Tony Blair Faith Foundation

It is undoubtedly the case that orthodox Judaism discriminates against women- they are not ‘equal’, they cannot divorce their husbands, and they can be trapped when the husband will not divorce them, though he is technically free to remarry.

It is certainly true that at times religion has posed an obstacle to the advancement and the status of women. But it is also true that religion provides the one great principle that allows us to understand why all those obstacles are illegitimate and that is the idea that every human being is created in the image of God.

We often ask whether religion is good for women but I think it’s just as interesting in answering that [question] to ask “are women good for religion?” and I am not sure they are at the moment. What’s been happening is that women have been wanting greater roles, more leadership, greater participation and at the same time that has actually been becoming harder for them to do - leaving us with a bit of a crisis. Women have always been interested in religion and been extremely active in religion, central to all the world’s religions.

Exploring the question of whether religion has been good for women leads to what can only be called a tale of two narratives. Proponents of the first narrative answer the question with an unequivocal “no.” They contend that both historically and geographically, in every faith and denomination, religion has opposed equality, relegating women to second-class status within the home, the organized faith community, and the public square.

Since the mid-sixties, I have practiced Buddhism. From my point of view, Buddhism is more of a philosophy and, as well, a method to train the mind and heart. At its base, there should be no gender bias in Buddhism, if we examine Buddhism’s basic tenets. But in fact there is, as we learn that female monastics observing the full nun’s Patimokkha (around 348 rules), or precept body (the Vinaya), are subject to eight precepts that favor their brother monks, precepts that imply nuns are less worthy than individuals of the opposite sex.

Around the world, and throughout history, religion has had a strong impact on the rights and status of women. Religious arguments have often been used to restrict women’s rights and actions, to maintain women as subservient to men, and at times to reinforce and justify harmful cultural practices. But religion has also been a force for positive change.

I am Grace Lee Baughan from the Faith and Global Engagement Initiative at the University of Hong Kong. You know, Hong Kong is such a dynamic place that seems to be in perpetual motion. Its fast-paced tempo attracts fast-paced people who are hard working, hard playing and high achieving. This is a land of tycoons and Taipans, home to old wealth and new fortune. Some say that the main religion in Hong Kong isn’t Buddhism, Taoism or Confucianism but rather capitalism.

I would like to thank the Tony Blair Faith Foundation for honouring International Women’s Day 2013 with this series of videos entitled: “Is religion good for women?” The work of the Foundation, to build bridges between communities of faith, has been unmatched and I am proud to be associated with such an innovative approach to making our world a better place. My name is Farah Pandith and I am the Special Representative to the Muslim Communities at the US Department of State.

Director of Policy at the Tony Blair Faith Foundation Ian Linden and Ambassador Nigel Baker. Credit: British Embassy to the Holy See Benedict XVI has stepped down. We await the election of his successor.

What would happen if the different faiths began automatically adding 'humanism' to their names, Islamic humanism, Buddhist, Judaic, Hindu, Christian humanism, for example - then explored what each meant. We'd probably end up with a rich dialogue based on a celebration of two great realities: our shared humanity and the richness of our different religious traditions.