Women as theological figures have played a significant role in the development of various religions and religious hierarchies.
Throughout most of history women were unofficial theologians. They would write and teach, but did not hold official positions in Universities and Seminaries. Beginning in the second half of the twentieth century, women theological scholars began to be appointed to formal faculty positions at theological schools. Women are slowly being recognized as theological scholars.
George Gallup Jr. wrote in 2002 that studies show 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.Robert Roy Britt, Women More Religious Than Men, https://www.livescience.com/7689-women-religious-men.html, February 28, 2009 October 27, 2014 (2014)
Women theological scholars Catherine L. Albanese, American religious studies scholar, professor, lecturer, and author Delores S. Williams, American Presbyterian theologian notable for her formative role in the development of womanist theology Emilie Townes, American Christian social ethicist and theologian Elisabeth Schüssler Fiorenza, Romanian-born German Roman Catholic feminist theologian Elizabeth Schrader Polczer, American biblical scholar who concentrates on textual studies concerning Mary Magdalene, the Gospel of John, and the Nag Hammadi corpus Esther Mombo, is a Kenyan female theologian who researches church history with a focus on mission history, interfaith relations and theology, and gender studies with a focus on African women's theologies, sexuality, and HIV/AIDS. Hannah Kinoti, Kenyan-African feminist theologian, Ethicist, and Religious studies scholar, Member of the Circle of Concerned African Women Theologians. Jacquelyn Grant, American theologian and Methodist minister who is one of the founding developers of womanist theology Jamie T. Phelps, American Catholic theologian known for her contributions to womanist theology Joanna Macy, environmental activist, author, and scholar of Buddhism Joan E. Taylor, English historian of the Bible and early Christianity with special expertise in archaeology, and women's and gender studies. Karen Armstrong, British author known for her books on comparative religion Katie Cannon, American Christian theologian and ethicist associated with womanist theology and black theology Kelly Brown Douglas, African-American Episcopal priest, womanist theologian, and academic Letty M. Russell, American Christian feminist theologian who pioneered feminist ecclesiology Lydia Mwaniki, Kenyan post-colonial feminist theologian, ordained Anglican priest, advocate for gender justice, and author. Marta Benavides, El Salvadorian feminist religious leader Mary Getui, Kenyan theologian, founding member of the Circle of Concerned African Women Theologians, and professor of Religious studies. Mercy Amba Oduyoye, Ghanaian theologian and founder of the Circle of Concerned African Women Theologians Monica Coleman, theologian associated with process theology and womanist theology Muriel Orevillo-Montenegro, Filipina theologian known for her writings in Asian feminist theology Musa Dube, a Motswana feminist theologian and Professor of New Testament M. Shawn Copeland, American womanist and Black Catholic theologian Nyambura Njoroge, Kenyan feminist theologian and ecumenical leader. Nyasha Junior, American biblical scholar focusing on the connections between religion, race, and gender within the Hebrew Bible Philomena Njeri Mwaura, is a Kenyan feminist theologian whose scholarship spans African Christianity, theological curriculum development, religion and gender, new religious movements, and Pentecostal-charismatic movements in Africa. Renita J. Weems, ordained minister, a Hebrew Bible scholar, and an author Rosemary Edet, Catholic nun, feminist theologian, co-founder of the Circle, and author. Rosemary Radford Reuther, American feminist theologian who helped define fields of Christian feminist and eco-feminist theology Sallie McFague, American feminist theologian, who emphasized God as mother in her theology Traci D. Blackmon, minister and spiritual leader involved in peaceful protests during unrest in Ferguson, Missouri in 2014 Wilda C. Gafney, American biblical scholar and Episcopal priest
Baháʼí Faith
In writings of the Baháʼí Faith, the Holy Spirit is often described as the "Maid of Heaven".
Three women figure prominently in the history of the Baháʼí Faith: Táhirih, a disciple of the Báb; Ásíyih Khánum, the wife of Baháʼu'lláh; and Bahíyyih Khánum the daughter of Baháʼu'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 Baháʼí 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, Jacqueline Left Hand Bull Delahunt, Layli Miller-Muro, and Dr. Susan Maneck, who herself wrote books documenting the role of women in the Baháʼí Faith.
