The Barriers Islamic Women Face as Explained in The Worl'd's Religions by Huston Smith

The World’s Religions by Huston Smith is a novel based on the different religions found around the world. The main area of focus within this book was to expand the knowledge of different cultures and their religions. The chapters that were specified to focus on include Islam, Judaism, Christianity and the Primal Religions. Go into detail about each religion. Smith goes into great detail about each religion, concentrating on the teachings and essential elements of each religion, important people that helped form the religion, and traditions. He specifically discusses how these three religions are very similar rather then how different they are, with the main studies on Moses, Jesus, and Mohammad. Finally he discusses the Primal Religions – meaning the traditions that are passed down through oral communication.

A sensitive subject, in the Islamic religion, is the status that a women holds - specifically with respect to the theme of how women are treated within polygamous relationships. Smith’s main thesis is that the Islamic religion has been accused of degrading women and he plans to share information to prove that this is a very valid fact. A polygamous relationship is a relationship or marriage with many partners. The Islam’s believe in polygamous relationships and the rules are specifically stated within the Koran. The Koran allows for a man to have up to four wives/partners, although, if he cannot equally share his love with all of his wives/partners, then he must only marry one . Smith has a very valid point, although there are many sources that support and refute his opinion. Mohammad Ali Syed discovered that the Islamic law allows for polygamy under certain circumstances, such as the treatment towards orphans. ...

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... is continuing to change, even though I do not agree with how the community used to treat women. A woman being accepted within the community is a big step into gaining respect from men and an even closer step in becoming an equal. This matter of subject is so important to me because I know that women are able to just as much as men can and the fact that, around the world, this is now beginning to be seen as proper provides me with hope that there will no longer be the question of whether or not a female is able to do the job of a male. My hope for this religion is that women will be seen as equals and I believe that the first major step involved women becoming the leader of prayer. Continuing on this journey, I believe that the religion will not need to create any more laws and that it will just become natural for men to give the proper respect to any women.