Reformation Revisited: Women's Voices in the Reformation

Abstract

Considering the 16th-century Reformation from the perspective of women is ecumenically promising. Following the tracks of women who embraced the Protestant faith, and learning from their theological orientations, leads to a major rewriting of the Reformation histories; it also provides valuable sources for the reassessment of the Protestant theological traditions. Even if women's place was seen as being at home, in relishing the holy calling of motherhood, women were impassioned to expand their vocations through their own experiences and aspirations. Some of them participated in theological discourse via letters. First-hand knowledge of the scriptures and observations on injustice empowered women to use a public voice. Compassion emerges as a common theme in the theologies the women themselves considered “Christian.” The 16th-century reforming women assist us in naming the sins of sexism and misogyny, and direct our attention to the matter of gender.