Women and girls have been discriminated against for too long in a twisted interpretation of the word of God.
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
view that women are somehow inferior to men is not restricted to one
religion or belief. 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.
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.
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 the West. 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 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.
I
understand, however, why many political leaders can be reluctant about
stepping into this minefield. Religion, and tradition, are powerful and
sensitive areas to challenge. But my fellow Elders and I, who come from
many faiths and backgrounds, no longer need to worry about winning
votes or avoiding controversy - and we are deeply committed to
challenging injustice wherever we see it.
The Elders are an
independent group of eminent global leaders, brought together by former
South African president Nelson Mandela, who offer their influence and
experience to support peace building, help address major causes of
human suffering and promote the shared interests of humanity. We have
decided to draw particular attention to the responsibility of religious
and traditional leaders in ensuring equality and human rights and have
recently published a statement that 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 emphasise the positive messages of dignity and equality
that all the world's major faiths share.
The carefully
selected verses found in the Holy Scriptures to justify the superiority
of men owe more to time and place - and the determination of male
leaders to hold onto their influence - than eternal truths.
Similar biblical excerpts could be found to support the approval of
slavery and the timid acquiescence to oppressive rulers.
I
am also familiar with vivid descriptions in the same 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.
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.
Copyright © 2009 by Jimmy Carter
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