Are there any religions that don't degrade women?

Question

Other than Buddhism, Wicca (and other forms of paganism), and progressive religions like UUism, I've yet to find any. Why do you think this is?

In the Bible, Eve is told that "...thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee." (Genesis 3.16)

Maybe it's just me, but when a man is "ruling over" a woman, I call that degrading. Sorry.

You don't seem to get the point. i don't want to be "esteemed" by men. I don't want to be "man's little helper." I want to be EQUAL to men. their EXACT equal. Women should be able to be pastors, priests, anything a man can do. If not, I want no part of that religion.

And, uh... Mommy_to_seven? That the most f'ed up thing I've ever heard. I never want to be a housewife.

Answer 1

You are one smart cookie. I thank God for you. And my God is a godess too. The Virgin Mother gets left out a lot! It makes me mad.
Woman have been scapegoats since Eve' tempted Adam and suceeded. So in some minds of some, women are in league with the devil[nonsense of course]. More crazy propaganda to try and control us. But you, young ladies coming up now, do not have to fall for it! Fight for equal rights always! Religion has been trying to control woman SINCE THE BEGINING OF TIME, BUT WE ARE REALLY FREE! Equal Rights Ammendment, its never to late till your dead!

Answer 2

Given the number of people who tell you that Christianity does not degrade women, is it possible that your experience and the experience of most people are different? Could it be how you are looking at the problem that is the issue?

Second, any large group of people can and will present ideas that others consider degrading. Buddhism and Wicca both do so, if you look at them the right way. I love Buddhism even though I do not agree with it. I believe Wicca will disappear. It appeals to a certain segment of the population, psychologically, and therefore lacks staying power. Its audience is too narrow, its appeal is too temporary.

Generally, I find it best to grant charity to the believer in a religion. Most people do not think through what they believe, the implications of what they believe, or why they believe it. Some religious constructions are not as good as others. Buddhism, Catholicism, Orthodoxy, Islam, Hinduism and to a lesser extent Shinto and Jainism survive and thrive because the support, in general, the needs of their communities. Religions pop up by the hundreds and disappear. Few really thrive and certain psychological properties seem to need to exist as well as certain anthropological properites for religions to survive and thrive.

My guess, is that it is your perspective that may be the issue and not the various world religions. You may be looking too closely at specific issues or instances AND ignoring other issues or instances.

I personally find Wicca very degrading of women, but until you talk with women about it, they don't notice the implications. A dear friend help build me a Book of Shadows, once. I really don't think there will be such a thing as Wicca in 100 years. Of two friends who were Wiccan, one had a very articulate well thought view that was reasonable. The other had a very poor view that was destructive. The articulate one, however, had very fatal flaws that when taken to scale resulted in harm to women.

Of course the ulitmate irony of Wicca is that it is made up primarily of women.

Look around, find out why people really do what they do, feel what they feel, and believe what they do. You may found deeply profound understanding and belief. You are trying to look at these religions as an outsider, but make complaints like you are insider.

The opposite would be, for example, to admire the British Monarchy but refuse to become a subject of Queen Elizabeth. The analogy would be to hate the idea of monarchy and seek to oppose it, all the while refusing to become British and complaining at something that doesn't seem to bother the British. In the first case, you seem to understand but do not wish to internalize it. In the second, you do not understand but you have internalized it.

Look inward for your answers.

Respectfully,

OPM

Answer 3

No it's not so. I am an Indian and we believe in Hindu religion. In our religion women are under strict control under men but are not degraded,on the contrary they are respected. We worship to Kali which is the most famous goddess in India. Also India is known as Mother which is taken as the form of a women. I Don't know why u felt that in Buddhism women are degraded.

Answer 4

Christianity. Male and female are both equal in dignity. Christianity teaches that although men and women are not the same, we each are made in a way to compliment the opposite sex. The truth.

