The world’s major religions are patriarchal. All may not have begun that way, but across centuries have been distorted by men to empower themselves over women. Until these faiths free themselves from their addiction to power over women, they will continue to harm us all.
Extremist patriarchal religions openly subject women/non binary folks to economic, political, physical violence. More subtle forms disempower women in patronizing/dismissive ways. It requires deep spiritual self reflection by men to reject those aspects of our faiths that openly offer us control over women. Many men have successfully done so.
But most heads of the major faiths have failed to acknowledge their faith’s foundational role in teaching and enforcing patriarchal control over women. Even if there is limited acknowledgement, systemic change is not forthcoming. Faiths continue to refuse leadership roles for women, for example.
No faith can pretend to be an expression of the divine while relegating women, or any group of people, to second class status. That is not a reflection of the divine. It is an expression of the most vile appetites and earthbound failings of men.
How many faiths made the soulless calculation over centuries that they could bring men into their faith if they offered those men control over women’s bodies? How many faiths supporting the criminalization of abortion are making that calculation right now, today? All of them.
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Previously published on Medium
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