Gender Bias in the Religion Essay

The term godliness refers to a hu adult valetnish spectral approach shot which comprises of practices, spirits, and symbols which agree a supernatural step or signifi sightce. This gives a follower of a minded(p) devotion the meaning to the feeling experiences in fictitious character to the truth. The question of whether in that location is sexual practice turn in the spectral belief has triggered some(prenominal) debates and discussions in the past and in the travel(a) golf club. In decree to touch on whether on that point is sexual practice virgule in the pietism, single requires knowing ab kayoed the archives of the major religions that d nearly and the state of wo custody and institute force in the religions.The claims that sexual practice prejudice exist in the religion emanates from the opinion that wowork force seems to be beat outed in the religion. However, nigh suggest that sexuality stroke has been elevated by covering of ghostly be liefs in a minus way. Every religion has posed manipulations of two workforce and wo workforce and these differences wealthy per give-and-take aspireed an central manipulation in promoting grammatical gender twine. In altogether(a) the religions, gender deviate is think to the possessive subprogram that hands diarrhea in the religion and in the purchase order.The ghostly perception of who hands and wowork force argon and their procedure determines is an important factor in find out whether gender deflect in the religion exists. In this paper, the question of whether religion curve exists in the religion w trial strain on some of the most familiar religions in the world Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Hindooism and Buddhism. Argu ments on wherefore each of these religions is considered to consent gender predetermine will be presented. In addition, the beliefs in the religions that speak against gender prepossess will be discussed Discussion sex activit y bow in Christianity Christianity is a religion whereby the spiritual beliefs and practices ar establish on the commands of savior Christ. Christians ar evaluate to follow the teachings and the spiritual beliefs that were taught by messiah. In Christianity, gender bias is cerebrate to the dominant role of men in the religion and the rules of order as comp argond to that of a char. concord to the ledger in Genesis126-28, some(prenominal) man and fair sex were created adjoin and in deitys im shape up. coetaneous criticism of Christianity has been attri hardlyed to its gender bias.According to the volume, the gillyflower of sin is considered to pretend come from the cleaning lady. around people re give ear used this spiritual teaching to consider women inferior to men. a nonher(prenominal) argument that is presented to justify gender bias in Christianity is that almost all the writers of the dedicated Scriptures were men, with the exceptions of the book of Es hter. Only a a few(prenominal) women go ind in the writing of the scriptures. However, women deplete a strong presence in the beatified Scriptures. These women include, Eshter, Naomi, Deborah, Rachel, Mary Magdalene, and the Virgin Mary.Christian beliefs and attitudes pee varied based on the societies indoors which the Christians have lived. Because Christianity by its holy scriptures regulate gender roles for twain(prenominal) women and men, lack of interest group or nominal involvement of women in church service leading is considered to be gender bias in the religion. Women until the stake half(a) of the twentieth century were non allowed to conduce part in ecclesiastical and artless office duties. Only men were allowed to start out spiritual duties in these offices.This traditionalistic billet of Christianity still remains influential in some Christian denominations (Gilbert, 2006). For in em ramblement, the Eastern Judaic-Orthodoxy, the roman print Catholic and the Complementarian Protestants still have men dominating the church leadership. Although women may enrol in church leadership, their role is nominal as comp ard to the mens dominant role. For ex international amperele, the top leadership vexs such as those of bishops, archbishops, and priests argon reserved for men firearm women play a minor role in top leadership.The fact that women have a little role to play in the religions top hierarchy is considered to be gender bias in Christianity The role of women in the church is considered to have been overlooked, downplayed or denied throughout the Christian hi falsehood. The minimal battle of women in ghostly duties contri buted to the domination of men in the society and in presidential term leadership. During the Patristic age, exactly men were allowed to take the phantasmal teachings offices and sacramental ministry.The Christian society for a long time has non considered it right to have women serve in the c hurch top leadership However, in the wee centuries, the Eastern church allowed women to participate in church leadership to a limited extent by ordaining women as deac binglesses. The Western church reserved the office staff of deacon for men only when. In the past churches such as the Roman Catholic, Coptic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church, church leadership move to be reserved for men only. Up to date, these churches have the position of the pope, bishop, archbishops, and priests strictly reserved for men.Women serve the church as nuns. An some other argument that is presented to curb gender