Feminist perspective of religion

Question 1

Jean holm: men dominate leadership positions

Answer 1

Important positions + public poncements are made - men are dominate + receive a large amount of credit for the roles

Question 2

Jean holm: evidence

Answer 2

Christianity- god, Jesus + discipilies were made only men can become priests + pope

Judaism - only men can become rabbis

Question 3

Jean holm: critics

Answer 3

Some religions are progressing eg. Church of England - woman vicars + bishops

Women have greater power in their areas of society e.g. work + education

If religion is less significant - how does it show male dominance

Question 4

Sacred texts are interpreted by men: nawal el sadqawi

Answer 4

Cultures of early societies were patriarchal

• men were able to use their power to occupy positions of influence within religion - men dominate the interpretation of scriptures

Question 5

Nawal: evidence

Answer 5

Eve is usually portrayed by male theologians as a temptress who created sin in the world

Question 6

Nawal: criticisms

Answer 6

In modern society men still use their power to place women in subordinate roles not exclusive to religion

Question 7

Mary dary: women are seen as a distraction to men

Answer 7

Early Catholic Church eliminated other ‘ older goddess ‘ religions such as paganism paves the way for male dominance + church have purposely downplayed the role of female figures

Question 8

Mary dary: Evidence

Answer 8

Mary Magdalene’s - interpreted as being one of Jesus closet friends - 591AD, pope declared she was a sinner

Question 9

Mary dary: critics

Answer 9

Issue within wider society not just religion - woman are often discredited

Quakers - women are at the centre

Question 10

Simone de Beauvoir: women have fewer rights in religion

Answer 10

Saw religion as a successful strategy used by men to control women

• men usually control religious organisations + claim that their autonomy recovers from god

Question 11

Simone: evidence

Answer 11

Man is master by divine right

Question 12

Simone: critics

Answer 12

Outdated in 21st century - women are aware of their lack of power in most cases

More women now in positions of power

Question 13

Cohen + Kennedy: religious fundamentalism openly denies woman rights

Answer 13

Followers of fundamentalist faith groups - that is extremely constructive branches of mainstream factions - openly oppressive of women - due to the rising power of women is viewed as a threat to male authority

Question 14

Cohen + Kennedy: evidence

Answer 14

Fundamentalism in Islam has been problematical for women in counties like Pakistan, where the Taliban have fought to prevent women from accessing education - Malala yousafzai

Question 15

Armstrong: rise in anti female fundamentalism tends to have more prominence in monotheistic religion

Answer 15

With one god such as Christianity, the idea of one male god makes it easier to justify to notion of male superiority

When Christianity took over Rome - texts were destroyed + made clear the male was in charge - notion of patriarchy in religion has continued for another 2000yrs