It’s a bit hypocritical to suggest that Islam is alone in it’s poor opinion of women.

Historically women have been oppressed and treated as second class citizens and nowhere more than in religious teachings.

The Bible describes several instances of rape as being God’s will and even includes some “Laws of rape”. (Deuteronomy 21:10-14, 20:10-14, 22:23-24, 28-29, Samuel 12:11-14, Numbers 31:7-18, Judges 21:10-24, Exodus 21:7-11 to name a handful.)

Other oppressive opinions are included in Corinthians 14:34-35, Ephesians 5:22-24. Colossians 3:18, Leviticus 12:1-5 and 27:1-7, Timothy 2:11-14, 2:9 and 5:5-6, Leviticus 19:20-21, Numbers 30:12, Exodus 21:7-8, Deuteronomy 20:16-17 and 25:11-12, and so on.

These describe women as being gullible, deceitful, worthless and treacherous and must suffer for all eternity as a result of Eve’s indiscretion.

Women fare slightly better in the Talmud. Although they are described as lazy, jealous, vain and gluttonous, prone to gossip and particularly prone to the occult and witchcraft – they at least had the right to buy, sell, and own property and make their own contracts - rights which women in Christian countries (including the USA) did not have until about 100 years ago.

Under these circumstances I would be careful about throwing stones when you are living in a glass house.

Interesting also that the two biggest Muslim countries in the world (Indonesia and Pakistan) have both had women as leaders, so not much repression happening there.

I think many people confuse Middle Eastern CULTURE with practical Muslim beliefs.
Iraq is the Arab country with the largest Muslim population and it rates about 12th in the world (Iran and Turkey are not an Arab states) - I can't see how it can represent the entire religion. A bit like saying that Christianity is represented by the Amish?

The original idea in this thread was that child protection laws should be expanded to include teachers or leaders instructing violence. Children should be shielded from these recruitment agents.

I don't put all Muslims in this category, and certainly not the entire Arabic culture.

In terms of crazy Christian fundamentalists persecuting the Amish, this idea is not funny. It happened last year.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,217975,00.html

Remember the Westborow Baptist Church persecuting the Amish at the funeral of the four Amish Girls. Now that was really disgusting. I would say exactly the same standard should apply to any religion including any mad crazy violent Christian cults in Australia. They are an embarrassment to respectable Christians. I can imagine most Muslims are equally embarrassed by these crazy Islamic men. On both sides of the fence, I think it is fair to say that they are beyond funny, they are dangerous.

Thank you for the interesting information on Women Leaders in Islamic countries and the Christian Bible references on women. I am not an expert on this and I am still learning.

I don't have many answers so I leave the response to our trusty Christian experts to respond, and hopefully some balance from various points of view.

Surely some are denieing the very intent of SOME within the Muslim comunity?
No relidgion should call for people to be beheaded because they think differently than them.
The simple fact my best mate lives in my home and is a little foxy dog makes me unclean in this comunity.
Do not fall for the lies and pretent lack of understanding.
Some use lies as a weapon and wish to rule this country in the name of a God that is not my or my countrys will.

In debate should the facts have any weight? up the thread a poster highlights bad treatment of females by Christians and other hundreds of years ago!
It is done in defending SOME Muslim behavior towards women in todays world!
Try treating your white western female today as if you own them!
We have to learn some who want to prove our concerns are wrong are not even reading the same thread ,have no idea of the problem or its solution.

saintfletcher - I too am concerned about the lack of authority in place to prevent the molestation of our youth's minds as is in place to prevent that of their bodies.

It is interesting: I am of a Greek Orthodox upbringing, however when I reached my teens I traded in a faith in an ancient people's alleged interpretation of a god for having faith in oneself and those in the world which I "know."

I am familiar with other former Christians following similar paths due to the flexibility in such cultures to "allow" people to think for themselves, form their own opinions and feel justified in doing so. Is there such a "flexibility" among muslims? Are any of their children encouraged by teachers or parents to seek their own truths with independent analysis and intelligence? It certainly does appear to be an ancient religion which its teachers will not allow to compromise with the progression of society - any element which powerfully stifles independent thought is hazardous.

The government IS treading on eggshells... it is unclear as to how to incorporate Australian tolerance with the extremists of an intolerant religion.