Women as theological figures have played a significant role in the development of various religions and religious hierarchies. The study of women and religion typically examines the role of women within particular religious faiths, and religious doctrines relating to gender, gender roles, and particular women in religious history. It is worth noting from a gender scientific approach, women occupy the second room in all of the following religions in the examples below.
George H. Gallup Jr. wrote in an analysis for the Gallup Organization in 2002 that, a mountain of evidence shows that women have more religiosity than men. Gallup goes on to say that women hold on to their faith more heartily, work harder for the church, and in general practice with more consistency than men.
In Bahá'i writings, the Holy Spirit is often described as the "Maid of Heaven".
Three women figure prominently in the history of the Bahá'í Faith: Táhirih, a disciple of the Báb; Ásíyih Khánum, the wife of Bahá'u'lláh; and Bahíyyih Khánum the daughter of Bahá'u'lláh. Táhirih and Bahíyyih, in particular, held strong leadership positions and are seen vital to the development of the religion.
Several women played leading roles in the early days of the Bahá'í Faith in America. Among them are: May Maxwell, Corinne True, and Martha Root. Rúhíyyih Khanum and a mix of male and female Hands of the Cause formed an interim leadership of the religion for six years prior to the formation of the Universal House of Justice. Later prominent women include Patricia Locke, Jaqueline Left Hand Bull Delahunt, Layli Miller-Muro, and Dr. Susan Maneck, who herself wrote books documenting the role of women in the Bahá'í Faith.
Khema and Uppalavanna, the two chief female disciples of the BuddhaKisa GotamiMachig Labdrön, founder of the Tibetan practice of ChödMaha Pajapati GotamiPema Chodron, fully ordained Buddhist nun in the Tibetan Shambhala lineage.Ani Tenzin Palmo, nun in the Drukpa Kagyu lineage and founder of Dongyu Gatsal Ling Nunnery in Himachal Pradesh, IndiaYeshe Tsogyal, Tibetan consort and disciple of the PadmasambhavaMary, the Mother of JesusMary Magdalene, one of Jesus' closest followersLydia and PhoebeMary of Bethany, sister of Lazarus and disciple of Jesus (sometimes misidentified with Mary Magdalene)Priscilla, teacher with her husband Aquila, partner with Apostle PaulJunia, female apostle of New TestamentSaints Perpetua and Felicity, important martyrsSaint Monica of HippoClotildeHilda of Whitby, royal abbess in the 7th centuryKassia, 9th-century Eastern Orthodox nun, poet and hymnographer; sometimes referred to as St. KassianiAntoinette Bourignon, a mysticSt. Bridget of Sweden (1302–1373)Heloise (student of Abelard)Hildegard of Bingen, theologian, mystic, wrote much music (there being some recordings)Pope Joan, probably a mythical figureJulian of Norwich, a mysticSt. Margery Kempe (c.1373–1438)Saint Macrina the Younger, sister and influence upon Saint Basil the Great and Saint Gregory of NyssaSt. Clare of Assisi, founded the Poor ClaresSt. Julian of Norwich (1342-c.1416)St. Scholastica, twin sister of Benedict of NursiaMme Guyon, influential in QuietismMother Cabrini, missionary to New York and first canonized US citizenMother Teresa, founder of the Missionaries of Charity in IndiaSt. Elizabeth Ann Seton, founded the Sisters of CharitySt. Faustina Kowalska, promoted devotion to Divine MercySt. Katharine Drexel, founded the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament, which performed charitable works for Native Americans and African AmericansSt. Rose Philippine Duchesne, co-founder of the Society of the Sacred HeartSt. Teresa of Avila, a mysticIn 1970 three women were declared Doctor of the Church
St. Catherine of SienaSt. Teresa of AvilaSt. Thérèse of LisieuxFeliksa Kozlowska was involved in the establishment of the Mariavite Church, a Catholic-based church one part of which accepts women priests and bishops.
Anne Boleyn, influenced religious development in England indirectly by leading Henry VIII to divorce Catherine of Aragon and break from the Catholic ChurchAnne Hutchinson, charismatic and outspoken Puritan in early colonial New England whose unorthodox religious views helped spark the Antinomian Controversy from 1636 to 1638Mary Dyer, avid follower of the Quaker religion who became a martyr when she was hanged in Boston in 1660 for her religious activismA number of hymns and psalms have been written by women, from the pen of Fanny Crosby and Emily Gosse, for example.
