Pres. Jimmy Carter: Losing My Religion for Equality

[stromboli]

http://www.theage.com.au/federal-politics/losing-my-religion-for-equality-20090714-dk0v.html

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.

I have always respected Jimmy Carter. I was crew on a ship he helped develop and build in the Navy. He was trying to wean America off of oil back in the 70's and got sabotaged by congress and the oil interests. My oldest sister worked for him in California with Habitat for Humanity. She told me he was a very approachable, regular guy and would stop to talk with anyone when approached. The man has always stood up for his beliefs, and sometimes been burned for it.

[trdsf]

I think there's probably no question that Jimmy Carter has had the most productive and inspiring post-Presidential career of any former president.  I was fortunate to get to see him the Friday before the election in 1976; why that election was so close, I have never been able to fathom.  Nothing against Jerry Ford -- I would like to see more of today's Republicans emulating him rather than their apparent role model of a rabid wolverine with testicular torsion -- but between his optimistic view for America, and Ford's still-recent pardon of Nixon, it shouldn't have been a contest.

You know, if Reagan had knocked off Ford and run in the general, and gotten beaten, there's a definite chance that the neocon movement might have been stillborn rather than taking off in 1980 with Ronnie's election... ah, what might have been.

[Solitary]

Wow! Is he going to take the heat for that one. It's nice to see that at least one politician actually cares for people. Solitary

[SGOS]

I liked Carter, and I think he hasn't received enough of the credit for curbing that terrifying inflation during those years.  Granted, that was mostly Paul Volcker's doing, but Carter appointed him.  Unfortunately, Carter did not have the message Americans wanted to hear.  Ronald Reagan did.  Not that the message had anything to do with what America needed at the time.  Campaign messages are no more than messages, usually composed of bullshit.  But I digress.

[Mike Cl]

In my opinion Carter was too honest for the office of President.  Regan, on the other hand, fit right in!

[GSOgymrat]

In my opinion Carter was too honest for the office of President.  Regan, on the other hand, fit right in!

Now I'm going to spend the afternoon contemplating whether the qualities for being a thoughtful, compassionate human being align with the qualities necessary for being an effective president.

[Brian37]

I like Carter too. I would still tell him though that those he left and the right wing are still using the same bible with the same words he reads.

[aitm]

So what he is really doing of course is apologizing for the babble. "Hey, I firmly believe the babble is the word of god, but heheh, now that I have daughters and granddaughters I don't want them treated like the shit the babble says they should be treated like, so Ima gonna say that certain parts of the babble have been taken out of context cause,, it was written a long time ago ya know, and shit, what did they know back then eh?"

Bring it on Jimmy.

[Unbeliever]

quoting a few carefully selected Bible verses and claiming that Eve was created second to Adam

He may also be aware that it was a woman (Mary M.) who first had experience of the risen Christ.

[Mike Cl]

He may also be aware that it was a woman (Mary M.) who first had experience of the risen Christ.

Yeah, just the same as Mrs. Toothfairy.  Or Mrs. Boogie Man.

[Draconic Aiur]

The peanut man is Back IN BLACK

[Goon]

I would like to see more of today's Republicans emulating him rather than their apparent role model of a rabid wolverine with testicular torsion

LOL.

I think Jimmy should think about gays.. they're the new blacks.

[drunkenshoe]

So what he is really doing of course is apologizing for the babble. "Hey, I firmly believe the babble is the word of god, but heheh, now that I have daughters and granddaughters I don't want them treated like the shit the babble says they should be treated like, so Ima gonna say that certain parts of the babble have been taken out of context cause,, it was written a long time ago ya know, and shit, what did they know back then eh?"

Bring it on Jimmy.

This is good. 

[Solitary]

SmOn Yes it is!  Solitary