Jimmy Carter: Religion is one of the 'basic causes' of violations of women's rights

[Anomki]

A universal theology is impossible, but a universal experience is not only possible but necessary. - ACIM

[Hemptastic47]

Jimmy Carter - he put up solar panels on the white house only for the next president to TAKE THEM DOWN and spend money doing so, on something that produced free energy.... Oh Amerika... how you suck.

[dsmrider]

@burnyourcrutch I agree with the last part, it still serves well by adding culture to societies. It's teachings of course are outdated and backwards

[wufrudelu]

i wish he was this enlightened when he was president

[dsmrider]

@MrWsad I agree, but at least it would be  more moderate. I'm not totally sure that society with a moderate taste of religion would be worse than with no religion at all. I just know right now it is a bit too much.

[dsmrider]

If all the theists acted, sounded, thought... like him. I would not have a problem with religion. He hit it dead on, but like the top comment says. There are plenty of other policies which need to be looked into, in regards to religion.

[CRUClEFICTION]

Just as the novelist, Philip Roth recently said, "When the whole world doesn't believe in god, it will be a great place."

/watch?v=HUpaf0vR-Iw

Time to grow up Jimmy, and shed that ancient superstitious poppycock for a new brotherhood of man which is impossible as long as man loves a god more than his fellow man.

[okcitykid]

I would like details of this study if that's possible. I have often wondered if there wasn't a council of Nicaea and the Bible never created and all scriptures were given equal weight if things would not be different today.

[Largo64]

An astonishing admission coming from President Carter. But what does he, along with the other "elders" intend to do about it. Religion - practically all religion - is authoritarian in nature. There is no vote of church, temple or mosque membership on matters of doctrine in most organized religious assemblies. There is especially no vote for women. Is Mr. Carter willing to say church doctrine is wrong at its source?

[nathanwarner518]

people have been fronting there actions with religion and a higher purpose since the down of time, people can twist any verse to suit them if they try hard enough. religion isnt the cause of any violation of womens rights...just human nature

[unchainedworld99]

Take a look at the book Three Cups of Tea, you'll see how education is being used, or rather the prohibition of education to females, is being used, as a device to maintain subjugation...Who delivers the education in question? Male religious elders of course.

[mohan0128]

In discussing the subjugation of women, those who have commented on this video have limited themselves only to Judao-Chirstian thought. Please note the Hindu sects of Vaisnavam (which views God as being both male and female) or Shaktaism (which worships only the sacred feminine, along with the Western religion of Zorastraianism.

[humminalong]

@mohan0128 Well yes, in theory the feminine, in Hindu spirituality, is as important as the masculine, however Kali doesn't seem to be in charge of social reality, in India. Something else is driving the treatment of women there. I have feminist Indian friends who point out the contradictions there. I just read about a county in India where cell-phones are about to be outlawed for single women. Also see what Obasilia says below also.

[mohan0128]

@humminalong The word "Kali" is a Sanskrit mispronunciation of the word "koLLi", a Tamil word which means danger. Like any good mother, the Goddess protects her children from dangers. The angry, dark Goddess of Bengal, whose place Kali-Ghat, became the city of Kolkatta, somehow became misconstrued in the West as a symbol for feminism.

Consider the concept of "amman" in South India, the great Mother who is worshiped as the protector of the village. This may serve as a better example.

[humminalong]

@mohan0128 --Ok, I like that image. But I have heard and read about the various versions and faces of Kali, and I don't have a problem with her overall. Over the centuries, and from place-to-place, she has been a protector as well as a vengeful goddess. However, like the Catholics, who maintain a high position for females in their theology, the Hindus generally suffer from some extreme abuse of females in real life.

[Obasiliasfilosofos]

People need to understand and study patriarchy, patriarchy was not formed out simply out of hate for women, Its more of a carefully crafted social construct that served past "states and rulers" since ancient times, It seems more like a product of the neolithic age were the concept of "property" came into existence...

States and religions nurtured it, Since it makes it easier for rulers to control reproduction, and maintain their "blood lines" which their hereditary inheritance depends on..

[OChristFollower]

"So the LORD God said to the serpent, "Because you have done this, 'Cursed are you above all the livestock and all the wild

animals! You will crawl on your belly and you will eat dust all the days of your life. And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will

strike his heel.'"

Genesis 3:14-15

God said this would happen guys.

[flylike1]

@OChristFollower

1 Timothy 2:9-14

[lcharlesworth]

Roslyn taught him well...JOKE...his message is SERIOUS and I am proud to say that I agree with EVERY word!

[BeTheChangeUWant2C]

A true leader.

[RepublicanDumbAss]

Every time I hear this man speak I have more respect for him. He is on the path to enlightenment.

[RepublicanDumbAss]

Why do you not mention Atheists in the group, James Carter?

[catgivens]

Thank you Jimmy Carter. Thank you very very much.

