One easy way to talk about the lack of women who are atheists (at least publicly) might be because people have a limit on what they can endure for an identity or a public position. I'm an atheist with long hair...other than that, I'm white, I'm male, and there's nothing else that people really judge me by. I just don't suffer very much from negative stereotypes (aside from the hair, and atheism can be kept invisible if one wants). I think having already paid some social costs for being women (particularly if they are outside of their gender role), the notion of even approaching the God subject is just off the table. I think notions *like* these have to be explained away before we talk about the inevitable "natural differences" arguments.
Right... but see, no one's claiming women are dumber than men (or whatever natural difference would make women more likely to believe a lie). Yes, a woman's life is harder than a man's... because of religion. So, why embrace it? Do women suffer from cultural Stockholm Syndrome? Is it linked to how some women stay with a man who beats them?
To a large extent, religion is about dominating women, and part of that domination is indoctrinating them starting at a young age. It's no wonder many women are so ardently religious against their own interests, they've been taught to be since they were infants.
Check out Rev. Serena Jones in action on MH-P's show, for example. "When we started praying together out loud, as soon as she could speak ..." she said, referring to her daughter. Parental indoctrination isn't 100% effective, of course, but nor do 100% of those getting patriarchal religious values shoved down their throats with their mushed peas manage to overcome it.
I'm not sure young boys are any less indoctrinated (this hasn't been my experience or the experience of anyone I know). What's more, males are given preference, special treatment, and are more likely to be allowed to hold positions of power, and yet still more men turn away from religion, despite the fact that it superficially benefits them to stay.
The thought being mulled in my mind last night (on FB) actually reached further back, to when female figureheads were often the representative 'mother' of a religion, or at least respected. Even then, it seems martyrdom and submission were required to serve the goddess, but that women were allowed an honorable role. It would be interesting, though somewhat beyond my scope, to see in how many religions the almighty being worshiped changed genders, and what effect that had on the followers of that faith; what resistance was met and penalties inflicted...a cherry-picked Xian history is easy enough for any of us to recall, but what about the many others?
Does religion define a culture, or does culture define religion?
You know about this site? http://www.godchecker.com/
One easy way to talk about the lack of women who are atheists (at least publicly) might be because people have a limit on what they can endure for an identity or a public position. I'm an atheist with long hair...other than that, I'm white, I'm male, and there's nothing else that people really judge me by. I just don't suffer very much from negative stereotypes (aside from the hair, and atheism can be kept invisible if one wants). I think having already paid some social costs for being women (particularly if they are outside of their gender role), the notion of even approaching the God subject is just off the table. I think notions *like* these have to be explained away before we talk about the inevitable "natural differences" arguments.
ReplyDeleteRight... but see, no one's claiming women are dumber than men (or whatever natural difference would make women more likely to believe a lie). Yes, a woman's life is harder than a man's... because of religion. So, why embrace it? Do women suffer from cultural Stockholm Syndrome? Is it linked to how some women stay with a man who beats them?
DeleteTo a large extent, religion is about dominating women, and part of that domination is indoctrinating them starting at a young age. It's no wonder many women are so ardently religious against their own interests, they've been taught to be since they were infants.
ReplyDeleteCheck out Rev. Serena Jones in action on MH-P's show, for example. "When we started praying together out loud, as soon as she could speak ..." she said, referring to her daughter. Parental indoctrination isn't 100% effective, of course, but nor do 100% of those getting patriarchal religious values shoved down their throats with their mushed peas manage to overcome it.
I'm not sure young boys are any less indoctrinated (this hasn't been my experience or the experience of anyone I know). What's more, males are given preference, special treatment, and are more likely to be allowed to hold positions of power, and yet still more men turn away from religion, despite the fact that it superficially benefits them to stay.
DeletePresent, with coffee instead of a cocktail.
DeleteThe thought being mulled in my mind last night (on FB) actually reached further back, to when female figureheads were often the representative 'mother' of a religion, or at least respected. Even then, it seems martyrdom and submission were required to serve the goddess, but that women were allowed an honorable role.
It would be interesting, though somewhat beyond my scope, to see in how many religions the almighty being worshiped changed genders, and what effect that had on the followers of that faith; what resistance was met and penalties inflicted...a cherry-picked Xian history is easy enough for any of us to recall, but what about the many others?
Does religion define a culture, or does culture define religion?
You know about this site?
http://www.godchecker.com/
Women are created with an innate faith in some form of a deity- it's the source of our strength!
ReplyDeleteYeah... it hasn't worked out historically well for women, the last hundred years or so being a pleasant exception.
Delete