Mysticism and freedom: Female Mystical Thought in the Middle Ages and the Emergence of Contemporary Feministic Movements

The deep influence of religious thought on the dignity and place of women in the three Abrahamic religions, with all their differences and fluctuations, has been admitted by many scholars. Establishment of justice, rejection of discrimination, and paying attention to kindness are seen in the teachings of all three religions. In Judaism, it is difficult to evaluate the place of women due to lack of awareness of all its developments, and maybe one think that there has been a humiliating and degrading look at women in the religion, but in Christianity and Islam it can be said that great attention has been paid to the place of women both in ​​the doctrines and in the regulation of rules, and this has led to the promotion of women dignity in the religions. Therefore, given the cultural and social conditions of the time, one can argue that religions have a positive role to play in this regard, and one can consider them in opposition to the common misogynistic traditions and customs. The mystical religious thought, as a special kind of religious thought, has had attractiveness and capabilities throughout history. Hence, in the Middle Ages, many women of various social classes were enthralled by mystical religious ideas, of which two elements of independence and leadership power are main components, and one can describe them as the pioneers of contemporary feminist schools.