Should Men and Women be Segregated in Mosques?

[Samana Johann]

Such seperation is (at least was before marxist destroyed all religions) a basic in all religions.

Why if not religious, wishing to destroy good habits for Sexs sake?

 

[Rival]

I prefer gender segregation. I know if I were in shul praying with Jewish men I'd be looking at the men. It's already hard for me to concentrate praying around other people let alone men I fancy.

 

[Dawnofhope]

I prefer gender segregation. I know if I were in shul praying with Jewish men I'd be looking at the men. It's already hard for me to concentrate praying around other people let alone men I fancy.

The question of gender segregation emerged at our cities Interfaith Council Meeting today. We were discussing multifaith prayer rooms in civic spaces such as libraries. The ultra orthodox Jewish community are the only other group we’re aware of that separates gender. Most of the Jewish community here would not fall into that category, being reformist.

I have to admit that in all the decades of being part of community prayers being sexually distracted by other participants hasn’t been an issue. Noisy children is problematic from time to time.

 

[Dawnofhope]

Such seperation is (at least was before marxist destroyed all religions) a basic in all religions.

Why if not religious, wishing to destroy good habits for Sexs sake?

Communism has certainly had a profound adverse affect on your community and thinking.

 

[Wasp]

Any women with knowledge of Quran could become their Imam, the other aspect I have already explained, no need to repeat it.

Regards

That was not an explanation, but a sad excuse.

 

[Samana Johann]

Communism has certainly had a profound adverse affect on your community and thinking.

There you are

Spoiler: useless verbalisations...

in your degenerated society,

Spoiler: ...

stepping on every head lifting a little above the mud-hole and nevertheless no escape which cutting down to the lowest equal...

Spoiler: ...

Nothing is more destructive for religion and ways to escape the communism, marxism, pseudo-liberalism

Spoiler: ...

and one can not even imagine how fast there would be no conflict when this stupity in thought gets relalized at large.

Spoiler: ...

plunder, nothing else...

Spoiler: ...

what should be said further? Look to conquer your self first and leave what is not under your controll, not your business.

 

[Vinayaka]

With regard to intergender kindness or cruelty, it's not what happens in the house of worship that matters, but what happens in the home. Generally speaking. we're not privy to that.

 

[Tumah]

The ultra orthodox Jewish community are the only other group we’re aware of that separates gender

To the best of my knowledge all Orthodox denominations separate genders for prayers (For context, mechitzah is a divider, Rabbi Soloveitchik is widely regarded as the father of Modern Orthodoxy and Chovevei Torah is considered barely Orthodox if-at-all by other Orthodox groups):

Orthodox Judaism is divided on whether a synagogue mechitza represents binding law or a custom. During the middle portion of the 20th century, there were a substantial number of synagogues which considered themselves Orthodox but did not have one.[2] The influential Haredi Posek (decisor) Moshe Feinstein held that a mechitza is required as a matter of Biblical law, holding that the statement in Zechariah 12:12-14 represents not a prophecy about future circumstances but binding Sinaitic law, Halacha LeMoshe MiSinai, regarding present circumstances. He declared that Orthodox Jews are prohibited from praying in a synagogue without one. Rabbi Joseph Soloveitchik held that a separation of men and women is Biblically required, while the physical mechitza was required by Rabbinic decree. These views have gained adherence over the later portion of the 20th century.

The Orthodox Union (OU), the main body of Modern Orthodox synagogues in the United States, adopted a policy of not accepting synagogues without mechitzot as new members, and strongly encouraging existing synagogues to adopt them.[2] In 2002, Rabbi Avi Weiss of Yeshivat Chovevei Torah, stated that "As an Orthodox institution, Yeshivat Chovevei Torah requires its students to daven in synagogues with mechitzot." The Jewish Ledger reported that as of 2005, "Beth Midrash Hagadol-Beth Joseph remains the only synagogue in the country affiliated with the Orthodox Union (OU) to have so-called 'mixed seating.'"[8] However, in 2015 this synagogue decided to leave the OU, after learning that the OU was planning to expel it from OU membership.[9] Mixed-seating Orthodox synagogues (Conservadox), which were a prevalent minority as late as a generation ago, have now all but disappeared. The partnership minyan movement, which seeks a greater synagogue role for women within an Orthodox context, requires a mechitza.
- source​

 

[Rival]

Mixed-seating Orthodox synagogues (Conservadox), which were a prevalent minority as late as a generation ago, have now all but disappeared.

Faith in humanity restored to a significant degree.

 

[Dawnofhope]

To the best of my knowledge all Orthodox denominations separate genders for prayers (For context, mechitzah is a divider, Rabbi Soloveitchik is widely regarded as the father of Modern Orthodoxy and Chovevei Torah is considered barely Orthodox if-at-all by other Orthodox groups):

Orthodox Judaism is divided on whether a synagogue mechitza represents binding law or a custom. During the middle portion of the 20th century, there were a substantial number of synagogues which considered themselves Orthodox but did not have one.[2] The influential Haredi Posek (decisor) Moshe Feinstein held that a mechitza is required as a matter of Biblical law, holding that the statement in Zechariah 12:12-14 represents not a prophecy about future circumstances but binding Sinaitic law, Halacha LeMoshe MiSinai, regarding present circumstances. He declared that Orthodox Jews are prohibited from praying in a synagogue without one. Rabbi Joseph Soloveitchik held that a separation of men and women is Biblically required, while the physical mechitza was required by Rabbinic decree. These views have gained adherence over the later portion of the 20th century.

