Women and Religion

To some degree, all major world religions deprecate women (both East and West).   

Christian/Catholic:

In the Catholic religion, women are not allowed in the �priesthood�, therefore, no woman could ever become �POPE� (the highest ranking position in the Catholic religion).   In most Christian religions, women are the mainstay and yet are prohibited from holding leadership positions. Even though there is ample evidence of women�s leadership in the early church, such leadership became increasingly prohibited as the church became a public institution, as it was not considered proper for women to hold leadership positions in public.   

Judaism:

In the Jewish religion, although there are now some women Rabbis, the morning prayer is a daily deprecation of women, as stated: �Blessed art thou, O Lord our God, King of the universe, who hast not made me a woman�.   

Islam:

In Islam, according to the words [of Allah in the Koran], �Men are superior to women� [34:4]. It also states that, �A woman is prohibited from holding high office, because doing so requires mingling with men, and being alone with them.   Also, she must bear a heavy burden, which is not suitable for the character of a woman. [8]

IMO, the only way for a woman to deal with a misogynistic institution, is to leave it.   And maybe that is why I am not a member of any religious groups!   

If you were a woman, how would you feel about this? Would you participate in said organizations knowing that women are considered inferior and not permitted to hold office in said organization? If so, why would you want to participate?


    

Edited by morticia - 14-Nov-2006 at 17:02

Well, there seems to be a curious lack of female Buddist monks...

hello paul, mind telling me what is karma

Originally posted by Siege Tower i�dont suppose Buddism have anything to do with it

    
Hello Siege Tower and welcome to the women's history forum. Well, as Paul has indicated on this topic, Buddhism is another religion which deprecates women.
    

Edited by morticia - 15-Nov-2006 at 14:29

Originally posted by morticia Originally posted by Siege Tower i dont suppose Buddism have anything to do with it      Hello Siege Tower and welcome to the women's history forum. Well, as Paul has indicated on this topic, Buddhism is another religion which deprecates women.

Should have done this before, but I checked my understanding of the topic with the girl I live with, who is both Chinese and a Buddhist. Bwj is something that can only be earnt by a man while he is a monk and primarily for his mother. It controls reincarnation in the next life. Gum can be earned by giving temples money and controls luck in the near future.

Edited by Paul - 16-Nov-2006 at 23:07

Well at least things now seem to be changing, and not before time

In 1975 Synod decided there were no theological objections to the ordination of women

1987 first women deacons appointed

In 1994 the first women priests were ordained into the Church of England.

In 2004 the number of women priests ordained outnumbered men.

 

Britain still lacks behind the US, Canada and New Zealand in not yet ordaining women bishops.

i still don t think that religion is the origin of gender discrimination, i think that gender discimination is the the reflection of the public opinion at the time. 

Originally posted by Morty In Islam, according to the words [of Allah in the Koran], �Men are superior to women� [34:4]. It also states that, �A woman is prohibited from holding high office, because doing so requires mingling with men, and being alone with them.   Also, she must bear a heavy burden, which is not suitable for the character of a woman. [8]

Wrong on both accounts. [34:4] is
"That He may reward those who believe and work deeds of righteousness: for such is Forgiveness and a Sustenance Most Generous."" [34:4]

[8] is not a reference, but I have heard that sort of opinion before. It doesn't have a foundation in religion.

^noone reads the Rodwell version, it has a lot of errors. I think he was a church rector from London when he wrote it.