On this website we explore academic evidence to posit that prejudice and discrimination against women, though frequently practiced in the name of religion, actually originate from cultural sources. But the final question, obviously, remains: how is ‘God’ related to prejudice against women? Is ‘God’ ultimately responsible for prejudice against women, or is that not the case?
If we assert that ‘God’ himself/herself is NOT the cause of prejudice against women, what is this assertion based on?
Do we base it on the experiences of women, on GOD’s transcendence, on factual evidence or what?
In other words: we are looking for a wider understanding that transcends a mere analysis of historical developments in the world’s major religions. Is there something intrinsically incompatible between gender discrimination and the ultimate Mystery lying behind our universe, the Mystery we call ‘God’?
Have you published on this question from your own religious background? Do you know other authors in your religion who have written about this?
In ancient there was no clear-cut distinction between religious and secular. Whatever was good for humans was divinely sanctioned, and even ‘promoted’.
I am inclined to think that the ‘second’ place of women in our society goes back to the ealiest part of our common history: the gathering stage. Our ancestors lived on what they could easily get: fruits, leaves, etc. Then gradually they became trappers and hunters, then domesticators and shepherds. In those stages pregnant women would work practically till a few hours before delivery. But then for some weeks and months, depending on the health of the child, their mobility would be less, more so because breastfeeding was normal, and it continued for a long time. This biological situation slowly becomes a sociological situation: men become more important and patriarchy evolves. We need data coming fromcultural anthropology, especially from those studies that are based on the data emerging from the most primal communities to be found today in some remote forests and deserts.
My latest book “The Divine Feminine: Towards a Biblical Gynaecology” (Bangalore, Claretian Publications 2015) is an attempt to see how the Bible understands woman. The first two chapters show that in the Oldh and New Testsment we can see God being presented with motherly features. The third sndfourth chapters discuss how the Old and New Testament view woman.
thanks so much for your contribution and excited about your book – please share more! Indeed the social context together with biology created the context for patriarchy.
Looking forward to hearing from others who will add to your insights or engage more