Do you agree with and/or have comment on this quote? (Monotheism and misogyny)

Question

"The great unmentionable evil at the center of our culture is monotheism. From a barbaric Bronze Age text known as the Old Testament, three anti-human religions have evolved - Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. These are sky-god religions. They are, literally, patriarchal - God is the Omnipotent Father - hence the loathing of women for 2,000 years in those countries afflicted by the sky-god and his earthly male delegates."

-Gore Vidal

Answer 1

A foolish thought from a foolish loon.

Answer 2

Nope.  Next question?

Answer 3

He makes a good point.  I'm currently studying Judaism and it's undeniabls that is was,at one point,a very patriarchal religion. For much of Judaisms history, women have been excluded from being allowed to fully study and participate at the same level men have.  

But it's important to note that not everyone who participates in these religions still feels/practices in that way.  Many if not most modern Jews,for example,since I can't really speak for other religions,believe in full participation and equal rights for women..  

Answer 4

No. It is dramatic and bitter. Wouldn't revealed religion be a better term to use for these Abrahamic religions? There are a lot of "sky-god" religions.

Answer 5

I do indeed. But then I would because I am an atheist. Religion is a menace in all its guises.

It's a very tempting view that God as male sets the tone for the exaltation of males, but I'm not convinced. Physical dominance is at the root of that.  

Answer 6

Can anyone who's actually read the old testament really deny that it says some horrible things in regards to women?!?

Answer 7

The thing people don't get is that people aren't misogynists because their religion is, religion is misogynistic because people are misogynists. People are wholly capable of being stupid with or without religion.

Answer 8

I do think paganistic religions are more egalitarian than monotheistic ones. But Christianity, Judaism, and Islam are not fundamentally sexist or misogynistic.

Answer 9

Yes, I absolutely agree with it. All three religions are fundamentally misogynistic, just as they are fundamentally intolerant of anything or anyone that does not fit into their narrow world view. I find it incredible that people still follow these texts as sacred; by all means believe there is a higher being, but why follow blindly texts that were written by men thousands of years ago?

Fundamentalist Islam, Christianity and Judaism are a threat to all of us, not just because of their misogynistic attitudes but because of their general message of intolerance and their followers' fanaticism.

Of course they are not the only religions to view women as lesser beings.

Answer 10

I agree and would like to add this quote:

      Man enjoys the great advantage of having a god endorse the code he writes; and since man exercises a sovereign authority over women it is especially fortunate that this authority has been vested in him by the Supreme Being. For the Jews, Mohammedans and Christians among others, man is master by divine right; the fear of God will therefore repress any impulse towards revolt in the downtrodden female. (de Beauvoir 1949, p.189).

Answer 11

That's Gore Vidal's opinion.  I don't feel that way and I'm Muslim.  Yes, I know do to consensus I should feel that way; only that is entirely up to me.

Edit@ Mr. DeVere-Cox: religion is only a word; a word that describes a set of faiths. There comes  a time when mental dominance is far more superior than physical dominance.  That you can take anyway you so like.

Answer 12

Well I am not sure if I agree with you or not because you have not stated your opinion on this quote.

I am Christian, I do not find my particular denomination of Christianity patriarchal (my husband and I were married by a women), though do know of some that are.  Perhaps Gore Vidal was not educated on all of the denominations' and segments' various beliefs within these religions.  Perhaps this was quoted at a time period when society in general was patriarchal.

I think his general hatred toward socioty's nonacceptance of his lifestyle (homosexuality) was probably his real source of anger and bitterness, not necessarily religion.