Let me jump right in and see how inflammatory I can be without resorting to sectarian terminology.

The abuse and oppression of women in the name of religion is absolute insanity. Iran is cracking down on women who reveal their hair in public, for heaven's sake.

Women in many parts of the world are targets of violence at the hands of religious extremists for a variety of "crimes" such as leaving home unescorted by a male, not being a virgin prior to marriage or, um, being a victim of rape.

That's crazy.

And the crazy is everywhere, not just over there. It's right here in the Land of the Free, too.
Judith Warner wrote a great column examining twisted religious attitudes in the U.S.:

...when it comes to female chastity, much of what passes for "protection" is nothing less than sick.

It's worth reading the whole column. She discusses the disturbing incestuousness of purity balls in which fathers celebrate their daughters' chastity.

She points out that incest is connected to an abuse of patriarchal power...

...a criminal perversion of fatherly control and influence. It is perpetrated, in many cases, by men who present themselves as the guardians of the moral order.

Warner doesn't mention it, but her piece also brings to mind the child brides coerced into sexual relationships with men in Mormon fundamentalist polygamist sects.

Guardians of the moral order, heh. Men -- yes, it's mostly men. They put the crazy in religion.

We've all heard stories of abusive Catholic nuns -- I'm not discounting or excusing any abuses committed by religious authorities, male or female. But religious authorities are overwhelmingly male, K?

As long as men are the guardians of the moral order -- the founders, propagators, rulemakers, commentators and leaders of religion -- we're gonna have the nasty problems that come with patriarchy.

Is it possible to separate religion from patriarchy? I have my doubts.

So I'm faced with a dilemma. I chant Namu-myoho-renge-kyo but I strenuously do not want to call myself a Nichiren Buddhist. Nichiren's religion is just as patriarchal as any other. Plus, Nichiren Buddhism is practically synonymous with crazy fundamentalism. (Do you really need me to cite examples?)

I know what you're going to say. Nichiren does not specifically teach that women are lesser, or that men are supreme, or anything quite so overtly offensive. But that's the way it plays out in real life. From priesthoods to organizational leadership structures, it's all about the patriarchy, baby.

Yeah, yeah -- look at all the great women in the Lotus Sutra. There's only one, really. The Dragon King's daughter, representing that enlightenment is not a gendered thing, and that gender is just another empty distinction.

Again, the disconnect between what is taught and what is practiced Lotus Sutra sects is glaring.

Why would any self-respecting woman want to claim affiliation with a religious tradition steeped in patriarchy? Almost EVERY organized religion fits this description.

What's a gal to do?

I chant. I really do feel that the Lotus Sutra is my holy book. But I balk at calling myself a practitioner or member of a religion.

Your thoughts?