I’m horrified by any religion that has texts condoning slaughter of entire groups of another religion, abuse of women, or repercussions for leaving, much in the same way that I’m horrified by treatment in alleged offshoots of Christianity. Even Ultra Orthodox Judaism, where some sects completely control their wives, following old traditions to the absolute extreme (however, I do think there’s a difference between ‘man’ imposed things vs it being a part of the teachings that are a distinct part of a religion). I’ll address those others below, actually, bc it deals with women’s lack of freedom. While we’ll never agree on Islam bc of its foundations, I’m glad you’re able to be in what I’m assuming is a moderate sect so you have much more freedom. I also appreciate you openly conversing with me, even though we don’t agree. We’re both clearly passionate about our faiths, and even though we’ve had quite a back and forth, I do appreciate hearing about your personal experience. I have an incredible friend that’s a moderate Muslim, and we debate, but ultimately have always focused on things in life where we value the same things- like family, loyalty, and helping each other- bc we obviously don’t agree on our specific religious views.
Mormons, for example, call themselves Christians, but follow the teachings of the Book of Mormon, not the Bible, so they aren’t (and the Bible explicitly said no teachings are to ‘accompany it’, and the text should never be altered). There are numerous things in the Book of Mormon that line up with with Luciferian beliefs, just substitute in God- many of them don’t realize that. The secretive rituals, even the ‘secret handshakes’ of those at the top are Masonic (the author of the Book of Mormon was allegedly a 33rd degree Mason). A now ex-occultist and former 33rd degree mason said he was told if he ever found himself in a new state where he needed help or connections to go see the leaders of the nearest Mormon tabernacle. He said he was initially confused, but when he found himself in that position, he realized the ‘behind the curtain’ practices of the top of the church were the same as his, down to the secret Masonic handshakes. I think in the last few years they’ve eased up on the parameters that require someone to have their name be taken out of the Mormon book register(not positive tho), and some are shunned by their community once they do (like my friend that was taken out of the book for being a lesbian). A lot of them don’t realize all of the different ‘levels’, and I remember mentioning to a friend in HS that I was baffled that they believed they’d get their own planet and multitudes of wives based on their service on earth, which was in complete contradiction to the Bible. She told me I was crazy- then her mom told her ‘well, yes, that’s a part you haven’t reached yet’. It was wild. As far as women’s freedoms, the polygamous offshoots have some truly horrifying ways that some treat their wives, and cut someone off completely if they leave, including from their kids. There’s an offshoot out by the border of Iowa (I think it was Iowa, of all places), where the leader was arrested for major federal tax fraud, and through investigating that, the writer learned he was an exceptionally abusive husband and father. Leaving them starving, or making them eat expired food. If they threw it up from being sick, he made them take it back down...just evil.
With Ultra Orthodox Judaism, I watched a documentary based on a Brooklyn sect that left me absolutely shocked. Her struggle to get a job with no work experience, being able to see her children, and completely being cut off by her community was something I’d never heard of. This article talks about the doc:
https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/2017/10/177040/netflix-one-of-us-orthodox-jewish-women-abuse-etty
Ultimately, I still believe that Jesus ushered in previously unprecedented freedom for women, and it continues today within ‘Bible only’ based denominations. Women are given leadership roles in many churches, especially non-denominational. One of the more liberal denominations allows single women to be the leader of their entire church- which, I actually don’t agree with bc Biblically men provide ‘security, covering, and shepherding’- so I have a hard time understanding why. Outside of Catholicism, it’s rare for a pastor to be single bc most churches view the pastor’s wife as an intricate part of shepherding, particularly with women. Significant community, teaching, and resources go to both women & men equally as well. There are a lot of marriages within the church where, for example, the wife isn’t able to have the ‘nurturer’ role, and instead has the successful career. I usually see the results of that playing out negatively, bc resentment grows, especially when there are children and they long to be able to stay home with them. A sister of mine is in the position where she’s the one with a super successful career and provider, while he’s in a new ministry and makes less than 1/3 of her. For this period of time, their roles aren’t in harmony with the Biblical definition, and it’s effecting her. I think that’s an example of the kind of ‘freedom’ that can have negative effects, even though it ‘sounds’ like it’s empowering.
