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Mr. Carter's Own Interpretations
Former president Jimmy Carter and other world leaders issued this statement: "The justification of discrimination against women and girls on grounds of religion or tradition, as if it were prescribed by a Higher Authority, is unacceptable." What's your reaction to these statements? Are 'male interpretations of religious texts' to blame for the 'deprivation of women's equal rights?'
I have spent most of my adult life arguing against gender discrimination within the Christian community, and I will stay at it. I hope that similar patterns of active advocacy will continue within Judaism, Islam and other religious communities. Having said that, I have to confess that Mr. Carter's declaration makes me nervous.
If it means calling all governments to grant equal rights and opportunities to women, I am all for it. This emphasis is central to the advocacy of democratic values. But if it means telling Orthodox Jews, various branches of Islam, and Christian fundamentalists how they must structure their practices within their faith communities, I consider it very dangerous.
All power to evangelicals who argue on theological grounds for gender equality within their faith communities -- and the same for Muslims and Jews. But I do not want Mr. Carter and his friends trying to force me to go against my own theology, or the theology of my fellow religionists -- with whom I want to continue arguing about such matters.
By
Richard Mouw
|
July 21, 2009; 10:13 AM ET
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Posted by: kjohnson3 | July 22, 2009 4:45 PM
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Well said, Dr. Mouw. It is a little one-world-religion-ish for me. It ought to be enough to combat sexism and violence. They are the Elders of what, one might ask, of the world? Who elected THEM?
Because in their way of thinking it may be sexist or violent that we (Catholics) do not ordain women does not mean that it is so. And hundreds of millions of Catholic women apparently agree, or at least don't feel strongly enough about it to leave, at any rate.
In any event, we are not going to be told what to do by a bunch of outsiders who don't even know us.
Posted by: withouthavingseen | July 21, 2009 3:49 PM
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The comments to this entry are closed.
"But I do not want Mr. Carter and his friends trying to force me to go against my own theology, or the theology of my fellow religionists..."
Mr. Mouw,
How do you choose which aspects of equality are acceptable to your theology and which are not?
Do you feel it is your role -- or that of your church -- to define "equality"?
Is your "equality" better than my "equality"?
Was George Orwell right when he had one of his characters observe that everyone is equal but some are more equal than others?
Until we agree that equality is based on the premise that all people are deserving of the same respect and the same opportunities, we will permit "separate but equal" scenarios to exist and endure.