The Words of God Do Not Justify Cruelty to Women
July 22, 2009
by President Jimmy Carter
|This excerpt of an editorial originally published in the July 12, 2009, edition of The Observer, was reproduced on the website of The Carter Center. It is under the “op-eds and speeches” section of the “news” tab.
I have been a practising Christian all my life and a deacon and Bible teacher for many years. My faith is a source of strength and comfort to me, as religious beliefs are to hundreds of millions of people around the world.
So my decision to sever my ties with the Southern Baptist Convention, after six decades, was painful and difficult. It was, however, an unavoidable decision when the convention’s leaders, quoting a few carefully selected Bible verses and claiming that Eve was created second to Adam and was responsible for original sin, ordained that women must be “subservient” to their husbands and prohibited from serving as deacons, pastors or chaplains in the military service. This was in conflict with my belief – confirmed in the holy scriptures – that we are all equal in the eyes of God.
This view that women are somehow inferior to men is not restricted to one religion or belief. It is widespread. Women are prevented from playing a full and equal role in many faiths.
Nor, tragically, does its influence stop at the walls of the church, mosque, synagogue or temple. This discrimination, unjustifiably attributed to a Higher Authority, has provided a reason or excuse for the deprivation of women’s equal rights across the world for centuries. The male interpretations of religious texts and the way they interact with, and reinforce, traditional practices justify some of the most pervasive, persistent, flagrant and damaging examples of human rights abuses.
At their most repugnant, the belief that women must be subjugated to the wishes of men excuses slavery, violence, forced prostitution, genital mutilation and national laws that omit rape as a crime. But it also costs many millions of girls and women control over their own bodies and lives, and continues to deny them fair access to education, health, employment and influence within their own communities.
The impact of these religious beliefs touches every aspect of our lives. They help explain why in many countries boys are educated before girls; why girls are told when and whom they must marry; and why many face enormous and unacceptable risks in pregnancy and childbirth because their basic health needs are not met.
In some Islamic nations, women are restricted in their movements, punished for permitting the exposure of an arm or ankle, deprived of education, prohibited from driving a car or competing with men for a job. If a woman is raped, she is often most severely punished as the guilty party in the crime.
The same discriminatory thinking lies behind the continuing gender gap in pay and why there are still so few women in office in Britain and the United States. The root of this prejudice lies deep in our histories, but its impact is felt every day. It is not women and girls alone who suffer. It damages all of us. The evidence shows that investing in women and girls delivers major benefits for everyone in society. An educated woman has healthier children. She is more likely to send them to school. She earns more and invests what she earns in her family…
The truth is that male religious leaders have had – and still have – an option to interpret holy teachings either to exalt or subjugate women. They have, for their own selfish ends, overwhelmingly chosen the latter.
Their continuing choice provides the foundation or justification for much of the pervasive persecution and abuse of women throughout the world. This is in clear violation not just of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights but also the teachings of Jesus Christ, the Apostle Paul, Moses and the prophets, Muhammad, and founders of other great religions – all of whom have called for proper and equitable treatment of all the children of God. It is time we had the courage to challenge these views.
This is such a beautiful statement, by a wonderful humanitarian and Christian.
It is true on all levels.Thank you for posting this.
But one quick thing.I think the title is a little off.The words of God in the Christian religion do not ever support violence towards women, and neither does the Quran.It is how people, or man I should say,has chosen to twist the word of God. That is why Carter left his church,because he acknowledge that to twist God’s word is wrong or is sin.
I feel as a Christian that the title misleads people(although not intentionally)to think that Carter was standing up against the word of God and that was not the case.He was standing up against the words of men.thereby following the word of God.
Carter is a devote Christian and that devotion to his faith is what has made him the man that his.
Again thank you for posting this, it is beautiful and a necessity that all people see and hear these words of wisdom.
=)
Good job Mr. President.
I believe that it was Thomas Paine who said: God does not write books, men write books. I agree wholeheartedly.
No where in the Bible does God say or even imply that women are inferior to men. That still doesn’t change the fact, though, that God does say Eve was born as(for) a help-meet(perfectly suited)to Adam, that Adam was “head” over her as God is “Head” over the Church and that women are not to exert authority over men in teaching the Word of God. It also says that Eve sinned first because she was beguiled and Adam followed suit of His own free will. Sin entered this earth as soon as she sinned and man-kind are still under the curse of sin unless they belong to God by faith in Christ Jesus. Those who interpret that to mean that God places a lower value on women than He does men aren’t reading it with spiritual understanding.
