Women, Enlightenment and Catholicism explores, for the first time, how Catholic women in Europe used Enlightenment thought and culture in their living contexts to articulate their beliefs about how to live their faith in the world. The chapters address their new understanding of womanhood, conceived independently from marital relationships, distinctive contributions to political and religious philosophy, spirituality, and mysticism, and the womens' efforts to bring scientific knowledge to the attention of other women. This book uses biographical studies of nineteen women to guide...

Women, Enlightenment and Catholicism explores, for the first time, how Catholic women in Europe used Enlightenment thought and culture in their living contexts to articulate their beliefs about how to live their faith in the world. The chapters address their new understanding of womanhood, conceived independently from marital relationships, distinctive contributions to political and religious philosophy, spirituality, and mysticism, and the womens' efforts to bring scientific knowledge to the attention of other women. This book uses biographical studies of nineteen women to guide...