“Women and girls have been discriminated against for too long in a twisted interpretation of the word of God”. Jimmy Carter Understands Prejudice
Bible verses claiming that Eve was created second to Adam and also responsible for original sin, paved the way for women being “subservient” to their husbands. It also prohibited them from serving as priest, deacons, pastors or chaplains in the military service.
This view that women are somehow inferior to men is not restricted to one religion or belief. Women are prevented from fully participating in equal roles in many faiths. Its influence does not 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.
At its 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. Are there other heads of state like Jimmy Carter who Understands Prejudice?
Many Countries do very little to stop prejudice.
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 discrimination of women lies behind the continuing gender gap in pay and why there are still so few women in office in the West. Jimmy Carter Understands Prejudice and how its root lies deep in our history, impacting us every day. Prejudice against women and girls hinders all of us. The evidence shows that investing in women and girls delivers major benefits for 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.
It is simply self-defeating for any community to discriminate against half its population. We need to challenge these self-serving and outdated attitudes and practices – as we are seeing in Iran where women are at the forefront of the battle for democracy and freedom
The Elders are an independent group of eminent global leaders.
Nelson Mandela, former South African president is like Jimmy Carter who Understands Prejudice. He brought together leaders to influence and support peace building, help address major causes of human suffering and promote the shared interests of humanity. He drew particular attention to the responsibility of religious and traditional leaders to ensure equality and shared human rights. His statement declares: “The justification of discrimination against women and girls on grounds of religion or tradition, as if it were prescribed by a Higher Authority, is unacceptable.”
We are calling on all leaders to challenge and change the harmful teachings and practices, no matter how ingrained, which justify discrimination against women. We ask, in particular, that leaders of all religions have the courage to acknowledge and emphasis the positive messages of dignity and equality that all the world’s major faiths share.
Holy Scriptures used to justify the superiority of Men.
I am familiar with vivid descriptions in the Scriptures in which women are revered as pre-eminent leaders. During the years of the early Christian church women served as deacons, priests, bishops, apostles, teachers and prophets. It wasn’t until the fourth century that dominant Christian leaders, all men, twisted and distorted Holy Scriptures to perpetuate their ascendant positions within the religious hierarchy.
Religious Leaders Understand Prejudice
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 self serving 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, both male and female. It is time we had the courage to join the efforts of how Jimmy Carter sees Prejudice.
Jimmy Carter was president of the United States from 1977 to 1981.
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