WOMEN AND RELIGIONS: PORTRAITS, ORGANISATIONS, DEBATES

Introduction

The religions of the Book have adopted vastly diverse stances regarding the marital status of their “men of the cloth”. Judaism allows rabbis[1] to marry and found a family. In Islam, the imam[2] is normally married as Muhammad – himself married 11 times – strongly discouraged chastity. Such is however the choice made by the monks who are found in most religions. Clerical celibacy, meanwhile, is not a matter of dogma[3], in Christianity, but of church discipline[4] . The marriage of priests continues to be much debated and situations vary with every Christian denomination. In this chapter, as we address this reality, we shall consider the position and role of a priest's wife and the problems she may face.

  1. Rabbi

    Practicing Jew whose scholarship and profound knowledge of the Torah entitle him to take decisions and render judgments regarding religious matters.

  2. Imam

    practicing Muslim who leads public prayer. He is expected to be well versed in the Sunnah with a profound knowledge of the Quran and Islamic tradition.

  3. Dogma

    principle of a philosophical, political or religious doctrine held undisputable and unalterable. The International Theological Commission (1990) defines the term dogma as a “a teaching in which the Church proposes a revealed truth definitively, and in a way that is binding for the universal Church”

  4. Ecclesiastical discipline

    the set of rules and prescriptions directing Christians in their efforts to lead a life in keeping with his faith commitments. An aggregate of laws and directions given by the Church to the faithful for their conduct both private and public, they are intended to maintain the standards of the Church to a watching world.

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AccueilAccueilImprimerImprimer Overall coordination by Dominique Avon Professor at the Le Mans Université (France) - Translation by Françoise Pinteaux-Jones Paternité - Pas d'Utilisation Commerciale - Pas de ModificationRéalisé avec Scenari (nouvelle fenêtre)