Women in religion

The discussion today centred around the historic place of women in the religious ferment. The contestants were from the feminist movement including, the strong opinions held by, not only female office holders in the church of England who wish to see equality, but also the usual atheist based incomprehension. Set against them the more established church functionary's from a range of religions, Catholic, Hindu, Muslim, and Jewish.
There was a lot of heat generated as the Establishment tried to explain why women are cast as subordinate to men in so much of religious writing. It was an example of the times and of the culture that formed the opinions. This was naturally rubbished by the feminists since, surely this was the word of God, no opinion seeker,  but a fundamental set of truisms.
The poor old Rabbi thought a lifetimes intellectual study of the interpretation of the Torah would be self explanatory.  He was mugged at the start by the presenter of the program, shaking his hand and then asking why he, the Rabbi, had refused to shake hands with the presenters, "female" colleague.   From the Jewish viewpoint women have an equal but separate role in life and the faith has a whole set of complicated do's and don'ts, one of which is the isolation that man has to observe in so far as his physical contact, even that of hand shaking is deemed to be an unhealthy temptation ? They have a whole list of definitions encompassing a women's menstrual period, even a strange relationship of isolating a women, in child birth, 4 weeks if the women has a boy but 8 weeks if she has a girl.  Weird !!!  The Rabbi was thoroughly castigated and really out of his depth as people, not accepting his lengthy, learned interrogation of his faith, could only repeat what his faith taught him. To ask questions about fundamentals was not something he cared to do. 
The Hindu faith was represented by a women who portrayed Hinduism as being full of female deity. She  held the position that women were well represented at all levels.
The Muslims argument relied on the fact that Muhammed had 9 wives, his first being to a very wealthy women who set him up financially for his future ministry. Muslims have interesting views on the role of women with regard to the male, an extreme example would be female circumcision, but in so far as their scripture goes they suggest that their is no impediment. The male domination has its foundation in "protecting" and valuing (sic) the female. For instance, the reason that women are not invited to pray in the Mosque is that the male subjects himself to praying in a posture that is deemed unhealthy for a women to see. Remarkable !!
A women who had become a Muslim was really enthusiastic about the sisterhood and her life as a Muslim having drawn her into a tight, rewarding collaboration with other women of the faith.
The Catholic viewpoint was led from scripture with the story of Adam and Eve. Eve's temptation, Christ's strong support of women and the influence of Mary which was high-jacked by Peter in his team building effort to create a Church strong enough to take on the society of the day. 

Of course much of this had many of the feminists, on the other side of the argument nearly hysterical with disbelief at what they were hearing but again, their frustration and vehement argument does not make for an attractive spectacle, be it from a male or a female !!