What Men Owe to Women : Men's Voices From World Religions

What Men Owe to Women brings together a distinguished group of male scholars to address gender justice in world religions. It includes contributions representing a wide range of traditions: Islam, Judaism, Hinduism, Roman Catholicism, Protestantism, Taoism, Buddhism, and African and Native American religions. This book acknowledges the patriarchal overload of these traditions and institutes a creative search for the helpful, but neglected, resources of the traditions themselves. The contributors show how these resources support the economic and political empowerment of women and assist a rethinking of gender relations in terms of genuine mutuality. In addition they share information on their own lives and those of the women in their families that illuminate the discussion.The book builds upon the enormous international feminist literature that has indicted the religions of the world for their insensitivity to women and their sacralization of sexism. It then looks into the causes of the fear that underlies much sexism and studies the distortion of religious symbols that supports sexism and masks men's obligations.Contributors include, Marvin M. Ellison, Asghar Ali Engineer, Farid Esack, Ze'ev W. Falk, Christopher Ronwanièn:te Jocks, Daniel C. Maguire, Mutombo Nkulu-N'Sengha, Tavivat Puntarigvivat, John C. Raines, Gerard S. Sloyan, Anantanand Rambachan, and Liu Xiaogan. What Men Owe To Women Brings Together A Distinguished Group Of Male Scholars To Address Gender Justice In World Religions. It Includes Contributions Representing A Wide Range Of Traditions: Islam, Judaism, Hinduism, Roman Catholicism, Protestantism, Taoism, Buddhism, And African And Native American Religions. This Book Acknowledges The Patriarchal Overload Of These Traditions And Institutes A Creative Search For The Helpful, But Neglected, Resources Of The Traditions Themselves. The Contributors Show How These Resources Support The Economic And Political Empowerment Of Women And Assist A Rethinking Of Gender Relations In Terms Of Genuine Mutuality. In Addition They Share Information On Their Own Lives And Those Of The Women In Their Families That Illuminate The Discussion. The Book Builds Upon The Enormous International Feminist Literature That Has Indicted The Religions Of The World For Their Insensitivity To Women And Their Sacralization Of Sexism. It Then Looks Into The Causes Of The Fear That Underlies Much Sexism And Studies The Distortion Of Religious Symbols That Supports Sexism And Masks Men's Obligations.--jacket. A Hindu Perspective / Anantanand Rambachan -- A Protestant Christian Perspective / Marvin M. Ellison -- Bumuntu Paradigm And Gender Justice: Sexist And Antisexist Trends In African Traditional Religions / Mutombo Nkulu-n'sengha -- Islam, Women, And Gender Justice / Asghar Ali Engineer -- A Jewish Perspective / Zeʹev W. Falk -- A Roman Catholic Perspective / Gerard S. Sloyan -- Islam And Gender Justice: Beyond Simplistic Apologia / Farid Esack -- A Thai Buddhist Perspective / Tavivat Puntarigvivat -- A Taoist Perspective: Appreciating And Applying The Principle Of Femininity / Liu Xiaogan -- A Native North American Perspective: To Protect The Ground We Walk On / Christopher Ronwanièn:te Jocks -- Conclusion / Daniel C. Maguire. Edited By John C. Raines And Daniel C. Maguire. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Cover......Page 1 Title......Page 4 Contents......Page 8 Introduction......Page 10 1. A Hindu Perspective, Anantanand Rambachan......Page 26 2. A Protestant Christian Perspective, Marvin M. Ellison......Page 50 3. Bumuntu Paradigm and Gender Justice. Sexist and Antisexist Trends in African Traditional Religions, Mutombo Nkulu-N’Sengha......Page 78 4. Islam, Women, and Gender Justice, Asghar Ali Engineer......Page 118 5. A Jewish Perspective, Ze’ev W. Falk......Page 138 6. A Roman Catholic Perspective, Gerard S. Sloyan......Page 160 7. Islam and Gender Justice. Beyond Simplistic Apologia, Farid Esack......Page 196 8. A Thai Buddhist Perspective, Tavivat Puntarigvivat......Page 220 9. A Taoist Perspective. Appreciating and Applying the Principle of Femininity, Liu Xiaogan......Page 248 10. A Native North American Perspective. To Protect the Ground We Walk On, Christopher Ronwanièn:te Jocks......Page 268 Conclusion, Daniel C. Maguire......Page 290 Contributors......Page 296 Index......Page 298 Contributions from Raines (religion, Temple U.), Maguire (religious ethics, Marquette U.) and other male scholars address gender justice in world religions including Islam, Judaism, Hinduism, Roman Catholicism, Protestantism, Taoism, Buddhism, and Native American and African traditions. They examine the causes of the fear that underlies much sexism and study the distortion of religious symbols that supports sexism and masks men's obligations. Their aim is to find the resources within these religions that support the empowerment of women. Although scholarly, the text should be accessible to the interested lay reader as well as the academic. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)