ABSTRACT
This chapter concerns the question of the social effects of religious belief and the subjective experiences of the believers. Recognising that religion has a different importance for subordinate compared with dominant social groups, the chapter focuses upon women as a subordinate group and discusses their beliefs and what these meant for them. The chapter argues that women were a group with some common experiences despite their differences of social status, and theological beliefs. Through piety, women could find a meaning in life and develop their spirituality which gave much deep satisfaction. While piety could degenerate into an end in itself, it could also lead to deep spirituality. Historical accounts stress the importance of the role of individual confessors, but it should be remembered that nuns were exercising choices about their preferred modes of spirituality. Spirituality was their personal goal, and an important part of female culture.