bias in Christianity is the selection of all savior apostles as men (The honourable spick-and-spans Bible, Mark 313-35). Christians believe that rescuer was the son of God who suffered, died, and resurrected for their salvation. Jesus is considered to be the Christians baby-sit of a virtuous purport, a physical embodiment of God, and a revealer of Gods message. The New Testam ent gospel is a create verbally account of Jesus life. According to Christianity, Jesus had twelve disciples who were all men whom he appointed to be the leaders of the church.This is viewed as the reason why church leadership is often reserved for men. Because priests represent Jesus, consequently having antheral priests is considered to be right. Women ar non ordained as priests in Christian churches which still switch the traditional stance of having church leadership received for women. sexuality bias in Christianity is attributed to lack of lodge of women as priests. Women can only work as nuns but cannot be sublime to the positions of priests, bishops or pope in phantasmal hierarchy (Roman Catholic). In the ancient Christian societies, only men served as priests.In early Christianity, the phantasmal police take shapers or the Pharisees applied religious laws that discriminated women . According to the effective News Bible in john 81-6,the Pharisees brought an a char fair sex to Jesus who they claimed had committed adultery. According to the Pharisees, the law of Moses need them to stone her to death. Jesus told them that the only one to stone the woman would be the one who had never committed a sin. none of the Pharisees stoned the woman. Jesus showed mercy to the woman referable to the injustice that was being make to her since no punishment was being accustomed to the womans sexual partner. isolated from such interposition against women by the traditional Jewish societies, rules that were put in place envisioned women as inferior to men. For example, men were not sibylline to speak to women publicly. newfang conduct Christianity teaches against such treatment based on Jesus teachings against the discrimination of women. Christianity advocates for men as the head of the family (McGrath, 2006). A woman who was created from man is meant to be a companion and a helper to a man, a belief that has made man to be viewed as superior to a woman . The wreak of this belief has promoted gender bias in the church and in a Christian society.The superiority of man over a woman which is certificationed by the scriptures has continued to influence the perception of women. The doctrine of consecrated trinity in Christianity has been used to make do that men ar the best suit in representing Jesus who is the son of God, who is besides considered to be Him just wish in Islam and Judaism. Although Christianity has been criticized for promoting gender bias, it has besides spoken openly against ill treatment of women. In the story of creation, man and woman were created differently but they were supposed to work together as equals.A man and a woman in a marriage be meant to love and respect each other (The Good News Bible, Ephesians 531-33). The early Christian society which discriminated women (the Pharisees) was criticized by Jesus. In addition, Jesus preached against injustice on women and showed gentleness towards them. Christianity is said to ac knowledge the important role of a woman because Jesus who is the Christians model of a virtuous life authentic women, including those who were seen to be sinners. In the early church, women were show to be teachers, leaders, and apostles (Rebecca, 1997).The New Testament through the letter of capital of Minnesota to Timothy preaches against discrimination. Apostle Paul asks Christians to treat each other well with respect, and the younger women with absolute purity. In Galatians 338 the Bible states that there is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, antheral nor feminine, for you argon all one in Christ Jesus . These teachings oppose roles that promote gender bias. The church has continued to promote the important grade of women through the Virgin Mary. However, the issue of gender bias in the church has led to the formation of womens battlefronts with the aim of ever-changing the role of women in the church.For example, the Christian femin ism movement is trying to challenge some traditional Christian interpretations of the holy place Scriptures which define the role of women. The current debate on gender has promoted Christian feminism and Christian egalitarianism arguments. sexual practice bias in Judaism Judaism is based on the Hebrew Bible which is also referred to as the Torah. The Hebrew Bible is the first section of Tanakh and it comprises of the books of Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deutronomy. Some Jewish laws are not written in the Torah. Those that have been derived from the textual hints are referred to as Oral Torah.The religion just like in Christianity has defined roles for men and women (Elyse, 2008). Women are not allowed to become religious leaders in Judaism. In addition, priests are supposed to marry pure women (Leviticus 2113-14). The Talmud overtaking in Reboot 61a-b indicate that priests should not marry a woman who is indigent unless he has a wife and children. A barren woman i s considered to be a faithless wife. Women do not participate in church leadership although various women such as Miriam (prophetess) and Rachel are recognize in the religion.In the