Women and Religions - Orthodoxy

Part 5 Orthodoxy

 

In the modern world, motherhood, alas, is no longer perceived as the main purpose of women. A modern women desire to succeed in politics, business, science, often subordinates everything else. Such changes can not affect men and families, and society as a whole.

 

In the end, the state of these things of these changes – is destroyed, or, conversely, human relationships are established. And here, in order to better understand the present and to assess the future, you should look to the past.

 

Some men like to joke that the woman created from the rib – the only bone that does not have a brain. But this joke is hardly a distinctive with The Hebrew word “intact”, which in Russian Bible translated as “rib”, also means “part” and “face.” In this particular case – the emotional and sensual face, a fine mental organization, which features a woman. With this example, we can not prove the superiority of men as much as the reverse. Even the establishment of women due to the fact that the mere existence of the first person is not yet the finality of creation, it is not good for a man to be alone (Genesis 2:18).

 

Emphasized and respectful, respectful treatment of women in Christianity has little to do with contemporary feminism, trying, I think, consciously or unconsciously, to erase the natural differences between men and women.

Women and Religions - Orthodoxy

Women and Religions - Buddhism

Part 4 BUDDHISM

 

Indian society since the Pali Canon (4-2 cc. BC. E.) Was highly patriarchal, all prone to emphasize the superiority of men. Inferior status of women in society is fixed in the Brahmanical literature. Suffice it to recall the well-known saying of Manu: “Day and night, women should be dependent on their men … Father guards her in childhood, her husband guards in his youth, the children are protected in old age, a woman is never fit for independence” (Manu, 9. 02.03 ). Religious needs of the women in orthodox Brahmanism also not taken into account. They were forbidden to listen to and study the Vedas themselves perform any rituals, fasts and vows. Chief religious duty women – is serving her husband: “My husband, even strange virtue, lewd or devoid of good qualities, virtuous wife should be worshiped as a god” (Manu, 5. 154).

 

Early Buddhism has shown a completely different approach to women. Buddha explicitly recognize that to achieve enlightenment – the ultimate goal of teaching – there is no difference between men and women, provided that they both become monks. According to the Buddha, after some hesitation, founded a women’s monastic community at the head of which was Mahaprajapati, the aunt of the Buddha, as a child replaces his mother. However, the entry of women in the sangha was furnished with some additional conditions. They are known as the “Eight Rules» (garu-dhamma):

 

1. A nun, even if held in the monastic hundred years, should have a sign of respect to the monk, even if he just accepted the dedication.

 

2. The nuns do not have to spend the “summer distraction” of the rainy season in a place where there is no monks.

 

3. Every two weeks, the nuns have to attend a community of monks to conduct the ceremony Uposatha (general meeting of the monks) and the instructions and teachings of the monks.

 

4. After the end of the “summer of detachment” rainy season nuns have to participate in a special meeting of both communities to discuss the behavior of the monks and nuns.

 

5. The nun has committed a violation of the discharge sanghadisesa (a grave) should be punished for two weeks in both communities – male and female.

 

6. Prior to initiation the candidate must pass a nun two-year trial period, and then it should be held in both Sanghas – male and female. For monks such probationary period was not provided and the dedication was held only in the male sangha.

 

7. A nun must not offend or blame monk in any way, even indirectly.

 

8. A monk may teach a nun, but a nun should never teach a monk or give him any advice.

 

Although the ratio of early Buddhism to women, may not have been perfect with a modern point of view, it does provide a weaker sex far more opportunities for spiritual growth than any other modern teaching. Those women who were able to completely leave the worldly life, to become a nun and dedicate themselves to seek liberation in this life. There is no doubt that the support of women was one of the main reasons for the rapid spread of Buddhism in India in the first centuries BC. e.

Women and Religions - Buddhism

Women and Religions - Judaism

Part 3 JUDAISM

Status of women in contemporary society has changed significantly. But the current situation should be taken very carefully: it has a lot of events, sometimes not even having the right to exist.

For example, modern society allows women to participate in all the affairs with men. But the injustice to women is that while it has yet to run the household, to give birth and feed their children. Mankind has lost a lot of emotional and mental strength because it does not provide women with the opportunity to develop. Oppression – an injury to all of us.

At a conference in Paris, the chief rabbi of France, said: “In Paris, the rights of women is more than enough, but we were not able to solve the problem of respect for him, we have not reduced the number of battered women has not decreased the number of prostitutes or complaints of sexual harassment.” By this he meant that one provision of legal rights can not radically improve the situation of the weaker sex in society.

10 years ago, a feminist-minded lady offered to draw up a program of action to achieve equality for women. She could not do it, because had not been able to explain what really wants. Help religion there can not be comprehensive because of its conservative nature. First of all, you need to know to women themselves for their release.

Usually a man says that his house for him is always the last word. Do you know what the last word of a man? “As you wish, my dear!” In Halacha are some situations in which women are given fewer legal rights than men. These laws violate the rights of women, because sons are paid, and daughters do not. But Halacha says that in such a situation, a certain amount is allocated to equip daughters. And after that the inheritance is distributed further. Thus, ensuring daughters – it is not part of the inheritance. Rights unmarried women go to the inheritance. It is a mechanism that provides for a minimum of security.

Women and Religions - Judaism

Women and Religions - Catholics

Part 2 - ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH

 The Roman Catholic Church especially revere the Virgin Mary – the mother of Jesus Christ. It is in the Vatican but declared missing in Orthodoxy and Protestantism tenets. In 1854 – the immaculate conception of the Virgin Mary in 1950 – its bodily ascension after death. In addition, in March 1987, was published the sixth encyclical of Pope John Paul II «Mother of the Redeemer.” In it, as once the paintings of famous painters, the image of Mary appears as the ideal of true womanhood, endowing epithets “blissful”, “affectionate” … It is interesting that even in the XIII – XIV century Dominican monks singled out such features of the Virgin Mary as the submission and humility. It is no by accident, according to the Christian faith, that humility is the foundation of the female ideal. In turn, John Paul II also emphasizes obedience and uncomplaining faith with which Mary took his mission, responding to the scene of the Annunciation: “Behold the handmaid of the Lord. Be it unto me according to your word. ”

In recent decades, the Catholic Church leadership very often makes statements about the status of women that  meet the requirements of modern justice. But the Catholic Church does not give women the right to be priests. In addressing this question, the Catholic Church says: a woman can not serve as a spiritual guide, since no scripture or theology does not give any reason to change the existing tradition. The most important argument against is the fact that Christ is no woman among the 12 included his closest disciples. In addition, the priest, in the understanding of the church, serves as the deputy of Christ, so it is unacceptable doe the woman to fulfill this role.

The main field of activity of religious women in the Catholic notions  -  is to create “domestic church”, as well as the education of children in a religious spirit.

Women and Religions - Catholics