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Why Is Religion So Afraid Of Women? [View all]
http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/ralph-jones/why-is-religion-so-afraid-of-women_b_2243185.htmlRalph Jones
A writer of comedy and articles on religion?
Posted: 06/12/2012 00:00
The latest in a long line of upsetting news for women, and women in religion, has hit us square in the face in the past 24 hours. The Christian Union at Bristol University has insisted that women cannot speak at their doubtless fun-filled meetings. If, however, they are accompanied by their husband, then of course they may.
The university's feminist society labelled the decision "hugely discriminatory, deeply offensive and sexist to women"; no argument from me there, but just apply this quote to religion in general, whose history is mired in inescapably revolting attitudes towards women, and you need not change the phraseology. The insistence that the Church ought to change its ways in this regard is like asking a vegetarian to eat a fillet of steak. It is also a relatively recent development and will always be swimming against an enormous tide of misogyny founded in Scripture.
Will religion, then, ever be able to shake off its subordination and discrimination towards women?
The Christian Union's move comes in the immediate wake of - and may well have been inspired by - almost 50% of the Church of England's House of Laity deciding that permitting women bishops would be a step too far in the name of equality. The fact that the vote made the news at all demonstrates how much progress has been made in the Church over the years and how appallingly its sexism has become enshrined.
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I think the battle is intensifying precisely BECAUSE there has been progress. The progress
Squinch
Dec 2012
#65
I can't agree with that. Since it is the goal of some religions to increase their numbers,
cbayer
Dec 2012
#5
Yes, some religions NEED their followers having babies in order to increase their numbers
rocktivity
Dec 2012
#9
That may be the goal of some religions, but early/Catholic Christianity at least had the goal...
Moonwalk
Dec 2012
#40
I think much of what you say is valid. At the very least, it is a really ineteresting.
cbayer
Dec 2012
#41
Evolutionary advantage in a social/religious system doesn't mean producing kids, it means...
Moonwalk
Dec 2012
#42
For a long time, people who valued gender equality and wished to belong to a religious group
ZombieHorde
Dec 2012
#20
It goes back to Yahweh's divorce from Asherah. It was apparently a bad breakup.
dimbear
Dec 2012
#21
Or freaked out that they were not in control of the ability to give birth, which is also the ability
Squinch
Dec 2012
#30
It really is hard to imagine that they didn't see the connection, but who knows.
cbayer
Dec 2012
#38