Intersection of Religion & Patriarchy
The Shift Within: How We End Oppression and Divisiveness to Create Liberation and Indivisibility for All
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Intersection of Religion & Patriarchy
It’s impossible to discuss religion without discussing patriarchy. Religion and patriarchy evolved and emerged into human societies around the same time with religion serving to further embed and justify patriarchal social norms. The foundational principle of patriarchy is centered on the idea of separation and control, where individuals are separated from themselves, other living beings, and nature.
The societal structures that have been developed over the past approximately 10,000 years are founded on the concepts of dominance and submission, and the dominant worldview has been established to justify these structures as necessary to overcome our innate nature and the natural world, which is seen as distinct from humanity. As a result, patriarchy allows only a select few men to have access to power within society, while most men have limited power in relation to women and children, depriving all men of vital elements of their humanity. This is an immense injustice that leads to violence, including physical, emotional, and spiritual harm inflicted upon boys and men.
There are several ways that, historically, religion has been used to uphold patriarchy. Specifically in the Abrahamic religions of Judaism, Islam, & Christianity which are among the most common and influential religions in the world. In all three religions, men have traditionally held positions of religious authority, such as priests, rabbis, imams, and scholars.
This has limited the opportunities for women to participate in religious leadership roles and has reinforced the idea that men are the natural leaders and authorities in religious matters. The holy books of these religions have been interpreted in patriarchal ways, which has reinforced gender hierarchies. For example, passages in the Bible, Quran, and Torah have been used to justify male dominance over women and to limit women's participation in certain activities, such as public speaking and religious leadership.
Many religious rituals and practices have been designed with men in mind, which has excluded women or relegated them to secondary roles. For example, in Orthodox Judaism, only men can perform certain rituals, and women are not allowed to read from the Torah in public. In some Christian denominations, only men can be priests, and women are not allowed to lead certain aspects of worship. Religious moral codes have often been defined by men, and have been used to control women's behavior and enforce gender roles. For example, women's clothing and behavior have been strictly regulated in many religious communities, with an emphasis on modesty and obedience to male authority.
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