traditional Jewish societies, the women were allowed to play the roles of prophetesses and Nazirites despite their minimal role in the religious matters. Jewish women were expected to participate in religious rituals. Orthodox Judaism portrays gender bias when women were exempted from analyse some advanced Jewish texts although the evolutions of the Orthodox society has resulted changes in such practices. conventional Orthodox rabbis in the contemporary society oppose the change of Judaism accepted norms of ordinance to promote gender equality.These changes include the modern Orthodox Judaism support for more advanced rearing for Jewish women. Furthermore, the issue of whether women should dissect Talmud is still controversial in modern Orthodoxy. In traditional Orthodox Judaism, women are not allo wed to serve as witnesses in a rabbinical court. The traditional exclusion of women testimony as advocated by Judaism is seen as discrimination against women. Jewish women are not ordained as rabbis, although rabbi like positions for Orthodox women have now been created despite legion(predicate) followers opinion that ordaining women as rabbis goes against the Jewish law.The Torah in the book of Exodus 2110 support polygamy which is considered to be gender bias against women (Rabinowitz and Harvey, 2007). Despite the gender bias in Judaism, several women are recognized as role models in the scriptures. modern Judaism has now allowed active enfolding of women in reading the Torah, serving as a cantor, and being part of the Minyan. Gender bias in Conservative Judaism has triggered changes that aim at including mixed seating and promoting synagogue incorporate leadership. Reform Judaism now promotes equality of women and men, supporting(a) women to participate in religious ritua ls early reserved for men.Gender bias in Islam Moslem teachings are based on the teaching of Prophet Muhammad, where the Moslems are needed to observe the five pillars of Islam. Theologically, Islam promotes equality of men and women. The Moslem society however is seen to strand a distinction between men and women. According to the Islam teachings in Al-Baqarah, 2228 and women shall have rights, equal to the rights against them, according to what is equitable, women are equal to men. However, the different status and responsibilities for men and women in Islam depends on the religious interpretations.According to the Quran 4913, Islam promotes equal treatment for both men and women (Stowasser, 1996). Gender bias in Islam is attributed to the shariah law out-of-pocket to its promotion of practices that are to the disadvantage of the women. The shariah law law prevents the mixture of both men and women at the places of worship and the traditional interpretations of Islam are considered to allow polygamy for men. This is seen by some as against the equality of both men and women. Muslim women are not allowed to take religious leadership positions in Islam and a clue for women to become imams is criticized and disputed by many.medieval Muslim women had problems accessing religious education as compared to the men. Women cannot be allowed to lead mixed prayers in the mosque since worshipping at the mosque is done with women and men in separate places. The womens freedom of movement and travel is limited by the Sharia law, and women should only travel together with a male relative (Mumisa, 2002). For instance, the prohibition of women to find in some Muslim societies is considered as the Sharia law discrimination against women. Although this was a move to promote a womans safety, Muslim women are some times prohibited from driving.Some Muslim women have been discriminated against due to extremist Islam beliefs. For example, in Afghanistan women have in t he past been denied access to education and job opportunities. Islamic law has also undermined the involvement of women in leadership and it promotes gender biased inheritance rules which are considered to oppress women . When giving evidence in a court according to Sharia law, a womens evidence is counted as half that of a mans evidence. Islam support polygamy and Shiite Islam is criticized for allowing mota or Sigheh where men can exercise a temporary marriage, and women are expected to submit to such practices.Muslim men are allowed by the Sharia law to marry non Muslim women, while the alike does not apply for Muslim women. Muslim women under Sharia law should not interact with men who are not their relatives unless in presence of a male relative. This is viewed as discouraging social fundamental interaction of women with other members of the society (Safi, 2003). Despite the ill treatment of women in Muslim societies that promote Sharia law, Islam promotes equal rights and d ignity for both men and women. It has been argued that gender bias is linked to Islam not because the religion is biased but due to the practices that exist in Muslim societies.Islam provides women with an equal status to that of men in theory and in practice. The women are apprised of financial security through inheritance whether its during marriage or in case of divorce and widowhood. Islam recognizes a womans role as a wife and as a mother, and it does not prohibit her from seeking employment. Islamic teaching defines men and women as recipient of nobleman breath due to their creation with the aforementioned(prenominal) human-spiritual nature and both men and women are jazzd by Allah as His trustees on earth (Yvonne et al, 2006). Gender bias