Over the centuries, how have religions been beneficial to women, and how have they been unfavorable to women?

Answer 1

Most religions from the beginning of mainstream religion have been terrible to women. Christianity demonized the woman from its beginning, often using the fall of eve to demonize the women saying she was a temptation to the most holy man. Childbirth was a forced necessity, women with only very rare exception were withheld from all positions of prominence and power. The church trampled down womens right's officially for hundreds of years.

Hinduism- Women could be accused by their husbands at any time of infidelity and ordered to a trial by fire( passing through a blazing fire) any sign of a burn would mean they were adulterous and were put to death.
Women could not hold property, child-marriage was common as young as 5, no divorce or remarriage, female infanticide was common as women born to a family was a burden.

Islam-(This is not every country I only describe the ones that have used the religion negatively)most are familiar with the way that women have been and still are oppressed to this day by the warped sacred scriptures(which actually advocate nothing violent against women) Stoning is common for a women who has been found guilty of something as little as walking without a male escort. Strict dress code is adhered to and a crime to dress differently, no property, no basic rights at all.

China and asia-Property is still passed down today to males and girls born can be killed by the parents because of being a burden. China today is in trouble from the lack of females in the country nearly 3 to 1. No government post is held by women and many basic rights only are held up to men.

Religion has been by far the worst thing to happen to women in most every country. New age thinking and reform have helped tremendously in the united states and a few other countries but we still have so far to go for even the united states before they are truely equal.

Answer 2

Women in Islam:



Before Islam in Arabia women held an extremely low position in Arab society, but Islam changed all this and elevated the status of women like no other religion has done to this day. Before Islam men treated women as mere chattel, to be married or divorced at their pleasure, prostitution was a recognized practice, captive women were kept as slaves, women were considered as part of a man's heritage, there was no limitation on the number of wives a man could take, polygamy was more of the rule than the exception at that time which was allowed for the sensual pleasure of the man, and an unlimited times could a man could divorce and take back his wife within a prescribed period, treating daughters as a source of shame led to the practice of burying their baby girls alive. Islam severely condemned female infanticide, and considered the birth of a female child as a blessing from God.



this is just the introductry there is alot of info in this website
Women in Islam:
http://www.geocities.com/sunrisinginwest/womeninislam.html
http://www.ediscoverislam.com/woman-in-Islam.asp
http://www.islam-qa.com/special/index.php?cref=62&ln=eng&subsite=16

I don't agree with what Bo-Dean said ''Christianity has greatly improved the situations of millions of women in third world countries where they were treated only a little better than cattle.''
''Many women in Asia, Africa, South America and the Middle east were first educated (reading, writing and arithmetic) by missionaries''
because after Islam has been brought to the Arabic penesiyla 1428 years ago women were treated much much better than they were treated in the christian world which was still wondering if women even have a soul!!! I am from the middle east and I know for a fact that women were not first educated by missionaries at all !!!

Answer 3

I think in spite of restrictive and often oppressive religious views of women, religion has often been an outlet for women's creativity and involvement within a society. For example, convents and women's orders were often the only places women were taught to read and write, or have any freedom apart from being married. Unfortunately, religions are often the reason ancient views of women are perpetuated and given any credence in the modern world.

Answer 4

Feminism and women's sufferage grew out of the Evangeicalism in the 1800s.

Adoman's leys were the first attempt to protect women and children (and all non combatants) during war.

Answer 5

basically women have vulnerable weaknesses for self protection. example is - how so much ever a woman be strong in physics, she cannot protect herself when she is pregnant. taking this basic count of weakness, to protect women folk from evil doers, religion has raised the woman status to god-wood, picturising her as devimata and so many other names. being mother status also upgraded near equalent to god. but the same status is not accorded to father. all these are quite appreciative measures. olden days, the religion also degraded them by restricting their movements and not allowing much exposure what men could have!

Answer 6

Some have been favorable to women, and others have not.

Whether people want to acknowledge it or not, Christianity has greatly improved the situations of millions of women in third world countries where they were treated only a little better than cattle.

Many women in Asia, Africa, South America and the Middle east were first educated (reading, writing and arithmetic) by missionaries.