I don't understand how a gender that has long been abused by religion can still follow said religion?

Question

- Paganism worshiped a female deity...we know what happened to them
- Salem witch hunts - sought to crush any and all independently thinking women.
- Old testament pretty much treated women like 'complete' objects, akin to domesticated animals
- Islam, most forms have special 'rules' which some women choose to follow where as others are forced to follow.

- i do not wish to go into too many fine details...but from my 'limited' point of view, it just seems weird that so many women would follow something that has clearly had a history of maltreatment and sometimes violence towards them.

- this also obviously is from picking and choosing certain facts in order to try and emphasize my own views, but thats what all religions do...so I shouldn't be held accountable in that respect.

- also this is a generalization, obviously not all religions treat women with a lower regard to men, and I'm sure that there's a lot more out there that i have missed.

1) I'm not a woman...i'm just wondering
2) I was brought up in as a muslim...so i do know a fair bit about gender equality in islam...however how its practiced varies widely from culture to culture the same way that a protestant claims to be different from a catholic.

3) The new testament is glorified and appeases people. I am talking about the original old testament...the 'first' so called word of god. Jesus made everything nice and polite for everyone, to a certain extent.

also - although i was brought up in a muslim household my parents have given me free reign on what path to choose in life, and so far i like being an atheist...have been for about 6 years now...

Answer 1

Stockholm syndrome is one possible answer. The captives began to identify with their captors and even tried to defend them. Similar to Patty Hearst.

Answer 2

You make a very good point and I have wondered that myself.

I think Christianity in particular has morphed a bit for women in recent decades. It is now a "relationship" with God. People are "in love" with Jesus. I see this as using God to fill the slot where women have now come to expect a "perfect man" in their lives. What more perfect man than one you determine the characteristics of? You can have your so-so marriage and fill the romanticistic void with Jesus.

It's really weird.

And I completely made up the word "romanticistic" because I don't mean romance, but romanticism.

Answer 3

I agree with you completely, and I am equally mind-boggled about it. I utterly fail to comprehend why women are content participating in a religion where they are directly ordered to be submissive.

A lot of them brush it off saying how it's okay because the husband is supposed to be loving.... but that's a lot of hooey, because in a truly loving relationship, dominance or power is not an issue.

I suppose a lot of women are really honestly humble and don't mind the image of themselves being humble yet valued, kind of like Sleeping Beauty.

Me, I insist on being a person on par with any man. My husband is my partner, and I completely and totally adore him.

Answer 4

Actually, your "limited" point of view is correct. The thing is just because a religion puts down women, doesn't mean everyone will follow it. Look at Christian countries. Christianity puts down women too. But who follows what it says?

Answer 5

It's called Stockholm Syndrome

Answer 6

What Phoenix Ablaze said was a bunch of crap. Not all christian churches are catholic and sexist. Not one verse in the New Testament says either gender is more important that the other. Many people are uneducated about the Bible.

Answer 7

I've always wondered how a religion that is so brutal to women is still desired by those women.

Answer 8

Yes. It's like the poor voting for Bush.

Answer 9

Excellent point.

Answer 10

How long have you been a woman?