PAUL GWYNNE is a Teaching Fellow in Comparative Religion at the University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia. He completed his doctoral studies in Rome and has taught Theology and Religious Studies in Indonesia and at the Melbourne College of Divinity. His books include World Religions in Practice: A Comparative Introduction and Buddha, Jesus and Muhammad: A Comparative Study.

Note on Scriptural Translations and References x
 
Acknowledgements xi
 
List of Figures xii
 
Introduction 1
 
1 Religions 10
 
Hinduism 10
 
Buddhism 16
 
Judaism 22
 
Christianity 27
 
Islam 34
 
Summary 40
 
2 Feminisms 44
 
Sex and Gender 44
 
Androcentrism and Patriarchy 51
 
Conservative and Liberal Mindsets 57
 
Revolutionary and Reform Feminism 62
 
3 Deity 73
 
Gods and Goddesses 73
 
Higher Beings 79
 
The God of Israel 85
 
Allah 92
 
Father, Son and Spirit 97
 
Summary 104
 
4 Woman 109
 
Bad Karma 110
 
Changing Sex 114
 
Adam and Hava 119
 
Daughters of Eve 126
 
The First Couple 134
 
Summary 140
 
5 Founders 146
 
The Founder of Judaism? 147
 
Muhammad 153
 
Buddha Gautama 162
 
Jesus of Nazareth 170
 
Summary 179
 
6 Wife 187
 
Buddhist Disinterest 187
 
Pativrata 190
 
Love, Honour and Obey 198
 
The Chained Ones 204
 
A Degree over Them 209
 
Summary 216
 
7 Mother 224
 
The Second Eve 224
 
A Painful Condition 231
 
Niddah 236
 
Pumsavana 244
 
The Five Woes 249
 
Summary 254
 
8 Seductress 262
 
Witch 262
 
Tzniut 267
 
Hijab 273
 
Apsaras and Ghunghats 280
 
Mara's Daughters 285
 
Summary 290
 
9 Leader 297
 
Broken Lineages 297
 
The Sacred Thread 304
 
From Exemption to Exclusion 309
 
The House of Umm Waraqa 318
 
Christ and the Twelve 324
 
Summary 333
 
10 (LGBQ)TI 343
 
The Third Nature 343
 
Pandakas 349
 
The Six Categories 354
 
Khuntha and Mukhannath 361
 
The Order of Creation 368
 
Summary 375
 
Conclusion 384
 
Appendix A "The 100 Most Influential People in History" (Michael Hart) 397
 
Appendix B The 32 Major Marks of a Buddha 399
 
Appendix C The Ninety-Nine Names of Allah 400
 
Appendix D The Two Genesis Stories of Creation 403
 
Select Bibliography 408
 
Index 414

A groundbreaking cross-sectional study of the forms and extent of gender inequality in the "Big Five" religions of the world
 
Sexism in Major Religions: A Comparative Introduction provides clear and accessible analyses of the complex forms of androcentrism and patriarchy in five of the world's major religions--Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. With a unique comparative-thematic methodology, this student-friendly textbook bridges the gap between Religious Studies and courses in Gender and Sexuality Studies, Feminist Studies, Religion and Society, and more.
 
Following a brief introduction to each religious system covered, Sexism in Major Religions defines important terms and concepts in modern religious feminism, including sex and gender, androcentrism and patriarchy, and revolutionary and reform feminisms. Each remaining chapter focuses on one of seven themes representing the main sources and manifestations of religious discrimination against women, such as the gender of the deity, the duties of the mother, and the status of the wife within marriage. Throughout the text, author Paul Gwynne discusses the formal gender-biased teachings and practices, distinctive features, intersecting areas, and core arguments of conservative defenders and feminist critics of each religion.
* Provides students with deep comparative insight into the similarities and differences between major religions on issues of gender equality
* Offers a fresh and original approach to exploring the forms of sexism across seven distinct themes
* Presents a timely and accurate account of the "landscape of sexism" in five of the world's largest religions
* Includes a dedicated chapter examining the status of intersex and transgender persons in religious systems
 
Designed to broaden students' understanding of religions through systematic and impartial discussion, Sexism in Major Religions: A Comparative Introduction is an ideal textbook for undergraduate courses in Religious Studies and Social Sciences programs, as well as an invaluable resource for general readers interested in understanding and reforming sexist features within religious traditions.