ABSTRACT
Religious references play a prominent role in early modern feminist arguments. In this chapter, I investigate two significant forms of critical appropriation of religious sources in the works of Marie de Gournay, Gabrielle Suchon, and Marguerite Buffet: first, the appropriation of canonical religious authorities to serve feminist purposes; and second, the reinterpretation of scripture, in particular the stories of the Creation and of the Fall. This allows me to show how early modern women have been using religious ideas and authorities for feminist purposes in a way that is both subversive and insightful.