Buddhism
Khema and Uppalavanna, the two chief female disciples of the Buddha Kisa Gotami Machig Labdrön, founder of the Tibetan practice of Chöd Maha Pajapati Gotami Pema 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, India Yeshe Tsogyal, Tibetan consort and disciple of the Padmasambhava Chandra Khonnokyoong, a Thai mae chi (nun) and meditation teacher
Christianity
In the New Testament Mary, mother of Jesus Mary Magdalene, one of Jesus' closest followers Lydia and Phoebe Mary of Bethany, sister of Lazarus and disciple of Jesus (sometimes misidentified with Mary Magdalene) Priscilla, teacher with her husband Aquila, partner with Apostle Paul Junia, female apostle of New Testament
In the Early Christian Church Thecla, disciple of Paul Perpetua and Felicity, martyrs Monica of Hippo Macrina the Younger Radegund (520–587), Frankish queen, ordained as a deaconess, established a convent Clotilde Hilda of Whitby, royal abbess in the 7th century Irene of Athens (c. 752–803), Empress who convened the 7th ecumenical council Kassia, 9th-century Eastern Orthodox nun, poet and hymnographer; sometimes referred to as St. Kassiani
In the Medieval church Antoinette Bourignon, a mystic Bridget of Sweden (1302–1373) Heloise (student of Abelard) Hildegard of Bingen, theologian, mystic, wrote much music, some which has survived Pope Joan, although existence has been questioned Margery Kempe (c.1373–1438) Macrina the Younger, sister and influence upon Basil the Great and Gregory of Nyssa Clare of Assisi, founded the Poor Clares Julian of Norwich (1342–c.1416), a mystic Scholastica, twin sister of Benedict of Nursia
In the Catholic Church (Post-Reformation)
Mme Guyon, influential in Quietism Mother Cabrini, missionary to New York and first canonized US citizen Mother Teresa, founder of the Missionaries of Charity in India Elizabeth Ann Seton, founded the Sisters of Charity Faustina Kowalska, promoted devotion to Divine Mercy Katharine Drexel, founded the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament, which performed charitable works for Native Americans and African Americans Rose Philippine Duchesne, co-founder of the Society of the Sacred Heart
In 1970 three women were declared Doctor of the Church Catherine of Siena Teresa of Avila Thérèse of Lisieux
In Protestant churches
Ursula Cotta (article in German) (c. 1450–1511), influenced Luther's attitude toward women Inger Ottesdotter Rømer (c. 1475–1555), wealthiest landowner in Norway, promoted the Reformation extensively Argula von Grumbach (1492-1554), writer who defended Martin Luther Christina Gyllenstierna (1494-1559), commanded the city of Stockholm, unsuccessful in preventing the execution of over 100 people for heresy (Stockholm Bloodbath) Katharina Zell (1497 or 1498–1562), proponent of clerical marriage Katharina von Bora, (1499–1552) Roman Catholic nun who became Lutheran, proponent of clerical marriage Ursula of Munsterberg in 1528 published 69 articles about why she and other nuns were going to leave their convent. Anne Boleyn, influenced religious development in England indirectly by leading Henry VIII to divorce Catherine of Aragon and break from the Catholic Church Elisabeth of Hesse (1502–1557), exposed secret bigamy of her brother Philip Elisabeth of Brandenburg (1510-1558), secretly took communion in both kinds against the wishes of her Catholic father. She implemented the Reformation when governing in place of her underage son Amalia of Cleves (1517-1586), authored a songbook, rejected as possible wife by Henry VIII Anne Askew (1521–1546), tortured in the Tower of London and martyred in Smithfield for Protestantism Joan Bocher (?–1550), English Anabaptist martyr in Smithfield Elizabeth Pepper (?–1556), martyred while pregnant for Protestantism, together with Agnes George Guernsey Martyrs, three women martyred for Protestantism in 1556, one woman was pregnant and gave birth while being burned, the child was rescued but then ordered to be burned too Ann Lee, Shaker, founder of Shaker movement in America Anne Locke (1530 – ?), Calvinist poet Anna Leuhusen (died c. 1554), abbess who along with her nuns, became nurses Joan Waste (1534–1556), blind woman martyred for Protestantism Alice Benden (?–1557), martyred for Protestantism Alice Driver (?–1558), testified for and martyred for Protestantism Anna Maria of the Palatinate (1561 – 1589), a Lutheran who was concerned about the spread of Calvinism and described by Charles IX of Sweden as "more educated in religion than anyone to be found." Magdalena Heymair, in 1569 became the first woman to have her writings listed on the Index Librorum Prohibitorum Elizabeth Melville (c.1578–c.1640), Scottish Calvinist poet, first known woman to print a book in Scotland. Augusta of Denmark (1580 – 1639), walked to Lutheran church and refused to attend Calvinist services. Later fired a Calvinist minister and restored the previous Lutheran minister to his position. Anna Maria von Eggenberg (1609-1680), moved court to a city in Hungary where she would be able sponsor Protestant church services. Catherine Vasa of Sweden (1539-1610) actively supported Lutheranism above Calvinism, visited Wittenberg to study theology, wrote interpretations of the bible Johanna Eleonora Petersen (1644-1724), Pietist writer Anne Hutchinson, charismatic and outspoken Puritan in early colonial New England whose unorthodox religious views helped spark the Antinomian Controversy from 1636 to 1638 Johanna Sibylla Küsel (1650 – 1717), Lutheran printmaker who illustrated religious and scientific books. Mary Dyer, avid follower of the Quaker religion who became a martyr when she was hanged in Boston in 1660 for her religious activism Katharina Elizabeth – in 1698, Catholic village leaders of Radibor attempted to have her disciplined for attempted Lutheranization of the population.A Magnificent Faith: Art and Identity in Lutheran Germany by Bridget Heal Marie Durand (1711–1776), imprisoned 38 years in the Tower of Constance for Protestantism with 24 other women Barbara von Krüdener (1764–1824), her spiritual relationship with Tsar Alexander influenced the religious character of the Holy Alliance, for a time she gave up her noble lifestyle and wandered, supporting crowds who wandered with her. Amalie Sieveking (1794 –1859), founded society which trained women to help for poor and invalids, wrote tracts Clara Maass (1876–1901), devout nurse who died after volunteering in an immunization experiment, listed on the Lutheran Calendar of Saints