Gender and religion

There are several notable issues relating to gender and religion. These include both religious comment on secular society and views regarding traditional forms of religious communities themselves. For example, internal religious issues include the roles and rights of men and women in religious government, education and worship. Religious persectives on social issues in the general community notably include comment on values regarding family units or norms of sexual behaviour. For example, contrasting religious perspectives have been expressed that either endorse or condemn alternative family structures, including homosexual relationships, and some have lobbied for "unborn child protection" laws. [ [http://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/prod/parlment/NSWBills.nsf/1d4800a7a88cc2abca256e9800121f01/d598da2bcf9adfd0ca257186007f644c!OpenDocument 'Unborn Child Protection Bill'] , State Parliament of New South Wales, 2006.]

Gender segregation

Many religions have traditionally practiced sex segregation.

In traditional Jewish synagogues, the women's section is separated from the men's' section by a wall or curtain called a mechitza.cite web|url=http://www.jewfaq.org/shul.htm|title=Synagogues, Shuls and Temples|work=jewfaq.org|accessdate=2007-02-25] Men are not permitted to pray in the presence of women, to prevent distraction. The "mechitza" shown in the picture on the right is one in a synagogue affiliated with the 'left wing' (more modern side) of Modern Orthodox Judaism, which requires the "mechitza" to be of the height shown in the picture. More traditional or 'right wing' Modern Orthodox Judaism, and all forms of Haredi Judaism, requires the "mechitza" to be of a type which absolutely prevents the men from seeing the women.

Feminist religious movements

Feminist theology is a movement, generally in Christianity and Judaism, to reconsider the traditions, practices, scriptures, and theologies of their religion from a feminist perspective.

Several theologians have considered women as morally inferior to men, and many have considered women the source of temptations, especially sexual temptations, for men. In traditions where God is considered male, there is sometimes a view that men are more like God than women, in some cases leading to a view of male superiority and female inferiority.

Likewise, those who practice feminist spirituality may adhere to a feminist re-interpretation of Western monotheistic traditions. In these cases, the notion of God as having a male gender is rejected, and God is not referred to using male pronouns.

Gender and religious leadership roles

Some religions restrict leadership roles by gender.

Christian denominations vary in their positions on ordaining women, with some forbidding the practice and others fully endorsing it. Islam has specific rules on when women may act as imams.

Women as theological figures

Female theological figures have played a significant role in the development of various religions and religious hierarchies. The Virgin Mary, the mother of Jesus of Nazareth, is key figure in Catholicism while Nakayama Miki was the founder of Tenrikyo, which may be the largest religion to have a woman founder.

Gender of God

The gender or genderlessness of God is a controversial issue in monotheistic and some henotheistic religions. In Christianity, however, one Person of the Trinity, the Son, is believed to have become incarnate as a human male. Most Christians believe that the other two Persons in the Trinity, the Father and the Holy Spirit, have never been incarnated, hence having masculine gender rather than male sex.

pecific religions

More information on the role of gender in specific religions:

* Bahá'í Faith - Bahá'í Faith and gender equality
* Buddhism - Women in Buddhism
* Christianity - Women in Christianity
** Mormonism - Women and Mormonism
* Hinduism - Women in Hinduism
* Islam - Women in Islam
* Judaism - Gender and Judaism, Women in Judaism
* Sikhism - Women in Sikhism

ee also

*Sex segregation
*Religious views on transgender people
*Religion and sexuality

References

External links

* [http://www.atheistfoundation.org.au/womenbible.htm Women in the Bible]