The Role of Women and the LGBT Community in Catholicism and Judaism

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Recommended: Christian and Islamic Gender Equality

Growing up Christian, I am intrigued by other religions that have similar but more rigid dogma regarding Christian values and beliefs and how they live out their stated convictions. I wonder what attracts people to such strict practices and how women and the LGBT community are accepted, viewed and their roles, both traditional and modern in both Catholicism and Judaism. I plan to study the changing role of society in regards to women, the LGBT community and the role of religion in this social change. How do women and the LGBT community influence these religions? Also, what is the influence of gender and sexual orientation on their religious practices and doctrine? My objective is to further understand the role of these two religions as it factors in the role of women in leadership positions within the religion and the acceptance of the LGBT community and how they are changing or not changing their doctrine for this particular social group.
The role of women in society has changed so much in recent years. Women are taking on leadership roles in politics, economics, and more but many religions still have not allowed women to participate or hold leadership roles within the church. Why is this so and is this situation likely to alter given social change? This topic is a subject of considerable sociological debate—the more so in view of the history of these two religions as a profoundly patriarchal.
All religions have something to say about sexuality within the remit of religious control and religious teaching. Both of these religions state tolerance and have been victims of persecutions throughout history, yet their doctrine affirms that homosexuality is wrong. Given social change regarding the acceptance of the LGTB commun...

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...nction but the specific nature and doctrine of a religion may or my not be able to change with society.

Works Cited

Cohen, Steven. "Gay, Jewish, or Both? Sexual Orientation and Jewish Engagement." Keshet Online. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Feb. 2014. .
Dillon, Michele. Catholic identity: balancing reason, faith, and power. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1999. Print.
Hoge, Dean. "Corpus - A Renewed Community of Faith: Corpus - A Renewed Community of Faith." Corpus - A Renewed Community of Faith: Corpus - A Renewed Community of Faith. N.p., 15 June 2005. Web. 13 Feb. 2014. .
"Jewish Women's Archive." Jewish Women's Archive. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Feb. 2014. .

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