Can Feminism and Religion Coexist?

Today, religion remains a controversial topic. Many consider it a personal faith, a connection with the Almighty God, while some are simply not religious and even identify as atheists. A small group in society, however, is very critical of religion. Radical feminists view religion as inherently oppressive, a tool to control society, particularly women, through fear and domination to dull the pain of existence. Karl Marx famously stated that "religion is the opium of the people." This was not mockery of religious people as misunderstood by many but rather a view of religion as a way to create an illusion that softens pain and suffering.

Historical Context

The origin of religion is widely believed to have started with rituals for social connections and explaining the unknown through miracles, like thunderstorms and earthquakes. Religion probably, even, existed in prehistoric times, when the art of writing was unknown. After the Neolithic Revolution, around 11,000 years ago, organized religion as often seen today, began its journey. Slowly, it became an important part of people's lives.

Religions like Hinduism, which is considered to be the oldest religion, emerged first, and Buddhism, Jainism, Christianity, Judaism, and Islam emerged with time. Their founders were men, including Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and Gautama Buddha. Religion was a significant part of politics. Religion mixing with politics is viewed as undesirable even today, and historically this was the norm for most kingdoms and empires. Ruling elites, mostly men, created laws influenced by religion. Temples in India and churches in Europe became centers of both spiritual and political power.

In India, the varna system or the caste system emerged. Previously based on occupation and relatively flexible. Over time, Brahminism turned it rigid and hierarchical. The so-called lower castes, Shudras and Dalits, were subjected to absolute social isolation. Women were the worst sufferers under the caste patriarchy, becoming victims of sexual violence and systemic oppression. Social evils against women, including Brahmins, included the sati system, where a widow was burned alive on the funeral pyre of her husband's corpse, and a ban on widow remarriage. The Manusmriti, written by Brahmin men, had twisted Hinduism with laws that legitimized these practices.

European monarchies, from ancient to medieval times, used religion as a tool of control the masses. People were made to believe that God chose those men in power as their King, giving them the divine right to rule. How ridiculous! The Church considered the denial of the Bible a crime punishable by severe consequences. The Pope held a significant role in European politics. If an ounce of knowledge was seen in a woman's head, the cry was to "burn the witch!" 

In some theocratic states such as Afghanistan and Iran, religious laws are interpreted in ways that restrict women’s movements and clothing in the name of modesty, reducing women to properties of their husbands. Strict hijab laws exist and are enforced by the state. Afghanistan bans women's education over grade 6 and does not even allow women to visit male doctors to avoid physical touch. This means Afghan women are denied healthcare!

The Irony

No religion in its original form snatches the rights of women and vulnerable populations. Open the Hindu Bhagavad Gita and scriptures other than the Manusmriti, and there is no mention to legitimize violence against women and their alienation. In fact, during the early Vedic period, as per some historians, women were respected and even held positions of authority. Gargi was a prominent female Hindu Philosopher mentioned in the Hindu text, Brihadaranyaka Upanishad, who is known for her wisdom and particpating in debates against men. Shakti, the divine feminine energy, is the core of Hinduism. Also, Hinduism is one of the few religions where Goddesses are worshiped. Where did we go wrong?

Even the Bible and Quran provide women with equal rights in their foundational teachings. Men snatched those rights away through selective interpretation and implementation!

B.R. Ambedkar observed that "religion is of the man, for the man, by the man." Most priests in temples and churches, the Jewish rabbis, and Muslim Imams are men. The Church allows nuns, but they face restrictions on dressing and they have to stay pure and celibate, at least after joining the order.

Dismantling Evil Practices

In India, the sati system was banned through the efforts of the social reformer, Raja Ram Mohan Roy, a Brahmin! The Phule couple, particularly Savitribai Phule, worked to educate girls and challenge caste oppression. Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar championed widow remarriage and fought against similar regressive practices.

In Europe, the Age of Enlightenment began around 1685 to 1815, and the horrific practices of witch burning were gradually banned across different countries. People started questioning the Church and monarchy, paving the way for the French Revolution and the age of revolutions from 1830 to 1848 by the working class in Europe. 

Today, progress continues in places like Saudi Arabia, which is moving towards giving more rights to women. Rumy Alqahtani became the first Saudi representative of the Miss Universe pageant in 2024. Amina Wadud, an American Islamic scholar, in March 2005, led a mixed gender congregational Friday prayer in New York City, a role traditionally followed by men.

As mentioned previously, radical feminism views religion as inherently oppressive, built within patriarchal structures that must be destroyed rather than reformed. Mary Daly, a post Christian lesbian radical feminist, was very critical of religion. She did not like the depiction of God as male and famously said "If God is male, then the male is God." She also reclaimed terms like "witch," "hag," and "spinster," which were stereotyped only towards women, turning them into symbols of female power and feminism. On the other hand, feminist theologians like Amina Wadud and Hindu scholars reinterpret faith to recover its egalitarian roots rather than reject it outright.

Final Thoughts

If you open religious textbooks, you find mere philosophical texts teaching you how to be good humans via symbolism. Much depends on interpretations. That said, patriarchal interpretations have twisted religion, making them the enemies of women and vulnerable populations. Religion as an institution is definitely controlling in nature. If it remains strictly personal faith, it is not really problematic. However, one should not blindly and literally follow religion. These books were written in patriarchal systems, so be cautious about what you digest from them and how you apply their teachings to modern life. The coexistence of feminism and religion depends not on doctrines, but on interpretation — and interpretation, after all, is a human act.