|
Religious Activists For some of us, our first involvement in issues of social concern occurred through our faiths, whether through the Liberation Theology movement which was particularly strong in the Catholic church in South America in the 1960s to 1980s; the church-based civil rights movement in the US in the 1950 and 1960s; the pacifist beliefs of the Quakers and Mennonites opposing the Vietnam and/or Gulf Wars; the long history of the Jewish fight for labor rights; and more recent organizing in opposition to Israel and the US policies toward Palestine and the Palestinian people; the extensive Methodist programs for the elimination of poverty and suffering; the spiritual teachings of the Arusha and other Indigenous religions; or the demand that the Catholic Church hierarchy recognize women's unwaged work. As current (or former) faith-based activists, or religious activists or church women – different names those who are active through our religions may call ourselves – many of us have a religious training and set of beliefs in caring for people and the community that extends to all people and all communities. We work to bring to our churches the movement to count all women's work, and to get their support for that movement. While doing so, we have come up against and confronted fundamentalism and the religious right, and even the so-called tolerant liberal left. Some of us have faced discipline and ex-communication in that confrontation. In the aftermath of September 11, we come together whether we are faith-based or not to oppose the bombing of Afghanistan and all wars, and to reject fundamentalism in all religions and the racist persecution of Muslims or any other religious people. We denounce the Christian fundamentalism of Bush, the Jewish fundamentalism behind Sharon and the Muslim fundamentalism of Osama Bin Laden. We reject the false divisions they are fostering, and the repression they are being used for. We know that we can work together as women across the division of religion, because we do it all the time. Read more about the current activities and organizing of Religious Activists for the Global Women's Strike at www.globalwomenstrike.net |