Women and religion

[claymore]

Do you think that most of the worlds major religions regard women as somewhat inferior to men,in as much as , .. forbidden to become priests,Muslim women with all the constraints put on them, to love honor and OBEY! in the marriage ceremony, and all the other rules and regulations designed to keep them subjugated to men?

[AB Editor]

Sikh's have a concept of equality: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Women_in_Sikhism

"According to Sikhism, men and women are two sides of the same coin of the human race, a system of inter-relation and inter-dependence in which man takes birth from a woman, and woman is born of a man. Also, according to Sikhism a man can never feel secure and complete during his life without a woman, and a man's success depends upon the love and support of the woman who shares her life with him, and vice-versa. The founder of Sikhism, Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji, reportedly said in 1499 that "[it] is a woman who keeps the race going" and that we should not "consider woman cursed and condemned, [when] from woman are born leaders and rulers.""

[beso]

The concept of the woman as the temptress and agent of evil who exploits the man's sexual vulnerability is entrenched in the Abrahamic faiths.

[ummmm]

I like that Ed :-)

When you watch TV and you see religious families...the woman is often in charge.

[naomi24]

Yes I do.

[ludwig]

// Do you think that most of the worlds major religions regard women as somewhat inferior to men //

Yes. Historically men made the rules, and the people who make the rules tend to make them to suit themselves.

[123everton]

I think traditionally women have been treated as second class citizens regardless of religion or politics.
That's why we had an equality movement in the late 19th early 20th century.
Things are changing, certainly within the C of E, but even with these welcome changes it comes in for criticism from within and without the creed for not being traditionally doctrinal.
I don't feel it's entirely accurate to say women have no rights in other countries.
You've stated Muslims in the question (them again, yawn) but when you examine Muslim families you see that the Mother is held in very high regard, sons are subject and subordinate to her.
Confucious had a very low opinion of women too, I think he said "let the frustrations of the Mother be visitedupon the daughter in law" or something like that, until very recently that was exactly the case in China.

[naomi24]

//Historically men made the rules, and the people who make the rules tend to make them to suit themselves.//

Ludwig is right - and whilst that applies to both religion and politics, religion, with its practice of subjugating women, has wielded an insurmountable influence on culture throughout the centuries and must therefore ultimately be held responsible.