In the Catholic faith, the most honored of all saints is a woman, the Blessed Virgin Mary. Feminists and modern fiction novels will try to say different, but the Catholic Church also honors Saint Mary Magdalen. Here are 2 websites about her:
http://www.wf-f.org/StMaryMagdalene.html
http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/09761a.htm

The Conversion Story of
Norma McCorvey (Jane Roe of Roe VS. Wade)
http://www.priestsforlife.org/testimony/normareceivedcathreview.htm

THE WOMAN OF REVELATION 12
http://www.catholic.com/thisrock/1997/9705chap.asp

Women of Grace Website
http://www.womenofgrace.com/

Why Jesus chose 12 all male Apostles
http://forums.catholic.com/showthread.php?t=91410&highlight=Women+Priests

Teachings of the Catholic Church
http://www.ewtn.com/faith/teachings/teaching.htm

Answer 5

The true religion of God doesn't degrade woman. But God is in charge & we are to do what He says in His Word the bible.
Men have a role to play in life & thats to be a servant leader not a dictator! Men have a problem with this: some want to be dictators & some are wimps. Woman are to summit to man. This doesn't mean to do everything a man tells her to do. You see woman have a problem with summiting. This life is a training ground to prepare us for a better life at Jesus return. We can't chose the rules God choses them. You can go ahead & find a church that allows you to do what you want but when Jesus Christ returns you'll find it was a waste of time.
If we could do whatever we want then we would be the god of our religion.

Answer 6

Uh...CHRISTIANITY!!!!

Christianity holds women in great esteem....Mary is given the honor of bringing the Savior into the world. Christ spoke with women and included them in His followers- unheard of at that time.

The reason women are not ( for the most part) ordained? Because the minister is a servant to all , and a woman should bwe able to focus her energies on her home and her joy in raising the next generation of believers.

That is why Christian men work hard to allow their wives to stay home with their children- after being home for 15 years- there is no better job in the world!

What non-Christians perceive as opression of women is ELEVATION of women----something the so called feminists STOLE from the women of the world!

Answer 7

It annoys me to no end when Christians believe that Christianity does not degrade women. Have you even read the Bible? Here is a few funny excerpts:

1 Timothy 2:11-14 Let a woman learn in silence with all submission. And I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man, but tobe in silence. For Adam was formed first, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression.

1 Corinthians 14:34-35 Let your women keep silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak; but they are to be submissive, as the law also says. And if they want to learn something, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is shameful for women to speak in church.

1 Corinthians 11:3-9 But I want you to know that the head of every man is Christ, the head of woman is man... For man is not from woman, but woman from man. Nor was man created for the woman, but woman for the man.

So please do not believe the answers claiming Christianity to be a gender equal religion.

And if anyone thinks the Koran is any better (as one of the replies seemed to indicate), here are a few interesting tidbits:

(Koran 4:34) ...As to those women on whose part ye fear disloyalty and ill-conduct, admonish them, refuse to share their beds and BEAT THEM...

(Koran 4:15) If two men among you commit indecency (sodomy) punish them both. If they repent and mend their ways, let them be. Allah is forgiving and merciful.

(Koran 4:16) If any one of your women is guilty of lewdness ...confine them until death claims them.

and so on and so on...sad sad sad

Answer 8

Actually , Adam is accountable unto God, Eve to her husband, who should be following the counsel of God. The heavier burden lie on Adam to be righteous. Women are equals, with man they just have different duties you could say. Women get to bear vessels of the Lord and are co creators with God. Men are supposed to provide for their families temporal welfare. A man is to highly reverence and esteem a woman as it were his own flesh. The worldly views have corrupted the family. True Christianity is the only way for me.

Answer 9

Christianity

Answer 10

Christianity

Answer 11

native american is a great religion that sees women and men as equal parts to the equation along with children. I think that all other religions, at least the ones I know about, reflect the times in which the were concieved, and do not necessarily apply well to today.