Critically evaluate the claim that all religious doctrines and institutions exercise patriarchal control over women.

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Critically evaluate the claim that all religious doctrines and institutions exercise patriarchal control over women.

Patriarchy is a social system, which systematically benefits males over females. Many feminist have argued that religion is a patriarchal institution. Teachings and practices from a range of religions suggest that males are benefited over females. This claim can be supported simply by looking at a quote from one of the religious books. For example the Islamic holy book states ‘women have the same rights in relation to their husbands as are expected in all decency of them, while men stand a step above them’. This demonstrates a common teaching displayed in most of the world religions, teaching that women hold a lower status to men.

Again this can be demonstrated through noting that most Gods from the world religions are male. Similarly the majority of all religious professionals are male. In Christianity females are not eligible to become priests in the Roman Catholic Church, nor can they become imams in Islam.

However this idea can be challenges as it seems that as far as Christian churches are concerned, women are more likely than men to attend a religious service and 66%of regular church goers are women. This surely suggests that as women have greater religiosity than men they must not feel exploited or subservient to males. On the other hand their roles still tend to be secondary where they do not often participate actively in the service. Orthodox Jewish women for example cannot read from the Torah scroll or participate in symbolic actions at festivals. The Torah justifies the position of women by saying that Eve influenced her husband to eat at her command in the Garden of Eden and as a result of this woman would become subservient to men. Obedience to the torah, however, restores her to her former and proper status as the crown of her husband and pearl of his life. This therefore encourages women to be more religious.

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Holm reviewed some of the ways in which women are subordinated or exploited in contemporary religions. She argues that even though the classical teachings may stress the equality between men and women, the practice is far from this. Holm’s believes that women’s second-class status is often related to female sexuality. Menstruation and childbirth are seen as polluting. In many traditions, women are forbidden to enter sacred places or touch sacred objects during the menstruation period. For example women are not allowed to touch the Koran or go into a mosque. Holm, however fails to give an explanation for the reasons ...

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