Elizabeth A. Clark (1938–2021)

This was such an enlightening read. Each of the thirteen essays in Clark's volume give an insightful look at women's roles in the ascetic movement of the late ancient Christian period and provide a thorough exploration of the communications between patristic church fathers that have left a lingering impression on women's roles in the church and world for the past 2,000 years. Interestingly, the celibate lifestyle was not only a way for women to draw closer to God, but a way to escape the show more "slavery of marriage" and practice self-government in small communities. Women are both dehumanized and infused with the divine by the men who write about them, alternatively "the devil's gateway" and "bride of Christ". At turns bizarre, humorous, angering and heartening, Clark's reexamination of ancient church history is anything but boring. show less

A classic in the field of religious studies since its original publication in 1977, Women and Religion has remained the definitive and most compelling documentary history of the relationship between Christianity and half of its membership. This new edition—completely revised by the original editors, renowned historian Elizabeth A. Clark and theologian Herbert Richardson, with the assistance of Gary Brower and Randall Styers—includes fully updated introductions, newly available source show more material, and incisive contemporary analysis. An invaluable resource for exploring the progressive history of women and Christian thought. show less