This was originally published in the summer of 2009, but I missed it. I continue to be proud that I call home to the same country as this man. He's regularly referred to as one of our worst presidents, but he has shown repeatedly that he is a more ethical and empathetic human being than just about any leader we've had before or since - political or religious. (Oops! I got political again.)
Here are a few excerpts, but I definitely recommend reading it in full.
Losing my religion for equality
(Original Date July 15, 2009)
-
Jimmy Carter
Women and girls have been discriminated against for too long in a twisted interpretation of the word of God.
I HAVE been a practicing 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 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.
. . .
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.