The Orthodox Union (OU), the main body of Modern Orthodox synagogues in the United States, adopted a policy of not accepting synagogues without mechitzot as new members, and strongly encouraging existing synagogues to adopt them.[2] In 2002, Rabbi Avi Weiss of Yeshivat Chovevei Torah, stated that "As an Orthodox institution, Yeshivat Chovevei Torah requires its students to daven in synagogues with mechitzot." The Jewish Ledger reported that as of 2005, "Beth Midrash Hagadol-Beth Joseph remains the only synagogue in the country affiliated with the Orthodox Union (OU) to have so-called 'mixed seating.'"[8] However, in 2015 this synagogue decided to leave the OU, after learning that the OU was planning to expel it from OU membership.[9] Mixed-seating Orthodox synagogues (Conservadox), which were a prevalent minority as late as a generation ago, have now all but disappeared. The partnership minyan movement, which seeks a greater synagogue role for women within an Orthodox context, requires a mechitza.
- source​

Thanks for the useful information. The synagogue in my town is reformed and the Jewish representatives on our Interfaith Council are retired and very atypical so their perspective is very different.

The absence or presence of a mechitza appears important in distinguishing reformers from orthodoxy.

It has been argued that abolition of the mechitza became a symbol of Reform Judaism and that, correspondingly, opposition to its abolition became a symbol of Orthodoxy.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/

There doesn’t appear to be an equivalent reformist sect in Islam though many Muslims are wanting change.

 

[Dawnofhope]

With regard to intergender kindness or cruelty, it's not what happens in the house of worship that matters, but what happens in the home. Generally speaking. we're not privy to that.

Perhaps not, but for most people who take their faith seriously, it’s a way of life, not just something that is practiced in a temple or house of worship.

 

[Vinayaka]

Perhaps not, but for most people who take their faith seriously, it’s a way of life, not just something that is practiced in a temple or house of worship.

Life changes behind closed doors. The outside show of friendliness and tolerance can be switched off like a light bulb when a person goes home. I don't see any relationship between sitting arrangements at houses of worship, and that home.

Maybe I'm jaded. I'm rarely privy to it but I have been ... enough to know not to jump to any conclusions about anybody based on outward public show. Hindu temples have informal segregation as well. Everyone is segregated from everyone else, in a sense, because even in a crowded temple, the personal worship between deity and individual is intense.

I've met outwardly friendly people who were abusive at home, and vice versa.

So I'm not a Muslim, and have no need to comment on the idea of gender segregation being right or wrong.

 

[Wasp]

Life changes behind closed doors. The outside show of friendliness and tolerance can be switched off like a light bulb when a person goes home. I don't see any relationship between sitting arrangements at houses of worship, and that home.

Maybe not directly, but indirectly it can have an enormous impact.

This gender segregation is often said to be out of respect to women, but it can just as well be said to be out of disrespect to women.

One problem being that women are treated as aliens while the men are what forms the actual society.

There's also a difference between lowering one's gaze and in turning away from a woman disgusted by that some incompetent Muslim woman has left the house and dares to walk on the same street as you, without an escort!1

 

[Vinayaka]

Maybe not directly, but indirectly it can have an enormous impact.

But so can being friendly outside have an enormous impact. The person can think he's tricked everyone into thinking he's such a nice guy, even to the point of having folks vouch for him. I'm not saying that every friendly guy is a jerk at home, but it happens. Ever heard of one Paul Bernardo? He had his community duped.

It depends on the individual. I'm sure many Muslim men wish it wasn't segregated, and also many Muslim women wish it stays the same. So who knows?

When in Rome ... we transited through Dubai, and my wife appreciated the segregated cabs, and the female driver.

 

[Saint Frankenstein]

I'm not a Muslim so it's not really my business, even if I think it's stupid and sexist. However, I believe that those Muslims who disagree with that practice should be allowed to set up their own gender inclusive mosques without the fanatics causing trouble, same as how LGBT Christians establish their own churches away from the bigots.

 

[Saint Frankenstein]

I prefer gender segregation. I know if I were in shul praying with Jewish men I'd be looking at the men. It's already hard for me to concentrate praying around other people let alone men I fancy.

What if the person is gay or lesbian? I guess bisexuals shouldn't attend at all.

 

[loverofhumanity]

I think in such a situation it’s up to those involved to consult about and decide upon what they would like to do maintaining unity and harmony all along. It is not for us to tell another culture what we think they should do.

Only in things like genocide or oppression do I feel interference is warranted but in cultural matters who are we to preach to others how they should live?

Promoting and supporting womens rights is fine as long as the objective is to maintain unity between the sexes not turn one against the other.

 

[Shad]

I think in such a situation it’s up to those involved to consult about and decide upon what they would like to do maintaining unity and harmony all along. It is not for us to tell another culture what we think they should do.

International anti-slavery laws and enforcement says otherwise.

 

[Rival]

What if the person is gay or lesbian? I guess bisexuals shouldn't attend at all.

That accounts for me too. Hence why I don't like praying around people

 

[Wasp]

Promoting and supporting womens rights is fine as long as the objective is to maintain unity between the sexes not turn one against the other.

What if one is already against the other?