Exactly what I was thinking, Churches can provide ‘quiet’ rooms, chapels etc . even airports have them. And by all means, they should go to the mountain, not expect the rest of the town to!

I know more about Judaism and Christianity than I know about Islam, but from what I do know, the prophet Muhammad (pbuh) was much more overtly woman-friendly and woman-empowering than the prophets of Judaism and Christianity. So what these women are doing is essentially demanding the rights that their religion promises them but which the Patriarchy of their culture has always prevented them from gaining. It’s not a question of them being “more like us” at all. (Because honestly, I don’t think Judaism or Christianity is necessarily the best theology or worldview out there…it just happens to be the one I was born into).

Maybe I’m just foolishly assuming that this discussion is about religions in which their members actually believe in, not just matters of purely arbitrary choice. I very much like the color brown, but I’d never dream of trying to persuade other people to like it, guide a portion of my life by it, or demand that my fondness for it be respected. It’s just a thing I like, completely subjective and arbitrary. Were we talking about religion in that sense?

Becky: Sorry, I don’t do god. I can’t really see how it’s different from astrology. A good day to you all.

Yes there are actual Muslim feminists and yes Islam has a whole slew of things in common with Judaism and Christianity because it is built on them. And yes Islam was once about giving women rights and protecting them as human beings. But these are things you seldom come across out here in the great wilderness of the intertubes. There is much wrong with religion in general – or the various interpretations of the various religions – but it is nice to see someone address the issues that occur within a community without suggesting that their issues would all resolve themselves if they were just More Like Us (for various values of ‘Us’), and actually engaging with the issue at hand (in good faith even ).

As to the actual content of the post, I think it’s awesome not only that these women are trying to change this structure from within, but that they are getting attention and support for doing so.

It seems like that’s where your interest lies, but I don’t think you can forcibly drag the focus back to your point of interest.

Everyone else in this comment thread is being entirely respectful of each other’s religious beliefs or lack thereof. You, on the other hand, show up and declare that you don’t have to respect anyone’s religious beliefs because they are–in your opinion–unworthy of respect. And then you condescend all over the fucking place, like a true Mansplainer.

You’ve made your point. I’ve made mine. If you can’t engage respectfully, you will not be commenting here any longer.