Includes bibliographical references (p. 309-358) and index.

Gender and the problem of prehistory -- Goddesses and world renewal in the ancient mediterranean -- The Hebrew God and gender -- Savior goddesses in the mystery religions and gnosticism -- The spiritual feminine in New Testament and patristic Christianity -- Feminine symbols in medieval religious literature -- Tonantzin-Guadalupe : the meeting of Aztec and Christian female symbols in Mexico -- Mary and wisdom in protestant mystical millennialism -- Contested gender status and imagining ancient matriarchy -- The return of the goddess.

Electronic reproduction. Palo Alto, Calif. : ebrary, 2013. Available via World Wide Web. Access may be limited to ebrary affiliated libraries.