

May be for Young Adults, but excellent for everyone

I didn't realize this book was categorized as "Young Adult" since I found it in the new books section of my library. Braude has done a stellar job of representing multiple aspects of the complex issue of women and american religion. While she takes a chronological approach to the subject, Braude still manages to represent all religions, including alternative and native american religions on which much "primary scholarship" does not exist (and therefore they usually get excluded in overview books like this one). I gained a real understanding of how various movements surrounding issues of immigration and within the various Protestant sects emerged in the larger context of American History. This book is one of a lengthy series on Religion in America, and I plan on seeking out the others to see if the quality is as good.