You Have Stept Out of Your Place: A History of Women and Religion in America

Susan Hill Lindley presents the story of women and religion in America from the colonial period through the mid-1990s. Women throughout American history have repeatedly been accused of "stepping out of their places" as many have fought for more rewarding roles in the church and society. In this book, Lindley demonstrates that just as religion in the traditional sense has influenced the lives of American women through its institutions, values, and sanctions, so women themselves have had a significant effect on the shape of American religion through the years. Lindley chronicles the struggles and successes of scores of American women who, beginning with the Puritan Anne Hutchinson, have challenged the subordinate roles assigned to them by their families, churches, and society, in defiance of the presumed divine sanction for their subordination. "You Have Stept Out of Your Place" presents the experiences of women in various geographic, ethnic, racial, and denominational backgrounds. Compelling portraits of these women emerge as we bear witness to their enduring contributions to American religion today.