I can’t wait for prominent people to start talking about this all the time every time, and start challenging these views
It’s the invasion of the New Agenda by the Bible fundamentalists.
Woman (Eve) is responsible for the Fall of Man (the original misogyny). Goddess help us!
This is how big tent feminism with no standards leads us down the primrose path to anti-feminism.
Oh yeah, “Michele Bachmann for Congress!” reads the headline. But, check the fine print– that’s not an endorsement–and, besides, despite the fact that we’re a new feminist organization attempting to be taken seriously both in the media and in politics, we’re allowing our forum to be used by jejune college kids learning how to “research.”
I’m trying to get on board with TNA, but honestly, you folks went off the rails by allowing that unedited, unvetted puff piece on the anti-feminist, anti-woman Bachmann, and the sooner you admit it, the better.
Sexism on the world stage. NY Times reporter continues the tradition of sexism and blame, by reporting on sexists North Koreans, where in the last paragraph, he connects being a mother to having a chilling effect…ugh!
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07.....lo.html?hp
Reporter doesn’t actually report on the strategy of ignoring people who demand attention and whether it has worked in previous international situations, I guess that’d be too much work to do.
Jessica – from Al Qu’ran , Surat An-Nisa’, ayat (34):
“Men are the protectors and maintainers of women, because Allah has made one of them to excel the other, and because they spend (to support them) from their means. Therefore the righteous women are devoutly obedient (to Allah and to their husbands), and guard in the husband’s absence what Allah orders them to guard (e.g. their chastity, their husband’s property, etc.). As to those women on whose part you see ill-conduct, admonish them (first), (next), refuse to share their beds, (and last) beat them (lightly, if it is useful), but if they return to obedience, seek not against them means (of annoyance). Surely, Allah is Ever Most High, Most Great. “
Hi Nell=)
I would like to say first welcome to TNA.
The purpose of TNA is to be a non-partisan and all inclusive organization that will stand for women’s rights,no matter the woman.For them to profile a woman like Michele Bachmann,while not endorsing her they are only profiling her.There will be some head butting,I can see that.But the one thing you need to remember as we all do, is that this is not about party lines or the issue of Choice,this is about obtaining representation,fighting sexism, and attaining real equality across the board of political ideologies and in the workplace.
TNA is being built on the idea that one of our strengths comes from being diverse.Women and even men,all from different racial,ethnic,class,sexual orientation, and yes even religious backgrounds.In my personal opinion we don’t need to accept the things we don’t agree with,but we should all have a healthy respect for one another.
Not to go too far off of the subject,and it is completely none of my business,but out of curiosity may I ask you are you perhaps Wiccan or of one of the other Pagan religions? Although I am a Christian I have studied many religions, so the reference to Goddess is what caught my eye.And I mean absolutely no disrespect.
I do not how ever see how profiling Christians or people of different religions and then members who are apart of such religions is somehow fundamentalism. I think it could happen but I have yet to see it.
So I hope that you can give The New Agenda a chance.It really is a wonderful organization built on a great ideal.
Blessings to you
I sure appreciate the diversity TNA presents its readers – inclusion – even the Military has had representation here and said perspective given equal time/print.
As evidenced by all the people who do not consider themselves to be religious and who do not attend a church/Synagouge/Mosque, etc. mysogyny and sexism cannot be attributed only to religion gone bad but clearly religious fundamentalism and sexism go hand in hand.
Hi Goesh=)
Thank you for the translation from the Al Qu’ran. I truly appreciate it.I am very new to understanding Islam,but i am trying.So forgive me if I have gotten something wrong.It was from my current understanding that the Al Qu’ran itself does not support violence towards women.But that the Fatwa’s and the Sharia law based on the clerics interpretations of the Al Qu’ran is what many in Islam follow.
These interpretations are what we have seen as the condoning of violence and objectification of women in this religion.I will not go to far into this as I am fairly new to i and I do not know what your stances is on the teachings of Islam.And I do not wish to start any type of confrontation. I would love a good healthy discussion on the issues of women in Islam, but that might be best for a different blog or forum.
Hope you have a good one
Nell,
I embrace no religion, but I agree with Jessica. We are here for one reason — equality for women everywhere. That is the common goal and common denominator among us. Second to that we are different religions, races and politics. We can’t come together on every issue. These are the issues that have divided feminism in the past and the purpose of The New Agenda is to focus on the issue of feminism.
We have had some lively disagreements on here as to whether it is anti-feminist for a woman to “dress sexy.” It is impossible to get one half of the world to all agree on everything.
