The Importance of Women's Rights in Religion

Former President Jimmy Carter emphasizes that the abuse of women and girls is largely rooted in misinterpretations of religious texts, which have perpetuated gender inequality. He points out that despite stronger foundational messages of gender equality in both Christianity and Islam, historical distortions have led to harmful practices against women. Carter argues that scripture can be interpreted in ways that either uphold or undermine the dignity of women, citing examples from the New Testament that show women in leadership roles up until distorted teachings emerged. He believes addressing these misinterpretations is essential to combatting the most pressing issues facing women today.