General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsWhere are the world's female religious leaders?
This article focuses on fundamental Judaism and Islam, but other than Tammy Faye Baker, I can think of no other female Christian religious leader. I'm woefully ignorant on other religious faiths, and I can't think of any leading Buddhist or Hindu female religious leader either. Maybe Pagans are more inclusive of women in their leadership????
http://readersupportednews.org/opinion2/273-40/9733-the-religious-rights-problem-with-women
[edited for grammar error as I'm a horrible proofreader]
Chorophyll
(5,179 posts)the most progressive churches and synagogues. Women have been rabbis in Reform synagogues for several decades. There are women ministers in the Episcopal, Presbyterian, and Congregational churches (and probably a few other churches as well.) Can't speak for anyone else, because I don't know. But in general, the more conservative the denomination, the less likely that there will be a woman in a position of power.
hifiguy
(33,688 posts)women in teaching and leadership roles. But that's Buddhism after all.
Chill Keney
(23 posts)In all areas of life.
JackRiddler
(24,979 posts)cliffordu
(30,994 posts)JackRiddler
(24,979 posts)No major development in human history went unaccompanied by a religious shift of some kind, but whether or not there was ever a "matriarchy" (more or less a myth, or a question of definitions) there were ancient goddess religions that preceded the crop of androcentric "great religions" we have today.
shcrane71
(1,721 posts)MicaelS
(8,747 posts)That the Bible states that women should be silent in the church. That has a lot to do with lack of female leaders in this sects.
[link:http://www.minthegap.com/2006/09/29/should-women-keep-silent-in-church/|
Should Women Keep Silent in Church?]
http://www.blueletterbible.org/Bible.cfm?b=1Cr&c=14#34
1Cr 14:35 And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church.
Correctly Interpreting 1 Corinthians 14:33b-35
shcrane71
(1,721 posts)Catholicism doesn't even ordain women as priests. I do hear that there are some special lay clergy for Catholic women.
The Genealogist
(4,723 posts)My conclusion was that 14:34-35 is very likely a later addition, very early in the history of the text, based on manuscript evidence and context.
MicaelS
(8,747 posts)The Genealogist
(4,723 posts)It was suggested at one point by my thesis adviser and a few others that I see about getting it published. Not trying to brag, but it wasn't too terrible of a study. It was originally a paper did for a class, and I expanded it.
MicaelS
(8,747 posts)JI7
(89,264 posts)i don't really consider any of these people to be "leaders" in a positive sense. but more like owners or ceo of a company.
that one lady who gives hugs and goes around the world. i think they have a lot of money. i find the whole thing creepy but a lot of people go there.
avaistheone1
(14,626 posts)Perhaps they even outnumber males at this point.
Poll_Blind
(23,864 posts)Once I was in a UU church and opened what I presume was a hymnal. Riffing through the pages, I came across a hymn, an ode to science and empirical thought.
Now that's the kind of religion I can go for!
PB
avaistheone1
(14,626 posts)Manifestor_of_Light
(21,046 posts)The Coffeepot.
And pray To Whom It May Concern.
xchrom
(108,903 posts)I think think the suffragan bishop is as well.
muriel_volestrangler
(101,361 posts)and she has a PhD in oceanography, not just theology. That's from a list, last year, of 10 women who are leaders in religion, but she's the one who stands out as a leader of an established hierarchy.
xchrom
(108,903 posts)shcrane71
(1,721 posts)white_wolf
(6,238 posts)The Seventh Day Adventists were founded by Ellen G. White. The Christian Scientists were founded by a Mary Baker Eddy. There is a sect of Shintoism founded by a woman, but the name escapes me.
Brother Buzz
(36,463 posts)Donald Ian Rankin
(13,598 posts)In those days very few women were leaders, and hence most religions try to perpetuate that.
eShirl
(18,503 posts)karynnj
(59,504 posts)Maybe they should look at Dorothy Day, who started the Catholic Workers program that still exists helping the poor in many countries. They could also have considered Mother Teresa.
In Judaism, they should have looked at the reconstructionist synagogues, where there are many influential women rabbis. Not to mention, if you consider the power of inspirational music in services, Debbie Friedman has written songs that I have heard in many Reform and reconstructionist services.
( A few years ago, the synagogue I belong to did not have a building and were guests in an Episcopal church. Our rabbi and the priest were both women)
Manifestor_of_Light
(21,046 posts)She did not help people or provide any medical care. She gave them a bed to die in, and that was all. Had millions of dollars in Swiss bank accts that never helped anybody, while she flew around the world in private jets and hung out with the rich and famous.
Mother Theresa's House of Illusions:
http://www.holysmoke.org/sdhok/shields.htm
Bluerthanblue
(13,669 posts)shcrane71
(1,721 posts)worldviews. I'm just coming to realize that my religious education has solely been come from a male paradigm.