CHANGING RELIGIOUS ROLES OF WOMEN IN PRE-MODERN ASIAReligion and religious norms historically have played an important role in shaping public policies and public life in many countries around the world. Some countries may experience the impact of religion on their public life more than others. In many countries, this impact ebbed and flowed throughout the course of history. The women s participation in religious institutions around the world varies not only from a religion to religion, but also within