My Account Wish List
Advanced Search
Print - Close Window
www.greenwood.com/catalog/GM0669.aspx
All Greenwood Products
Noble Daughters Unheralded Women in Western Christianity, 13th to 18th Centuries
(Click to Enlarge)
Marie A. Conn
ISBN: 0-313-30669-9
ISBN-13: 978-0-313-30669-3
144 pages
Praeger Publishers
Publication: 3/30/2000
List Price: $98.95 (UK Sterling Price: £68.95)
Availability: Print on demand
Media Type: Hardcover
Trim Size: 6 1/8 x 9 1/4
Subjects:
Description: The history of Western Christianity, written predominantly from a male perspective, has often ignored women's stories and their unique contributions to both Church and society. Unlike the virgins and martyrs who are named in the official list of the Church's saints, the beguines, Anabaptists, so-called witches, and nuns of Port-Royal have gone largely unrecognized. Their stories, as presented in this one volume, explore the underside of history and challenge support of a strictly hierarchical Church. These four groups of women represent disparate approaches to a Christian commitment, but they share an intense devotion to their understanding of the gospel message. Their willingness to adhere to their beliefs brought them into conflict with ecclesiastical and civil authority. Often, these women sacrificed their lives; all of them refuted the stereotype of a passive female Church member. These women's stories unfold within the complex picture of medieval Europe, but their beliefs and struggles offer models of Christian living relevant to today.

This work will appeal to scholars of gender and women's studies, theology, and European history. The research and documentation provides information about these women previously available only in scattered and often obscure sources. Although these women represent a unique ecumenical mix of backgrounds, they share a common strength, commitment, and feminine approach to religion.
Table of Contents:
  • Preface
    Introduction
    The Thirteenth-Century Belgian Beguines: An Experiment in Laywomen's Spirituality
    Anabaptist Women Martyrs: Images of Radical Commitment
    Victims of the Witch Craze: Scapegoats in a Time of Turmoil
    The Nuns of Port-Royal: A Reform Movement Entangled in Controversy
    Glossary
    Bibliography
    Index
About the Author: MARIE A. CONN is Associate Professor of Religious Studies at Chestnut Hill College in Philadelphia.
LCC Class: 270
All rights reserved. Copyright © 1999-2009 ABC-CLIO
130 Cremona Dr., Santa Barbara, CA 93117 805-968-1911