[davidabrowne]

Jimmy Carter is finally turning the light within... He has been in the pocket of the Saudis since his presidency, with much of the weakness during his administration stemming from naive idealism fostered by his deeply religious upbringing. Notice that the elders are nit a broadly representative group, just some Christians and Moslems. Once again Carter manipulates his podium deceptively; at least finally for a truly noble cause that doesn't benefit his presidential library's coffers or the Car

[LiteWaiter]

God has no religion, only people have.

The Elders need to watch my picture video "Living UFO". Jimmy Carter has some knowledge, but I seem to have the only close up in the world of a light ball UFO, where you can see it's inside.

It touches on the essence of life, on the essence of our existence; why are we here?

Time never had a beginning, so existence never had a beginning. So anything is possible. Even the "impossible". The truth has many dimensions.

[mohan0128]

You finally said something that makes sense - philosophy is not theology. Perhaps that's where we differ; I look at spirituality as being outside the trappings of religion, an examination of things that we cannot fully explain but seek to understand. When it comes to the bonds of organized religion, I would agree with you, that its dogma can and does bind us to superstitions. But, if you divide by 0 or infinity, IT still remains undefinable.

[mohan0128]

I think the fundamental problem is that most religions have discounted the role of the Sacred Feminine. We should always remember that the first concept of a Divine was the Great Mother. Certain Eastern Tradition - Hinduism, Taoism, to name a few - see the Supreme as the Sacred Union of masculine and feminine qualities, the Divine Parents of the universe, if you will.

I can only wonder at why this concept has been dismissed in the present day.

[nilbud]

Superstition is nonsense probably.

[mohan0128]

I don't understand the intent of your response. All religions are based on some element of "superstition" - more to the point the irrational. This is because faith is an emotional experience, but we all seem to have faith in something - even it is atheism.

As the mystics say, "if you say he doesn't exist, He is what you say doesn't exist."

[Obasiliasfilosofos]

@mohan0128

The great religions, Did not become great by being nice....

patriarchal religion , Had the benefit of having their women turned into house servants and poping out babies who grow up to be "soldiers" for god and his "lieutenants on earth".

The only monotheist religion that kept the sacred feminine was orthodox Zoroastrianism because of its "dualism" of light and darkness Masculine and feminine, Its God was never referred to as a He or a she, but something neutral.

[analogfantasy]

he is so right about that. Many religions don't even consider woman as a human. Just incubator for carrying babies. Amazing thing is, we all start life as women. Yeah, and I'm not raving. google it, if you don't belive me. So, every religion that says that man is superior to a woman, is fake

[nilbud]

A woman is a failed man is what you're saying.

[Obasiliasfilosofos]

@analogfantasy It is true that in the earliest stage of fetal development the starting position is female in shape and form but to be precise its actually gender neutral, The male sex organs are formed and constructed from the same parts that form female genitalia, men get nipples as vestigials and women get a "prostrate" gland as a unnecessary but "pleasant" leftover from the bits intended to form male reproductive organs..

[MissUmaDarlin]

Thank you Mr. Carter for speaking about the abuses religion has inflicted on societies for ages...you are an incredible man and I admire you greatly.......

[MustangJay]

When will we stop beating around the bush on this one...organized religion is an evil, nonsensical, and ridiculous idea left over from Bronze Age civilization and needs to be outlawed once and for all!

[AAL]

You've come along way Mr. President. I hope you come the rest of the way and see how religion violates all of our rights.

[CHEwasGAY]

@AAL Leftists are against the free speech, when it disagrees with the left. Carter is an idiot.

[cmocva]

Mr. President, as a agnostic/atheist (depending what day it is), it saddens me that the message of JC is so often twisted into a message that condones hate and bigotry of all sorts. Within us all resides the power of free will. We can use that power to commit good or to commit evil. Why do some Christians use their power to thwart the message of JC and thereby making JC's time on earth a waste of time?? JC didn't need to die on the cross to propagae hate, He did it to propagate LOVE FOR ALL

[cmocva]

just so you know, Mr. President, YOU ROCK!!!!!

[jazzx251]

Lol - I thought you meant Jimmy Carter when you said JC

[ATSparks]

Right on Jimmy!

[panthera50]

He is right.

[benitosuave]

Furthermore, why does Jimmy get to attempt to revise a religion's teachings? His article titled, "The words of God do not justify cruelty to women" are offensive in two ways. First, God does not give instruction to abuse women, but rather

Eph 5:25

Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her,

Secondly, it is offensive that Jimmy thinks that he has the right to tell God what his words should or shouldn't say.

[WoodyLittle]

The Bible clearly places women in a position of subjugation to men. To say only that it instructs husbands to love their wives is extremely misleading.

You may believe that, as God's word, it's infallible, but I've yet to meet the Christian who observes all of its prescripts, especially some of the more barbaric/archaic ones.

In effect, all Christians revise its teachings and disregard God's instructions everyday! Your personal interpretation of scripture isn't necessarily definitive.

[benitosuave]

I am working on a blog as we speak to analyze this more critically. I would like to give you a fair answer to this reply, but it will require more room than YouTube provides. When I am finished I will send you a link to my blog and you may comment if you desire there.

