"There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus." (Galatians 3:28)
Normally I don't just repost something written by a single author, in this case an "op-ed" piece, however, it is by Jimmy Carter, an ex-president I respect on a topic about which I feel more strongly than people who regularly read me might ever guess.
Mr. Carter is well-known as a Christian and I either don't consider myself a Christian or I consider myself as much a Buddhist as a Christian as I was raised in a Christian family but left much of that behind. All that that to underscore that I find great value in Carter's article.
Plus it seems fit for a Sunday post.
The article is on Common Dreams this morning and begins with Mr. Carter describing his reasons for leaving the SBC back in 2000:
So my decision to sever my ties with the Southern Baptist Convention, after six decades, was painful and difficult. It was, however, an unavoidable decision when th e convention's leaders, quoting a few carefully selected Bible verses and claiming that Eve was created second to Adam and was responsible for original sin, ordained that women must be "subservient" to their husbands and prohibited from serving as deacons, pastors or chaplains in the military service. This was in conflict with my belief - confirmed in the holy scriptures - that we are all equal in the eyes of God.
Mr. Carter goes on to point out, as we all know, that this mentality is not limited to Christians or Muslims, but is found in all faiths.
I am married to a woman from 8000 miles away, from a culture very different from American culture. She treats me unimaginably well and it is perpetually humbling.
So many "conservative men" probably dream of being treated like I am, or, worse, insist/demand/coerce this treatment from "their woman" and may or may not get it. I am deluged in her care. After 4 years I am still unused to it, I know for a fact I do not take it for granted because I am always finding myself asking her to not do so many things for me, to sit and rest, to enjoy her time and so forth, but this just flows from her. It's a cultural artifact. I feel like I don't deserve it.
But MANY men seem to think they DO deserve it and they will base this on questionable interpretations of "The Bible". All across the world, transcending culture and religious beliefs, men feel the need to engage in brutal oppression of women, feeling justified, I suppose, in trying to force them to act like my wife.
This discrimination, unjustifiably attributed to a Higher Authority, has provided a reason or excuse for the deprivation of women's equal rights across the world for centuries. The male interpretations of religious texts and the way they interact with, and reinforce, traditional practices justify some of the most pervasive, persistent, flagrant and damaging examples of human rights abuses.
At their most repugnant, the belief that women must be subjugated to the wishes of men excuses slavery, violence, forced prostitution, genital mutilation and national laws that omit rape as a crime. But it also costs many millions of girls and women control over their own bodies and lives, and continues to deny them fair access to education, health, employment and influence within their own communities.
There are times when I wonder if I am a "real man" because I won't treat a woman remotely like this.
But I see this as unacceptably primitive and view myself as highly evolved by comparison. The drive to squash women's right's and freedoms and personal development is among the worst things the human species has to offer, as far as I am concerned. I cannot imagine discounting a person's opinion or entitlements simply because they are a woman. This is Life and we are all people. Period. Some people are good, some people are not so good. Race, sex, religion, etc.. don't give us a clue whether you are a good person or a bad person. Sorry.
Mr. Carter finishes, stating that the choice of "religious leaders" who should clearly know better have chosen to make the wrong interpretation of Jesus's teachings for their own selfish ends. What could be more Un-Christian?:
Their continuing choice provides the foundation or justification for much of the pervasive persecution and abuse of women throughout the world. This is in clear violation not just of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights but also the teachings of Jesus Christ, the Apostle Paul, Moses and the prophets, Muhammad, and founders of other great religions - all of whom have called for proper and equitable treatment of all the children of God. It is time we had the courage to challenge these views.
Doc's statement for today:
Just because we are all Children of God does not excuse acting like children.