I think your problem is that you are having trouble telling the difference between the religion of Islam and the cultures in many of the Middle Eastern cultures. You were quick to blame culture and not Christianity for past "Christian" repression of women, why are you so hesitant to give Islam that same chance?
Most of the practices that hurt women were being done way before Islam came around and are a purely cultural thing and Islam is AGAINST such things.
The literacy rates in many Middle Eastern countries are low and women are repressed through the cultures and can't educate themselves (even though the Qur'an stresses education for both sexes).
Also, the Qur'an is written in Arabic (and a slightly different one than Modern Arabic, it's like how we English speakers struggle with Shakespeare) and most Muslims aren't even in an Arabic speaking country and might not know it. So these people have to rely on these leaders- and when have leaders ever been free from corruption? :areyoucra The Taleban, for example, aren't exactly shining examples of truth (or of Islam).
I'm constantly amazed at how little people know about their own religions- and Islam is no different.
I don't know what the Qu'ran says. I only know what I see and read in the news and internet about the way it's being interpreted. I presume that since these are high ranking clerics, they know what the Qu'ran says. So I'm not sure what you're getting at.
I'm getting at where does
the Qur'an say these things about women. Try going to the source. The Qur'an is a much better representative for Islam than anything else.
I can say the Qur'an talks about pink spotted, rainbow-maned hippogryphs and their care- just because I say that, does that make it true? (And how would you even know if you refuse to do your own research on it?)
Fred Phelps and many other "Christian leaders" preach about a cruel hateful G-d who is going to send everyone else but them and those who follow their ways to Hell. Does that mean they're right?
I live in a fairly conservative Christian area- I've been told I'm going to hell, I've had my holy books thrown in the trash by people who carry around Bibles, I've been held down and kicked into the genitals for being Arab and being queer and told again, I was going to hell. I don't take these examples as Christian, I know they aren't. Sadly, what people, even "leaders" do or say, is not always representative of the religion they follow.
One wonders if you would feel the same if you lived in Iran, Ethiopa, or Afghanistan.
Yep, I would. I would feel that the
cultures need lots of improvement and to
actually follow Islam, though.
You'll find that in a lot of countries that things like "Honour Killings" which are blamed on Islam but have no basis in it are carried out by all religions in that country, from Muslims to Christians.
I don't have the time nor inclination to post all the sites and forums I've gone to where they use the Qu'ran to promote the above.
Well then surely you can post the verses from the Qur'an contained there that say women need to cover completely and are less than men?
Scripture does not require nuns to wear robes that cover most of their bodies. That was a man-made requirement and, one which has been discontinued by many religious organizations. For the head covering I will refer you to this
site for one view. I tend to believe it is symbolic.
Qur'an does not require all women to wear robes that cover most of their bodies either.
I'm not "blaming" anything and see above as to why I believe Islam represses women. They were merely examples and again...this is off track. My OP asked "why would an educated woman convert to Islam?"
When I told you why I converted to Islam you took it off topic, you also took it "off topic" in why you couldn't see why an educated and/or Western woman would ever convert.
I still fully believe what I said about Islam and why I converted- I have read the Qur'an and studied it. I've not listened
only to so called experts. As the Qur'an says, I need no other judge than the book itself.
Based on your responses, I gather it's because you see it as no different than any other religion and, despite the fact that a great majority of woman are repressed, you see this as a cultural phenomen and not related to Islam....even though many men are saying "The Qu'ran says". Fair enough.
Yes, and I'm
STILL WAITING from them (and you) for the verses from the Qur'an that say a woman should cover all of her body or even her hair or that considers women lesser than men before G-d. (Hint- It doesn't.)