Five women buried alive for wanting to marry the men of their choosing in Pakistan, women in Afghanistan serving twenty year terms because they were raped, destitute widows in India, and the list goes on. Ophelia Benson and Jeremy Stangroom not only show evidence of how religion subjugates women throughout the world, but also discuss the problem with âmulticulturalism.â There is no way to justify Muhammed taking on a nine-year bride by citing, âWell, that's just what they did then.â Or the US Government refusing to speak out against abuse of women in Saudi Arabia because we are too dependent on their oil. Their book is a thorough and thoughtful exploration of why all gods in the Abrahamic religions (and most others) treat women as second-class. What clearer evidence do you need that these âholyâ books were written by men for men. A well balanced read.
BUT: The book does not do everything. For example, it will probably be strongly rejected by readers who do not like the secular liberal point of view. People who are deeply religious, and will become very defensive of their belief system. A specially considering the criticism of the rules written by men, rules they are pretending to be sent by God? Or the rules were revealed by God? But the rules are Cruel... So someone is cruel. Who?
It will also NOT resonate well with the ultra-liberal readers, who, Im told, would have like to have seen more focus on the revival of the idea that the fundamental Christian women belong at home. So that they (the liberal readers) can use it as a form of ammunition and snigger in satisfaction at the womens' suffering at the same time.
BUT: The book does not do everything. For example, it will probably be strongly rejected by readers who do not like the secular liberal point of view. People who are deeply religious, and will become very defensive of their belief system. A specially considering the criticism of the rules written by men, rules they are pretending to be sent by God? Or the rules were revealed by God? But the rules are Cruel... So someone is cruel. Who?
It will also NOT resonate well with the ultra-liberal readers, who, Im told, would have like to have seen more focus on the revival of the idea that the fundamental Christian women belong at home. So that they (the liberal readers) can use it as a form of ammunition and snigger in satisfaction at the womens' suffering at the same time.
