religion

[tectonic_drift]

I thought this Washington post article was rather interesting. It is about a young Salvadorian-American lady who converts to Islam and her family’s reaction. She explains that Islam offers a respect for women, which is in contrast to the objectification of women in Latin/American culture. I sympathize with her concerns and never quite thought of

Comments

[reckless_rex]

I suppose that depends on what one's idea of "respect" is, and for that matter what one's idea of "Islam" is. I think it's hard to argue that the chauvanistic Arab cultural influences that have historically shaped Islam are any good for women. Islam as it's practiced in places like Morrocco and Malaysia, where those influences are very attenuated, tends to be much more hospitable to females. There's a lot of variation there.

"...organized religion can have a calming, therapeutic effect."

Or it can have precisely the opposite effect. Cuts both ways.

[tectonic_drift]

I agree with you on the variation in Islam and the varying influence of religion. I was just struck by the irony of the woman turning to religion to pursue a moderate version of womanhood. I am sure her reasons for converting are deeper than that, but that she cited respect for woman was interesting too me.

[reckless_rex]

It is interesting. There are things I find fairly revolting about the crass libertinism of modern western culture, and on that level I can understand the urge to exclude onesself from it. I just people would do it without swinging in the other direction into a traditionalism I think is about equally harmful in its way.

I've wondered before if the increasing shallow hedonism is likely to provoke any kind of swing back in the opposite direction toward more conservatism and spirituality. I don't think it's likely and am on the fence about its desirability, but it's a thought that intrigues me.