Aimee Semple McPherson ("Sister Aimee"), early 20th-century evangelist and founder of the Foursquare ChurchJane Wardley, contributed to the development of the ShakersCatherine Booth, co-founder of the Salvation ArmyElizabeth Fry, Quaker and prison reformerEllen G. White, co-founder and prophetess of the Seventh-day Adventist ChurchEvangeline Booth, fourth General of the Salvation ArmyHannah Whitall Smith, prominent leader in the Holiness movementJoanna Southcott, 18th-century self-described religious prophetess and founder of SouthcottiansLi Tim-Oi, first female priest to be ordained in the Anglican CommunionLouisa Maria Hubbard (1836–1906), involved in the deaconess movement; published in 1871 the pamphlet "Anglican Deaconesses: is there No Place for Women in the System?"Mother Ann Lee, leader of the Shakers in AmericaPhoebe Palmer, prominent leader in the Holiness movementSelina, Countess of Huntingdon, involved with Methodism; there was a group called the Countess of Huntingdon's ConnectionMary Baker Eddy, founded Christian ScienceJackie Pullinger MBE, contemporary missionary working with inner city gangs, and founder of St Stephen's Society in Hong KongRecognition of the feminine aspect of God during the last century by Tantric and Shakti religious leaders, has led to the legitimization of the female teachers and female gurus in Hinduism. A notable example was Ramakrishna, who worshiped his wife as the embodiment of the divine feminine. [1]
Gurumayi Chidvilasananda, teacher in the lineage of teachers of Siddha YogaMata AmritanandamayiMother Meera, referred to as a "female guru" by author Karen Pechilis [2]Aisha bint Talha, scholarA'isha, wife of Muhammad and the narrator of the largest number of hadithMaryam, mother of Isa (Jesus)Amara bin Al-Rahman, exemplary woman juristAsma bint Abu Bakr, narrator of HadithAsiya, wife of the Pharaoh, Foster mother of Mosa (Moses)Sara, wife of Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham)Bilqis, Queen of ShebaFatima Zahra, youngest daughter of Muhammad and KhadijahFatimah bint Qays, scholarKhadijah, first convert to Islam, first wife of MuhammadNusaibah bint Ka'b al-Ansariyah, warriorRabi'a al-'Adawiyya, important figure in the development of SufismSayyida Nafisa, scholarSumayyah bint Khabbab, first martyr of Islam, seventh convert to itUkhtul Mazni, highly placed scholar of Islamic jurisprudenceUmm Ad Darda, theologianUmm 'Atiyyah, scholar of Islamic jurisprudenceUmm Salamah, narrator of HadithUmm Salim, scholarUmrah Bint Abdu Rahman, theologian and scholarYochebed, mother of Musa (Moses)Tynnetta Muhammad, theologian of the Nation of IslamThe status of women in Jainism differs between the two main sects, Digambara and Svetambara. Jainism prohibits women from appearing naked; because of this, Digambaras, who consider renunciation of clothes essential to moksha, say that they cannot attain enlightenment in the same life. Svetambaras, who allow sadhus to wear clothes, believe that women can attain moksha. There are more Svetambara sadhvis than sadhus and women have always been influential in the Jain religion.
Mallinath, the 19th Tirthankara; she was female according to Svetambaras (but male according to Digambaras)Marudevi, mother of RishabhaTrishala, mother of MahaviraThere are several prominent women in the Tanakh.
Deborah, Hebrew prophetess, fourth judgeEsther, Jewish heroine associated with the feast of PurimHuldah, the prophetess who validated the scroll found in the Temple (thought by many to be the book of Deuteronomy)Miriam, ProphetessRuth, prosleyte par excellence; better than seven sonsLeah, beloved of God, matriarch of some of the twelve tribesRachel, matriarch of some of the twelve tribesBibi BhaniBibi NanakiMai BhagoMata GujriMata JitojiMata KhiviMata Sahib KaurMata SundriOne of the Daoist Eight Immortals, Immortal Woman He, is a woman. Additionally, Sun Bu'er was a famous female Taoist master in the 12th century. Her work "Secret Book on the Inner Elixir (as Transmitted by the Immortal Sun Bu'er)" discussed some of the particularities of female "Inner Elixir" (Neidan) cultivation. Daoist nuns usually have equal status with monks.
Wei Huacun, a founder of the Shangqing SchoolAnn Lee, Shaker, founder of Shaker movement in AmericaAnnie Besant, Theosophist influential in the Indian Independence MovementMadame Blavatsky, contributed to the development and promotion of theosophyNakayama Miki, founder of TenrikyoNirmala Srivastava, founder and self-proclaimed goddess of Sahaja YogaHelen Schucman, claimed to have scribed A Course in MiraclesJane Roberts, claimed to have channeled SethJudy Z. Knight (born Judith Darlene Hampton), claims to have channeled RamthaAlice Auma, of the Holy Spirit Movement