Christian/Jewish/Islamic Women: Our Religions are all Patriarchal, no serious leadership rols for women do you

Question

feel that Women's Rights are something that each and every woman all over the world deserve and have a right to?

Also, would you be willing to lobby for a protect Women's Rights?

I ask this of all three groups, because the fundamental practice of any of these religions are Patriarchal and I think when put into practice fundamentally can be dangerous for women on so many levels.

Your thoughts? (men are welcome to answer too)

please excuse the typos - I was typing too quickly on a dinosaur of a computer.

LOL - Deke, yes, although I fear I may be publicly stoned for saying this, I think the evidence of Dinosaurs is just too much to ignore. I'm a Christian, I'm not ignorant. Silly boy.

Shpicey - thank you for articulating what the questions behind my question are.

And to Pastor Art - I HAVE read Job. I've read all of the books of the Bible - most more than 2 or 3 times. I simply don't pretent to interpret them with 100% certainty in an effort to keep myself superior to anyone else.

I am totally wearing pearls and gold to church on Sunday. Heck, I may even braid my hair!

Aliya - I'm with you - I don't care for the sexual objectification of women either. That's not what I'm going for. I'm speaking more of the "submission" issues.

Answer 1

Thank-you for your question. Even though I wouldn't be able to agree with women of other faiths on certain issues, I would be able to agree on this one. I would feel so much better about certain religions or groups (including my own) if I could see more deserving women allowed to use their God-given gifts.

If anyone has been given a special ability by God, isn't it a sign that it should be put to good use? Wouldn't it be an affront to God not to? Is it not a significant stumbling block to the person with the abilities to exclude them based on our backward fear-based cultural biases?

edit. There is progress being made, however, often the discrimination is a financial one. Women can volunteer...donating their gifts on a part time basis, much to the detriment of their need for rest and recreation and time with families. What kind of equality is that?

Answer 2

Your question is very interesting and one that has been addressed many times in my home since I was born into a Christian family and my husband is Muslim. We do have several mutual believes but there are many stark differences especially in the way women are treated in the religious forum or just in every day life. While I am told that "this is protecting and honoring the women" I certainly don't see it that, and it's a condescending way of keeping of the females in line. BUT, I am not part of this so I have been told that I just don't understand. More condescending attitude.

The actual people in the struggles are the ones that must make the change. Sad but true. It's been that way for ages and will continue. Change comes very slowly too. (Especially when dealing with men!) Those women have my support tho.

I no longer go to church because of all the politics there. I know what I believe, and being a nurse and after working in the hospital around cancer patients, I'm pretty sure I've seen more miracles than the average person, so I'm not interested in a preacher telling me what to think.

Answer 3

I can't speak for all the "major patriarchal religions," I can only speak about Christianity on this. The problem isn't with the religion, but with the fellows (I won't deign to call them men) who run it and who want power. Jesus told Mary Magdalene to tell the disciples about the resurrection and so she became the first bringer of the Good News. Jesus treated women far better than the fellows of his day, and in the early church one of the disciples talked about by Peter was Junia - which was a woman's name! Women prophesied in the early church, but because many women were uneducated about the faith, they caused a lot of noise during worship and were told to "keep silent in church" and to ask at home if they had questions. But like the others have said, you have answered your own question with the word, patriarchal. Fellows must needs be in charge. Real men can hear the truth from anyone, male or female and recognize it for what it is.

Answer 4

Our pastor is a woman so I suppose our church doesn't have this problem. The old testament lists Isaiah's wife (cannot remember her name), as a prophetess, so apparently it was not uncommon in those times for a woman to lead. I really think a lot of it is the people who composed the books of the bible, putting things in there that really didn't belong, in order to put woman in the background. Look at the pope who started the rumor that Mary Magdalene was a prostitute, knowing full well the prostitute spoken of in scripture wasn't Mary Magdalene. It was done for the sole purpose of invalidating women in the church.

Answer 5

Well.

where the hell does one even start? a huge reason, the primary reason in many respects, that i am now a recovering christian is because of the sexism and patriarchical structure of christianity. my family and i went to a church for many years when i was growing up, from tiny toddler to age 14. we left it because my mom was not happy about the decision to not allow women to serve as deacons. and one of her best friends wanted to be a deacon and so we left. i knew she was angry, and i didn't know why we were leaving. she didn't tell me at first, but a little later on. it was at that point that i really started to pay attention to the way the bible sets up roles and power structures for men and women, and how absolutely wrong it is to follow doctorine that exploits and abuses women...

i am transgender and have seen and lived across gender lines which has given me a very complex perspective on this subject matter..

Answer 6

Since Judaism is not patriarchal, women do have serious leadership roles, and women's rights are carefully protected under Jewish law, I'd have to know specifics of what you're referring to before I could give a proper answer.

What I do think is dangerous for women on many levels are the modern ideas that a woman being objectified is "liberated" and that a woman must take on masculine characteristics in order to be equal.

Granted, there are changes that were absolutely necessary - laws prohibiting a man from beating or raping his wife among them, but we already had these laws in Judaism. America was just catching up to what we had already been practicing for thousands of years.

When I step outside of my community, I am horrified by the oppression I see America's women living under: little ten year old girls wearing t-shirts that read "silicone free"; prescription drugs to make women feel less "inhibited"; the invaluable role of our foremothers being likened to prostitution, the guy on the subway who thinks he has the right to...

What do I think of Women's Rights?

"I think it would be a good idea."

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Which "submission" issues? Like a man's obligation to listen to his wife? Or, his obligation to do whatever he has to to make her happy? What are you referring to specifically?

Answer 7

You must have the same dinosaur model as I do, lol.

Count me in. There are a lot of issues that still need to be resolved. Many churches refuse to accept a woman pastor, and I feel that if someone is truly called of God to be a pastor, their gender should not matter.

Answer 8

Many Christian faiths are now accepting female ministers, pastors and priests. It's a process...but a process that is moving in the right direction for Christianity. I can't speak about the other 2 as I'm not informed enough.

Answer 9

In Islam, there are numerous different branches. Speaking from the Shia side, there are a couple of rights for women, such as assisting in leading ceremonies so I do find that men have a lot higher status, but as the generation progresses, there will be a time for women to shine.

Answer 10

well, yeah, i believe women aren't inferior to men, & they have the same rights men do. one shouldn't be over the other, & one shouldn't be abused by the other or be forced to do things they don't want to do, & i'd be willing 2 help out other women get their rights in any way i could!
i'm muslim, by the way.
in islam they're equal, but in a family the man is the head because he's responsible for his family. he has to protect them and take care of them, he's responsible for paying the bills etc. the woman is allowed to work as well, but she's not required to pay the bills etc. the husband should respect his wife and not force her to do anything she shouldn't do, he must take care of her as well and make a commitment like he should.
otherwise, if they're not married they're still equal!
that's all i got right now!
peace!