[Obasiliasfilosofos]

@WoodyLittle

Christianity, Is patriarchal and fairly sexists, Compared to plain old Judaism and the norms of most of the pre-christian societies, It actually was an improvement, Unfortunately it also hindered society from making anymore improvements..

What Christianity did require the man to be faithful to his wife, also required men to maintain their chastity and not just women, Ephesians 5:23-31seems to be a condemnation of spousal abuse & Domestic violence..

[WoodyLittle]

@Obasiliasfilosofos

I suppose Christianity is "an improvement" over Judaism when it comes to the treatment of women.

Still, even the NT affirms that a woman, Eve, is responsible for original sin and excuses Adam for his part in the fall from grace. And the teachings on sex and marriage are, for want of a better word, just plain weird. Marriage is viewed as a "last resort" for the weak. The clear ideal is for Christians to remain chaste so they can be in a "pure" state when Christ returns.

[Obasiliasfilosofos]

@WoodyLittle

It was Paul that was averse to sex the other apostles are said to have been married according some of the early traditions and subtle clues in the 4 gospels and epistles, Some Gnostics disputed Jesus lifelong celibacy and virginity viewing Mary Magdalene as his wife and lover which is where the divinci code got its ideas from, Its also why a early Pope of Rome created the tradition that associated Mary Magdalene with the demon possed prostitute of an early chapter in the gospel.

[WoodyLittle]

@Obasiliasfilosofos

Your ideas about the apostles being married and Magdalene as the consort of Christ are very "pro-woman", but they're not exactly "mainstream", are they? Paul is pretty much THE founder of Christianity as we know it today and his edicts have been the basis for most subsequent doctrine. And, let's face it, the guy was a bit of a misogynistic prick.

As for Jesus? Not convinced he ever existed as a man at all...more like an idealistic conflation of past Jewish mystics/radicals.

[Obasiliasfilosofos]

@WoodyLittle

I think Jesus started as some obscure Jewish "folk hero" perhaps inspired by a real radical Rabbi named Jesus, originally a anti-roman patriotic Zealot who was a Jew influenced by Plato and Alexandrian eastern mysticism in the collection of religious texts in the serapeum, and his followers created his biography and embellished it with some creative license possibly in a "Q gospel"..

[humminalong]

@WoodyLittle ....Thank God I have no religion. I was taught that once spirituality is distorted into dogma, spirit slips away. Some individuals retain their natural spirit in spite of institutional, patriarchal teachings. Carter is one, I respect his courage and his strength.

[WoodyLittle]

@humminalong

I know what you mean. JImmy seems like a very decent man to me. HIs faith is not just meaningless, lip service like with so many other public figures. I get the feeling that it's essential to his personal convictions and good works.

Just curious. You say you were "taught" that dogma undermines spirituality. Where did you learn such a thing? Not in church, I'll bet!

[singapore7773]

@WoodyLittle the bible doesnt instruct husbands to love their wives...... it does instruct men to love their wives as CHRIST LOVES THE CHURCH...... huge difference

[WoodyLittle]

@singapore7773

It IS two different things. I stand corrected.

Just trying to be nice and diplomatic. Don't want to offend anyone's convictions or nothin'...

As for men who are more devoted to "the Church" than their wives? There's no shame in cock sucking.

[hovickhovick]

@WoodyLittle

And, the bible clearly tells husbands to love their wives, AS CHRIST LOVED THE CHURCH (willing to die for). When husbands do that...

Paul also says, there is neither Jew nor Greek, male nor female, slave nor free, we are all one in Christ Jesus...

[SadisticPenguinOfAND]

The problem (as normal), doesn't really lie in the bible itself, but rather its interpretation. While religious teachings often advanced women's rights at their time.

The simple truth, though, is that people do use religion to abuse women, but do it using fundamentalist teachings that differ from the spirit of the religious work. Religion is misused to confuse and hurt daily. It can do good, but in the wrong hands it can do evil while tragically its followers think they're doing good.

[benitosuave]

You're right that it can be an interpretation issue based on fundamentalists or hypocrites.

[csxtrainwreck]

How religion poisons everything.

[WoodyLittle]

Jim Carter is the man and a REAL man!

A TRUE public servant who's put his own hide on the line countless times in the name of decency and compassion. Uncommon and inspiring courage...

You, Sir, are my hero!

[bishopcdmiller]

President Carter we thank you. Our Women In Ministry Network and Global Network friends thank you. The numbers of Women of God called to serve is countless. We want to support this mission. We all thank you dearly. It is a move of God to support Women's freedom to serve God and others around the world. We thank you, you may CALL us again! Bishop CD Miller

[ttpianogirl]

I applaud you! All of you who have the courage to speak on my behalf, a christian woman who has been abused by two husbands. The church tends to overlook spousal abuse and hopefully you are opening a very public window into this ongoing battle that permeates our society, not just in marriages, but the workplace and in how we practice our faith. AMEN!

[windyshrimp]

Many religious texts do consider women inferior people. Which in some cases is why religions can help hault progress in humankind and human rights.