Women in Religious Scriptures

``However, due to the tradition of house-temples women were not excluded from the Worships. Their training in hymn singing led to much greater self-respect, at least in theory, than in the other three religions.``

My slightly irreverant theory on this which I posted a long time ago on chowk I will repeat here. I speculate the reason Hindu women were once accorded respect and equality and even divinity as goddesess, `keepers of the flame` and `ardhanganis` was that that Hindu sages who pondered theology were mostly vegetarian by habit as opposed to the sages of other religions who were not.

Look at it this way, a nonveg guy just has to hold a leg of meat over the fire long enough and khaana taiyyar - no women required.

Whereas to get something decent to eat, vegetarians needed women who would lovingly linger over the toilsome preparation and the bubbling pots with all the skill that it took, adding the right garnish at the right times-nothing like paapi pet to help decide who to do puja to :)

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``There is an urgent need to reconcile these views with the principles of democracy - the modern universal religion of advanced and educated world. Otherwise, the other greater achievements of the Scriptures may be discarded along with the iniquities against women.``

How? Any roadmap for reconciliation?

``Tantrik`` yajnas can only be performed by women.

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so the conclusion is:

in the Hammam of opression and abuse AGAINST -- the inferior unholy women with no holy books -- BY superior holy men with holy books -- all four religions are equally naked.

Historically, all religions have been a source of great oppression against women. This is the reason they now seem so out of time and place.

The women still cling to the religion with a greater intensity than men.

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For a scholarly study of the role of the Female in Islam see Sachiko Murata`s The Tao of Islam.

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``Historically, all religions have been a source of great oppression against women. This is the reason they now seem so out of time and place. The women still cling to the religion with a greater intensity than men.``

To add to the first sentence:

Historically, all religions have been a source of great oppression against women; and men have taken full advantage of this aspect!

Just an observation: Often times, Muslim Men do not take the rules and regulations ordained by the religion seriously except when it comes to the matters concerning women. This approach is indicative of some kind of insecurity vs. any love or respect towards certain set of rules.

By the way, some men(on an individual basis) are also devout in their religious practices (this excludes the type who is crazy about keeping women under control). They may not practice the same way as women do, but they have their own way of connecting to God. And they need not be under the influence of some exotic stuff. It`s just a human`s way of connecting to a supreme being. And, it`s not specific to Muslims. I have come across a wide variety of nice people/mentors/friends/colleagues over the course of my life. Fortunately or unfortunately, barring 2 or 3 none happened to be Muslims. Some are my die hard friends and will remain so inshallah, for their authentic self always stands out.

i read some where
in earliarpart of history women ruled over every thing.they held all governmental posts,all religious positio nof power,all places of influences of commerance,science,healing.men were only to fertilize females eggs and move heavy objects.they did heavy phycial labor and makesure children were produced and protected,after long subortanation one of the male ,who was intelligent enough invent satin and over come females
from that on he is enjoying the fruit of his efforts.

Sushil:

The article charts its own course. This is very nice.

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Reply # 11 ZahraJ

I agree with you.

The Muslims remain confused because they (most semi-literate ones) tend to follow each line and comma of the scripture instead of following the spirit behind the scripture.

Thanks to the Saudi Arabia, Mulla Omar`s Islam has gained in recent years instead of Moeen-ud-din Chishti`s Sufist Islam.

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