I was so impressed and thrilled with Jimmy Carter’s comments because changing the attitudes of Christianity regarding women will generate huge benefits for our cause.
Please stay with us and join us on the focus of rights for women and just ignore the stuff that doesn’t suit.
John, I meant to call Bill a concern troll on the other thread not you. My apologies.
Jessica–there’s no need to welcome me to the New Agenda. I’ve been here since the beginning, even attending one of its regional meetings several months ago in my area.
And no, I do not practice any of the pagan religions. My reference to the “Goddess” was in response to Lonni whose post referred several times to God as “He” (upper case “H” no less!). Comments which attribute the “Fall of Man” to “beguiling” females (Eve/Pandora–choose your mythology) are steeped in contempt for women. Any religion which claims that the sexual identity of its supreme being is male and that anything female is “other,” is misogynistic by definition. It is classic dualism–thesis/antithesis–and is responsible for thousands of years of violence/hatred/discrimination toward women as a class. The New Agenda claims that it will speak out against sexism/misogyny wherever it appears. Why then would TNA allow such a comment as Lonni’s to stand on its own website without calling out its pure misogynistic content?
I’ve been in this fight for 30 years. I’ve prosecuted rapists, I’ve volunteered at women’s shelters and represented (pro bono) women who were victims of domestic violence, I’ve donated countless hours and dollars to feminist causes and women candidates for political office. I poured my heart and soul into Hillary Clinton’s campaign for President (did you support her, Jessica?), so I’m not about to have my feminist credentials questioned by anyone who tells me I’m not on board with the program if I don’t support anti-woman candidates, no matter what genitalia they may have between their legs. I will always give the benefit of any doubt to the woman candidate, but there is a line I will not cross. Michele Bachmann is way over that line.
Sorry Nell=(
I wasn’t wasn’t trying to question your credentials or imply you weren’t on board with TNA at all.
I was simple trying to say that I do not see any Christian fundamentalist here.And I think that much about my religion is misunderstood.Any person or group can take any type of text and twist it or manipulate it.i will not go too much further into it as it takes away from the reason we are here.We are not here to debate religion,we are here to help women.But that we do need to have a healthy respect for each other.I understand that is how you see my religion,and well I respect that.But I will say something, just as you would,if I feel that something I am passionate about has been misunderstood.
I was a Hillary supporter.And I was devastated when they gave away her nomination.Absolutely devastated.
And I commend you for your work in these areas.It is desperately needed.
But TNA is for all women no matter their political ideology or party lines, and I think the Bachmann piece is 1)proof of that and 2) will be balanced and do pieces on women in all fields and across the political spectrum.
So as you were maybe offended by Lonni’s comment, some of your comment did offend me as well by calling the Christian comments out as fundamentalist (which they have not been).
TNA has a very diverse crowd and I think we all need to respect that.
That is all I was saying.
=)
Nell, I am interested in learning why you consider Michelle Bachmann to be an anti-feminist. I do not want to have a discussion over whether or not she is anti-feminist. I merely want to learn why you believe she is. We all have our boundaries and limits with who to support. For example, LVJ stated she will not support Bachmann on account of her voting against Lily Ledbetter, and I understand and respect LVJ’s decision. I never liked her vote against Ledbetter either.
Hello everyone =)
Not to upset anyone.But I think that TNA made clear it’s stance on Bachmann on the blog profiling her.And I believe that blog was closed out because everyone was maybe getting a little too political and was starting to decide people.I would hate to see the comments here go back to that.
The story and the statement here made by President Carter is such an awe inspiring thing and says so much about women’s rights and the course that we must take to achieve those right’s.I would hate to see that message get drowned out over our political views on a single person.
Have a good weekend=)
“Divide people” not “decide people” I meant to say divide.
Sorry.
donna darko,
It’s o.k., thank you for the apology. I was getting frustrated and I commonly make a fool of myself when I feel frustrated.
Also, someone mentioned that they would like for the Obama administration to be acknowledged when they do something right based on TNA objectives. I am helping my wife prepare to do some training on behalf of the OVW, I note that $134 Million of the “Stimulus Money” goes to OVW (Office on Violence Against Women). This is a good thing, so thank you Obama administration.
First of all, I agree with John, when any thing is done in favor of women it needs to be acknowledged in a positive way. Only good can come from that.
The other thing I wondered — how do we view the role of an elected representative? If the majority of a representative’s constituents are against something are they obligated to vote that way, or should they ignore their wishes and vote the way they want?
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