ABSTRACT
This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. It sets the scene with several broad historical strokes, which also helps us to understand where we are now. In short, the world religions discussed in this book have inherited both the patriarchal frame and its critique, which gave rise to countercultures or reforms. People could even argue that those religions that could no longer inspire the allegiance of women and undergo reforms died on the world scene. The book shows how the women who are insiders to the world religions struggle with these issues. It also shows how they struggle with conflicts between continuity and discontinuity (the need for reforms, especially for inclusion not to mention leadership, in what were once exclusive male spheres). The book also brings to attention the traditions of some marginalized religions where women once were or still are central to the vision of religion.
