Women of faith are uniquely positioned to help curb extremism and violence in the name of religion, according to a new report from Catholic Aid agency Progressio published yesterday. The report, 'Faithful Peace, peaceful faith', by Jane McGrory, promotes female faith-based community leaders as strategic actors in transforming the unjust structures and gender relations that often accompany armed conflict:
"Women of faith tend to represent religion's 'human' face and to maintain a distance from its power politics. From this position, they have great potential to enhance the contribution of religion to peace, and to mitigate its role in violent conflict."
The report, based on a workshop organised by the aid agency which brought together over 20 women from a variety of faith communities across South-East Asia engaged in peace-building work, argues that female faith-based community leaders can be instrumental in challenging religious chauvinism, a term used in the report define those who uphold the truth of their own religions whilst failing to respect other religions:
"Religious chauvinism is a major factor behind conflicts over religion and in the way that religion is used to inflame conflicts of a political nature."
McGory highlights the difficulties women of faith can face as a result of tension between progressive and fundamentalist elements which she says are inherent in all religions:
"Activist women of faith tend to face resistance and perhaps even obstruction from some of the more fundamentalist interpretations of their faith."
In order to effectively counter fundamentalism the report stresses the need for women to be educated and theologically trained:
"In order to successfully rebuff arguments - particularly religious arguments -against their activism and progressive vision, women need to be able to phrase their defence in the same theological language as their detractors."
McGory also stresses that women of faith are integral to the promotion of gender equality and the struggle against patriarchy which, according to the report, "allows the subordination of women and is a form of structural violence". The report recommends that religious institutions and communities need to be more aware of their role in perpetuating patriarchy and of its relationship to violence.
The full report can be read here.
Credit to Jane McGrory and CIIR /Progressio for gathering together these Women of Faith.
However a more useful exercise (or perhaps a follow up gathering) would be to demonstrate how Islamic values are peaceful. The report does not in any way demonstrate the peaceful basis of Islam. I have no doubt that the Muslim women whose testimonies appear in the report are sincere in their desire for peace, and indeed courageous women in challenging their local mullahs and Imams etc., but one or two or three (or more) peaceful Muslim women do not demonstrate the peaceful nature or basis of Islam.
Despite the promise of the title of the report, the ‘Peaceful Faith’ aspect is missing as regards Islam.
If the basis of Islam is found in the Qur'an and Hadith it would be easy for Ms McGrory to quote or provide dozens of references to buttress this view point in order to begin an informed and theological debate on how Islam has got it wrong for the last 1400 years. I have read the full report and unless I missed it inadvertently I did not find one reference from the Islamic scriptures to support these peaceful Muslim women.
The women of faith mentioned in this report (we are told) have a ‘particular standing and role in promoting the teachings, activities and institutions of that community.’ As regards to Islam I would be very interested to know what those teachings are.
One of the Muslim women speaks of the horrible situation of (female) child (under-age) marriages. She explains that ‘these practices are sanctioned by custom, which is based on interpretations of Islamic teaching….’ But more to the point it is based on the example of the founder of Islam, Mohammed. This man is held up by the Qur'an, and hence the umma, as the perfect example for all of humankind for all time. I am curious to know which ‘interpretations of Islamic teaching’ are wrong. Are they suggesting throwing out Mohammed with the Islamic bathwater?
Almost predictably the villain of the peace/piece is patriarchy. But such analysis does not square with the fact that women participate in suicide bombings and mothers encourage their (male (and female?)) children to strap on explosives because Allah guarantees Paradise (see Qur'an (9:111)) to those who "kill and are killed" for Allah.
I would think Ms McGrory would recognise that the role of patriarchy is playing second fiddle to traditional Islamic teaching. The workshop and report seemed to be a missed opportunity. I look forward to part II!
Sincerely
Remember Kinana
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