Right, so the religious text I'm most familiar with is the Bible, but I shall mention other sources in my argument. Recently, I've been increasingly active in researching and discussing women's issues on an international level. One discussion I had recently with some friends was the role of women in the Bible. There were, as with most arguments, two sides to it. There were some who said that women have been removed from the Bible, placed in minor roles, or in some cases, totally dismissed. Then, there were those who said that women featured prominently considering the context. For example, consider the Gospels and the way in which Jesus treats women with respect and equality.
Since that discussion, I have thought about my conclusion to this and today, I finally came to it. First of all, both sides of the argument are valid. Today, women have advanced beyond imagination in last two thousand years. Therefore, to a modern women, the role of women in the Bible can be viewed as minor and insignificant. However, it's important not to take the writing out of its context. Often, you will hear people question the omni benevolence of God, and the clear patriarchy presented in the Bible, "How can this be 'the word of God' if Paul is telling wives to be "submissive to [their] husbands"? In my view, Paul's writings were ahead of his time. Although he tells wives to be submissive, he demands respect from both husband and wife. Therefore, Jesus' message was not the final word, but the word suitable for people at the time. Something that they could comprehend whilst at the same time, move forward in humanity. I like to think of it in levels. If you are playing at Level 1, you are not mentally/physically equipped to jump to Level 10. You have to take each level as it comes to you. Therefore Christ's message, for argument's sake, was Level 3, and that seems so simplistic for people several levels ahead in our day and age. A classic example is the phrase in the Old Testament "An eye for an eye". Nowadays, people claim that the God in the Old Testament is very different from the God in the New Testament. Indeed, it cannot be denied, but the phrase "an eye for an eye", although seeming vulgar and retributive to us, was once the way forward. People would take more than what had been stolen from them, so God called for exact retribution, to only take what has been taken from you. When people had morally developed, they were able to here "turn the other cheek."
However, although we should definitely view the Bible within it's context, I feel it is undeniable that women have been downplayed in the Bible. I recently discovered a site that argued against this view:
http://www.womeninthebible.net/
This site covers countless stories of women in the Bible. However, just because there are many stories of women, does not mean that these women are presented in a positive or fair light. For example, simply because there are many villains in almost every fairy-tale doesn't mean that the villain is an admirable character. I read through many of these stories of women and there is a common theme. Women are often presented as either a saint or a sinner, which has resulted in the virgin/whore dichotomy that women suffer today. Consider, Samson and Delilah - Delilah has become the eponym of a 'Delilah'; a treacherous and cunning femme fatale. Many of the women are sexually promiscuous and consequently the downfall of men. Therefore, women nowadays are often either considered "sluts"/ "nymphomaniacs" or "prudes". There is often no middle-ground and if there is, it's a very fine line.
I am currently reading a book called "The Angel's Game" by Carol Ruiz Zafon. I think this quote sheds light on what I'm trying to say.
"The main pillar of every organised religion, with few exceptions, is the subjugation, repression, even the annulment of women in the group. Woman must accept the role of an ethereal, passive and maternal presence, never of authority or independence, or she will have to take the consequences. She might have a place of honour in the symbolism, but not in the hierarchy. Religion and war are male pursuits. And anyhow, women sometimes end up becoming the accomplice in her own subjugation."
I think this is the main point here, although to a minor extent women are presented, and perhaps considering the context of the time, have a more equal role than they had ever enjoyed before, this does not translate into real life. Indeed, "she might have place of honour in the symbolism, but not in the hierarchy." I think many women will, after reading the numerous ways in which Jesus helped women, agree to the general equality of them. I think this gives women a certain illusion that they have power that is not really there, or is at least very difficult to grab hold of. Indeed, women appear in the Bible, but a great deal less than men. It is likely that there were more female disciples than mentioned, and there are indeed gospels written by women that were totally ignored when the Early Church was deciding which books to put into the Bible.
Once again, although the inequality is apparent to many, considering the time, the biblical texts were ahead of their time.
Here are some quotes from Baha'u'llah (a modern prophet - C19 - from the Baha'i faith) to dwell on:
"Exalted, immensely exalted is He Who hath removed differences and established harmony...[T]he Pen of the Most High hath lifted distinctions from between His servants and handmaidens and ... hath conferred upon all a station and rank on the same plane."
"Women and men have been and will always be equal in the sight of God."
"Know ye not why We created you all from the same dust? That no one should exalt himself over the other. Ponder at all times in your hearts how ye were created. Since We have created you all from one same substance it is incumbent on you to be even as one soul, to walk with the same feet, eat with the same mouth and dwell in the same land, that from your inmost being, by your deeds and actions, the signs of oneness and the essence of detachment may be made manifest."
And finally, a particularly good analogy about men and women:
The world of humanity is possessed of two wings: the male and the female. So long as these two wings are not equivalent in strength, the bird will not fly. Until womankind reaches the same degree as man, until she enjoys the same arena of activity, extraordinary attainment for humanity will not be realized; humanity cannot wing its way to heights of real attainment. When the two wings . . . become equivalent in strength, enjoying the same prerogatives, the flight of man will be exceedingly lofty and extraordinary.
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