I’ve read three articles today on the oppression of women by patriarchal religions. It’s not news to me, of course, but the intensity of these outraged lists of the sins of human against human on the basis of genital differences forces me to face the fury and the fear that always lurk within.

http://www.mg.co.za/articlePage.aspx?articleid=303929&area=/insight/insight__comment_and_analysis/

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/story/0,,2051503,00.html

http://drsanity.blogspot.com/2005/02/institutionalized-misogyny.html

Here are some examples of what in my view are blatantly evil and incredibly destructive religious precepts:

“Blessed art thou, O Lord our God, King of the universe, who hast not made me a woman”
(Sephath Emeth, p. 10).
“Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife”
(Ephesians 5: 22-23).
“Men are superior to women on account of the qualities with which God hath gifted the one above the other”
(Koran 4:37).

What a disgusting “God” these quotes reveal! Who would want to worship, who could trust, such an insecure bully?

What on earth possessed the men who could institute a daily prayer thanking God that they’re not born female? How about not born stupid, or poor, or apelike, or with three legs, or something? Of course, any of these could cause offense to any being that happens to have these characteristics, so we’d not think of creating a new prayer like that now (at least, we wouldn’t do it in the UK), but because we’re so politically correct, we also wouldn’t challenge any religion that continues to promulgate this oppressive crap. Here’s a novel idea: how about thanking God for what you are, instead of for what you are not?

When one reads these, it is hard to understand how anyone can insist that religion is a good thing. The only people who benefit from it are men, and even this benefit is short-term and deceiving, because how can men truly be served by systems that encourage them to be less-than-human and that rob them of the possibility of living a truly fulfilled life that is enriched and balanced by the female principle, by honest, equal relationships with women?

The huge need to oppress women reveals an enormous fear of women. This cripples both sexes and ties us into continual battles with each other, when there are so many other issues on the planet that would benefit from our pouring all our energy jointly into their resolution instead.

Maybe there’s a poem here somewhere, but at the moment I just feel sick!

Tia Azulay 07Apr07
Copyright © 2007 Tia Azulay