Monday, March 19, 2007

Women's roles in religion

Are interpretations of sexuality and gender differences creating a struggle for women's equality in religious roles?

"Women and Religion," part of the "Conversations and Controversy" series sponsored by the Catholic Newman Center, was held last Tuesday in room 313 of the Millennium Student Center at 1 p.m.

The event was a conversation with religious leaders from the Catholic, Lutheran and Muslim faiths during which the leaders discussed the role of women in their religion.

M. Waheed Rana, professor of the Center for Anatomical Science and Education at St. Louis University's School of Medicine, said Muslims follow the scripture of the Koran "without any question."

However, he said the equality of the genders in the Islamic religion is not represented properly by what is seen on television."Whatever they show you on TV is totally cultural," he said.

Rana said, according to the Koran, all mankind needs to equally be conscious of their "lord, be conscious of Allah," and demand their rights from one another. He said women who are seen being mistreated in the public eye are not aware of their rights.

"These people doing these things don't let the women know what their rights are," he said.

According to Rana, the treatment of women was that of equality when he was growing up in India.

"The women were all the same," he said, which came from local traditions. Although the Muslim cultures differ greatly in their followers' treatment of women, he said, "the people take these [traditions] very rigidly."

"The local traditions sometimes overshadow the religious factors," Rana said.

Local traditions and interpretations of scripture have also plagued the roles of women in the Catholic and Lutheran religions."It's not easy, God speaks through scriptures and also through community," said Rev. Karen Scherer of Unity Lutheran Church in Bel-Nor.

Scherer said interpretations can "all get mixed up" and from a Lutheran perspective, the scriptures of the Bible are not taken literally.

"We do not interpret it literally. We interpret it culturally," she said.

Teresa Roberson-Mullins, Chaplain of Pastoral Care for SSM DePaul Heath Center in Bridgeton, said the Catholic theory of "in persona Christi" which teaches "that Christ is the groom and the church is his bride" is a stumbling block for women's roles in her religion.

"This is where the church struggles. Do we take this literally or figuratively?" Roberson-Mullins said. "If we do [take it literally], does that mean the congregation should be all women?"

Roberson-Mullins said new Catholic teachings on the theology of the body will help followers understand how to interpret the scriptures through discussion of gender differences and sexuality.

"We've got to come out of the closet and admit that we are sexual beings," she said.

"Dealing with sexuality, we don't know what to do with that," Scherer said. When men and women are around each other, she said, "there is that desire to touch one another," it can take the focus off prayer.

Desire and loss of focus on prayer accounts for the only time a woman cannot perform a religious rite in Islam. Rana said when men are present during a prayer, a woman should not lead it.

"When [a man is] standing in the front, the woman would bend over and this will distract [him]," he said.

Aside from this one condition, Rana said "women can excel anywhere they want" in Islamic religious responsibilities, careers and life in general.

Roberson-Mullins said women's roles in religions can become "unstuck" if we simply learn from each other's religions and cultures.

15 comments:

yashuwa said...

Hello,
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Speedcat Hollydale said...

Right ON!

Keep on postin` - Speedcat Hollydale

Email: eric@mookhunter.com

Website: http://www.speedcathollydale.blogspot.com

BETO said...

i still think gender role is important not only in religion but also in society.

i dont have any prove or too lazy to find it but i believe a clear distinction between the role of man and woman in society directly related to the divorce rate in that society.

Bijoy said...

yeah they have the problems of gender in most of the religus stuff.Bans of entry i think in the eyes of god there is no gender he treat equaliy then why human seprate. good article kewl blog like to visit again be in touch


Biby Cletus
Kerala,
India

Rudy Wellsand said...

Interesting site on culture. I'm glad to see women's roles in society increasing.

The Biblical view with regard to salvation, treats women as equal to men,,,BOTH can come, based on certain conditions God has imposed(without regard to gender)!

DID YOU KNOW THAT YOU CAN ACTUALLY READ "CODES" RIGHT OUT OF YOUR OWN BIBLE, that "CONTROL" your Destiny?

See the "CHOSEN"Code and "COLOR"Code; VISIT: http://quadcode.blogspot.com !

Save or Print it to study.

HAVE A MUCH MORE "BRIGHTER" FUTURE!

bluegreenplant said...

The best religion is ATERM, all the religions mixed. Too much of one thing is exactly what it is.

Curtis Greene said...

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-blessed holy socks, the non-perishable-zealot said...

Very true.

Anonymous said...

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ANGEL'S ZONE said...

i think the women's role is still important!~
welcome every body to my blog!~

Erdos56 said...

It's amusing to watch the wiggling over the issue of inerrancy: "Yeah, the books are incorruptible and perfect yet somehow we have trouble interpreting all this stuff due to culture. If only our ignorant neighbors would get it right. Oh, and men can't control themselves."

sam said...

What for religion is?
So what can be the role of women in religion?

Professor Howdy said...

Hello!
Very good posting.
Thank you - Have a good day!!!

Valu said...

Oh, most beautiful flower of Mt. Carmel, fruitful vine, splendor of heaven, blessed Mother of the Son of God. Immaculate Virgin, assist me in my necessity. Oh Star of the Sea, help me and show me, herein you are my Mother.
Oh, Holy Mary, Mother of God, Queen of Heaven and Earth! I humbly beseech you from the bottom of my heart to answer me in this necessity. There are none that can withstand your power. Oh, show me herein you are my mother. Oh, Mary conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee (3x). Holy Mother, I place this cause in your hands (3x). Sweet Mother, I place this cause in your hands (3x). Holy Spirit, you who solve all problems, light all roads so that I can attain my goal, you who gave me the divine gift to forgive and forget all evil against me, and that in all instances in my life you are with me. I want in this short prayer to thank you for all things as you confirm once again that I never want to be separated from you in eternal glory.
Thank you for your mercy towards me and mine.

The person must say this prayer 3 consecutive days, after 3 days the request will be granted. This prayer must be published after the favor is granted. BVM

Valu said...

Oh, most beautiful flower of Mt. Carmel, fruitful vine, splendor of heaven, blessed Mother of the Son of God. Immaculate Virgin, assist me in my necessity. Oh Star of the Sea, help me and show me, herein you are my Mother.
Oh, Holy Mary, Mother of God, Queen of Heaven and Earth! I humbly beseech you from the bottom of my heart to answer me in this necessity. There are none that can withstand your power. Oh, show me herein you are my mother. Oh, Mary conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee (3x). Holy Mother, I place this cause in your hands (3x). Sweet Mother, I place this cause in your hands (3x). Holy Spirit, you who solve all problems, light all roads so that I can attain my goal, you who gave me the divine gift to forgive and forget all evil against me, and that in all instances in my life you are with me. I want in this short prayer to thank you for all things as you confirm once again that I never want to be separated from you in eternal glory.
Thank you for your mercy towards me and mine.

The person must say this prayer 3 consecutive days, after 3 days the request will be granted. This prayer must be published after the favor is granted. BVM