Fostering the feminine

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Francis Gonsalves [1]

Isn’t the time when the savage rape and death of the 23-year-old girl in Delhi has triggered discussion on the plight of Indian women an occasion for reflection? Doesn’t it remind us that culture — influenced by religious belief — is dangerous when not constantly evaluated and constructively critiqued?

Religion helps us to connect with God or some Absolute called by any name. Yet, curiously, religious matters are always and everywhere the monopoly of Man. In matters of creed (beliefs and doctrines) or cult (rites and rituals) or conduct (moral dos and don’ts), Man — and not Woman — has the first and final word.
The world’s so-called “great” religions, i.e., Hinduism, Judaism, Christianity and Islam, have scriptures in Sanskrit, Hebrew, Greek and Arabic, respectively. Consequently, since patriarchal mindsets and structures didn’t allow women to study, it was only men — specifically, educated men — who began interpreting scripture. These interpretations favoured the viewpoints of Man.
The Biblical figure of Eve proves my point. Patriarchal biases in interpretation have led to Eve being seen, first, as inferior to Adam since she was created after him and from one of his ribs; second, as seductress, since she shrewdly seduced Adam into eating the forbidden fruit; and, third, as unintelligent, since she couldn’t decipher the deceits of the serpent. Eve thereafter becomes the prototype of Woman: inferior, seductive and stupid.
In matters of rites and rituals, while it’s common to see many more women frequenting chapels and temples to worship, the “official” sacred duties in the sanctum sanctorum are almost always performed by men. Moreover, while most children learn the ABC of religion from their mothers, in the public realm of religion power rests with men. Hence, male theologians, priests and sadhus wield greater power than female theologians, priestesses and sadhvis.
In the ethical-moral sphere, numerous dos and don’ts are imposed on women — and all these are diktats of men: proscribed spaces for worship, veiling of heads, periods of defilement and unworthiness for worship due to menstrual cycles, etc. Most of such restrictions remain largely unchallenged, thereby unchanged.
Since God is mostly worshipped as Male, males are consequently considered as most apt images of divinity. And, even while we raise Mother Mary in Christianity or myriad Matas in Hinduism upon altars and pedestals, we randomly tend to disregard women by believing that, since some of these Matas are highly honoured, the others will follow suit. Clearly, this does not happen.
Restoring their rightful places to women is the responsibility of both, women and men. We must first root out the weeds of patriarchy within us, then interpret scriptures and invent structures that empower, not enslave, women. Fostering the feminine in matters of faith will ensure greater equality and participation of all. Isn’t God Our Mother, too?

Francis Gonsalves is the principal of the Vidyajyoti College of Theology, Delhi.