"Submission" the 60 Minutes segment.

[Senior citizen]

Can democracy coexist with patriarchal religions that oppress and subjugate females?

[candy]

1. You mean like Catholicism?

[RaleighNCDUer]

2. Ya mean like LDS and Southern Baptists? n/t

[Kire]

3. despite them

sure

[Senior citizen]

5. Among the definitions of democracy in my dictionary

are some references to equality. A patriarchal society turns a blind eye to sexual inequality--we were calling ourselves a democracy before women had the vote and while women were still barred from higher education and the professions.

A form of society based on social and political equality cannot, IMO, coexist with religions based on male supremacy. In saying "despite them," it seems to me that you're saying that we can be a democracy by just continuing to pretend social inequality in fundamentalist communities doesn't exist.

[applegrove]

4. It brings up the whole issue of fundamentalism. If you give yourself

to a church that is not even from this past millennium - well - you will follow anyone. And the same assholes who want more followers of old Islam... are the same type of people who want to use Christian fundies and encourage them to hate 'others'. They want submission not thinking individuals with humanity in their hearts.

I hope Christian Fundies in the USA can pull back from the abyss and renew their beliefs in the big lessons Jesus taught. But like the theory says... the two seem to be playing off each other (Christians & Muslims). And so far there have been quite separated by secular institutions which sets the norms for vast areas like the USA. But it is the neocon plan to have the government stop doing that. How tribal will the USA be (inside and outside)? The fundies the world over, and I don't care who they are following, but they are learning from each other and mirroring each other.


I wonder how the USA will deal with the Sharia law issue when it comes up. They will have to give money to anyone providing a service to their communities - unless they are blatantly racist against Muslims.

[Beaverhausen]

6. Watching that segment last night made me very depressed

I was thinking how women's rights are being further and further eroded in our own society and how in Iraq and Afghanistan - you know, where "democracy" is going so well - women are in as bad or worse shape than they were when we invaded.

Not to mention the "election" in Saudi Arabia where women weren't even allowed to vote.