In a recent essay, Jimmy Carter has stated that he has decided to sever ties with the Southern Baptist Convention, due to their stance on women's subservience to men. Carter, who is simultaneously one of the more religious and more liberal presidents we've had, said it was a painful decision, but "it was an unavoidable one."
He goes on to say that this discrimination against women based on the word of a Higher Authority is expressed across many cultures and religions, and is responsible for increased rates of violence, lack of education and health care, and generally inferior conditions for females. He explains that this type of thinking is detrimental not only to women, but to a society as a whole, which surely cannot prosper when it discriminates against half of its population. Investing in women's education benefits society; she earns more, and invests it in her family
Jimmy Carter is part of the Elders, a group of world leaders started by Nelson Mandela and designed to support peace building, help address major causes of human suffering, and promote the shared interests of humanity. The group has recently issued a statement which mirrors Carters': "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.”
Carter does not back away entirely from religion. He states that this misuse of God's word is taught against by "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."
No comments:
Post a Comment