Religion, Sexism and Criticism

Posted on April 7, 2007 by Dan (Fitness)

What do we do when we encounter something obviously wrong with a particular faith (or even our own!)?

Tia has some observations of the religious roots of female oppression:

I’ve read three articles today on the oppression of women by patriarchal religions. It’s not news to me, of course, but the intensity of these outraged lists of the sins of human against human on the basis of genital differences forces me to face the fury and the fear that always lurk within.

I think we need to seriously re-evaluate some of the truth claims that are being made.  Biblical literalists take every word of the Bible as fact.  If we can state part of a particular holy book is incorrect and immoral:

Here are some examples of what in my view are blatantly evil and incredibly destructive religious precepts:

    “Blessed art thou, O Lord our God, King of the universe, who hast not made me a woman”
    (Sephath Emeth, p. 10).
    “Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife”
    (Ephesians 5: 22-23).
    “Men are superior to women on account of the qualities with which God hath gifted the one above the other”
    (Koran 4:37).

Where does this leave us?  I think for one it leaves us with the clear conviction that none of these religions or their holy books are completely correct.  In other words, this brings their authority into question (which is problematic for those who base their arguments on appeals to authority).  If a book advocates the inherent superiority of one sex in nature or practice, that book is wrong on at least that one count.

However these beliefs also open the religions up to criticism.

Tia is right on in her description of such overt sexism as “oppressive crap”:

but because we’re so politically correct, we also wouldn’t challenge any religion that continues to promulgate this oppressive crap.

I think we need to.  I think that when people use their religion as a basis for their political beliefs and actions, we need to call out inconsistencies in their beliefs.  However these beliefs are also likely feeding into a troubling socialization that ingrains an unhealthy view of power and authority into our psyche.

Religion is not immune from criticism, or from change.  And the best place to start spring cleaning is at home.  A good place to start is with so called “doctrine” that goes against the core precepts of human ethics, like equality.

What do you believe?

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