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Women and Religion - Biographies By Last Name

Name Introduction
Angelica, Mary Mother Angelica (1923-2016) is the founder of the Eternal Word Television Network (EWTN), the world’s largest religious broadcaster.
Bailey, Alice Alice Bailey (1880-1949) is considered by many to be the mother of New Age, popularizing the term in writings about her own mystical movement.
Bakker, Tammy Faye Tammy Faye Bakker (1942-2007) was a Christian television celebrity with her husband, Jim Bakker, and remained in the public spotlight even after their empire crumbled.
Bradstreet, Anne Anne Bradstreet (1612-1672) was one of early America's first noteworthy poets.
Buck, Pearl S. Pearl Buck (1892-1973) was an award-winning novelist, whose liberal views on theology and Presbyterian missions drew criticism from conservative Presbyterians.
Burroughs, Nannie Helen Nannie Helen Burroughs was an educator, missionary leader, writer and pioneer for the rights of African Americans, especially Black women.
Cabrini, Frances Xavier Frances Xavier Cabrini (1850-1917) was the first American citizen to be named a saint by the Catholic Church.
Crosby, Frances "Fanny" Fanny Crosby (1820-1915) wrote thousands of famous hymns, including "Blessed Assurance," "Jesus Keep Me Near the Cross," and "To God Be the Glory."
Daly, Mary Mary Daly (1928-2010) was a radical feminist theologian at Boston College who viewed traditional (male) depictions of the Christian God as oppressive toward women.
Day, Dorothy Dorothy Day (1897-1980) was a Catholic activist, known for co-founding the Catholic Worker movement, leading anti-war and anti-nuclear proliferation movements, and promoting assistance to the poor.
Drexel, Katharine Katharine Drexel (1858-1955) founded the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament, a religious order devoted to the education and assistance to racial minorities in America.
Eddy, Mary Baker Mary Baker Eddy (1821-1910) founded the Christian Science movement.
Fearing, Maria Maria Fearing emerged from slavery to become a self-financed missionary teacher, founding the Pantops Home for Girls in Luebo, Congo.
Harkness, Georgia Georgia Harkness (1891-1974) was one of the first influential female theologians in the United States.
Hutchinson, Anne Anne Hutchinson's (1591-1643) preaching and unorthodox theology posed a threat to colonial authority in Massachusetts. She fled to Rhode Island after being excommunicated.
Lee, Jarena Jarena Lee (1783-1855) was one of the first black female preachers in America.
McPherson, Aimee Semple American evangelist and gifted preacher, Aimee Semple McPherson (1890-1944) was the founder of the International Church of the Foursquare Gospel, a Pentecostal denomination.
Mears, Henrietta Henrietta Mears (1890-1963) reignited the popularity of Sunday schools through her high quality teaching methods and publications.
Meyer, Joyce Prosperity gospel evangelist Joyce Meyer (1943-present) leads one of the largest ministries in the world, Joyce Meyer Ministries, headquartered in Fenton, Mo.
Moon, Charlotte "Lottie" Charlotte "Lottie" Moon (1840-1912) was a Southern Baptist missionary known for her evangelistic work in China.
Nettles, Bonnie Lu Bonnie Lu Nettles co-founded Heaven's Gate, a new religious movement, with Marshall Applewhite. The movement is known for its mass suicide in 1997.
O'Connor, Flannery The American writer Flannery O'Connor (1925-1964) depicted fictional Southern characters confronting grace in depressing circumstances.
O'Hair, Madalyn Murray Madalyn Murray O’Hair (1919-1995) was instrumental in banning Bible readings in public schools and founded one of the largest organizations of atheists in America.
Palmer, Phoebe Phoebe Palmer (1807-1874) is considered the founder of the Holiness movement, initiating Spirit-led Bible meetings that linked Wesleyan revivalism with modern Pentecostalism.
Prophet, Elizabeth Clare Elizabeth Clare Prophet (1939-2009) established the Church Universal and Triumphant in 1974 as a liturgical craft for the teachings of the Ascended Masters.
Schlafly, Phyllis Phyllis Schlafly (1924-2016) was a conservative Catholic activist who strengthened the pro-life and religious right movements.
Seton, Elizabeth Ann Elizabeth Ann Seton (1774-1821) founded the Sisters of Charity of St. Joseph and was an early promoter of parochial school and Catholic women's education.
Smith, Amanda Berry Amanda Berry Smith was a Methodist evangelist and missionary, author, founding member of the NAACP and founder of an orphanage for Black children in Chicago.
Smith, Hannah Whitall American evangelist Hannah Whitall Smith (1832-1911) was an important speaker and writer in both the Holiness and Temperance movements.
Stanton, Elizabeth Cady Elizabeth Cady Stanton (1815-1902) was a women’s rights advocate who pioneered feminist theology through her controversial biblical commentary known as the The Woman’s Bible.
Stewart, Maria Maria Stewart was an abolitionist and women’s rights advocate, known for one of the first recorded public speeches of any woman in American history.
Tekakwitha, Kateri Kateri Tekakwitha (1656-1680) was a Native American Catholic, known for her asceticism and chastity. She was canonized by Pope Benedict XVI in 2012.
Tubman, Harriet Harriet Tubman (1820-1913), known as the "Moses of her people," helped more than 300 slaves find freedom through the Underground Railroad.
Wheatley, Phillis Phillis Wheatley (1753-1784) became the first published African-American female poet. Most of her poetry contained religious themes.
White, Ellen Gould Ellen Gould White (1827-1915) was the co-founder of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. She promoted Saturday as the Christian Sabbath and advocated biblically-based health initiatives.
Willard, Frances Frances Willard (1839-1898) was a social activist who promoted temperance, women’s suffrage, labor reform and home-centered family life.
Winfrey, Oprah Billionaire media icon Oprah Winfrey (1954-present) has become the unofficial guru for millions of Americans seeking spiritual and moral guidance beyond traditional religious affiliation.
Woosley, Louisa Louisa Woosley (1862-1952) was the first female ordained minister in the Presbyterian Church.

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