in BuddhismBuddhism is a religion whose teachings are based on the teachings of Siddhartha Gautama. Buddhism comprises of two branches, Mahayana and Theravada. Buddhists uphold the four noble truths (Eliot, 2003). Women Buddhists can ea sily amalgamate with other members of the society and are given an honorable place in the society. Buddhist women even in the ancient times were able to access religious knowledge and participate in religious ceremonies. However, womens religious roles differ from those of men. For example, religious women are not able to perform religious duties similar to those of the monks.Buddhism teaches that a marriage is a carry between equals. Gender bias is portrayed in the doctrine of Karma and rebirth in Buddhism which supports inherent male superiority. Furthermore, gender bias in Buddhism can be seen in the domination of men in religious leadership. Though Buddhist nuns can hold important religious positions, they are categorize as a group than can occupy a niche in the religious realm and secular world. Buddhism considers women as religiously insufficient hence they have to depend on men to make merit.The religion allows multiple spouses for a man and only one for a woman Both men a nd women in Buddhism are able to realize nirvana equally, although the paths of realizing it vary. Gender equality is promoted in Mahayana Buddhism since it allows the ordination of women to serve in religious duties as Bhikkhunis. Bhikkhunis are also referred to as Buddhist nuns. Buddhism promotes spiritual equality for both men and women a belief that prevents supremacy of males in the religion. This had Buddha acknowledge the spiritual potential of both women and men.For instance, the order of Bhikkhunis or nuns represents the important role of a woman in Buddhism. The Sasana is comprised of Bhikkus (Monks), Bhikkhunis (Nuns), laymen, and laywomen. This ensures that women are not segregated from religious activities. Unlike in Hindooism, funeral rites in Buddhism can be conducted by a widow or a daughter hence the birth of daughters only is not considered as a misfortune. However, male offsprings are preferred in Buddhist societies due to the ideology of male superiority. Gender bias in Hinduism The most arrogant text of Hinduism is the Vedas.The position that is given to both men and women depend on the limited text and context of the Vedas. For example, positive reference to women is given in the Ramayana and Mahabharata, while breastwork on the role of women is given by the Manu smriti (Michaels, 2004). Gender bias in Hinduism is seen in the religious practices. For example, the birth of daughters with no sons becomes requiem due to the importance of a male offspring in funeral rites. When a initiate dies in a Hindu community, only male offspring are allowed to guarantee a family of its happiness by carrying out funeral rites.A wife without a son is therefore superseded by a second or third wife. Male children in this case are highly regarded strange the female children. The religious practice of Sati is criticized for needlelike and giving harsh treatment to women. The sati in Hinduism encourages the immolation of women afterward their husband s death. Although women willingly take part in sati, many cases result from societal inducement or compulsion. Examples of women who are mentioned in Hindu Holy Scriptures to participate in Sati Vasudevas wives (M Bh. Mausalaparvan 7.18) and Madri (M Bh. Adiparvan 95)). The Hindu religious practices promote discrimination of females due to the horticulture of payment of parcel, which makes female children to be viewed as a burden to the family. The religious customs of having the brides family pay dowry to the grooms family has had many female children looked down upon with cases of female infanticide being witnessed . In Manu VIII 416-417,the ownership of property by women is restricted and alienation of Hindu widows from the society has also been attributed to female infanticide.Marriage of females at a very early age and denial of women to marry again after the death of a husband are gender bias religious practices that are still witnessed in some Hindu societies. Apart from th e above arguments that support gender bias against women in Hinduism, the religion supports the participation of women in religious rituals. In addition, both men and women can learn rough the sacred texts of the religion and women have been apprehended due to the representation of some deities in the religion as females (Williams, 2005). ConclusionWhether there is gender bias in the religion is an issue that has triggered heated debates from the people all over the world, especially the religious leaders. In various societies, gender bias has been witnessed. slice some gender bias has been attributed to the religious beliefs and practices of the society members, some bias has been attributed to the culture of the people and not the religion. Various arguments have been presented to prove whether there is gender bias in the religions that exist. Some arguments support the intuitive feeling that there is gender bias in the religion.In all religions, the beliefs, traditions and va lues that are advocated for greatly influence the way of life of the followers. Therefore,the role that different genders play in the society and in fulfilling religious duties are linked to the religious beliefs and traditions upheld by the members of a given society. 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