Most readers are familiar with the role played by the concept of original sin and the view of Eve in the history of Christian culture as it relates to Misogyny in "western" culture.
“The formalized doctrine of original sin was first developed
in the 2nd-century by Irenaeus, the Bishop of Lyons, in his struggle against
Gnosticism. Irenaeus contrasted their
doctrine with the view that the Fall was a step in the wrong direction by Adam,
with whom, Irenaeus believed, his descendants had some solidarity or identity. Irenaeus believed that Adam's sin had grave
consequences for humanity, that it is the source of human sinfulness, mortality
and enslavement to sin, and that all human beings participate in his sin and
share his guilt” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Original_sin
This concept would be tied to Eve's actions by Augustine, among others and well, the rest is literally history.
The doctrine is not an element of mainstream Judiasm,
wherein Adam and Eve’s punishment is tangible and immediate, including the loss
of immortality for themselves and their descendants, having to work for a living, painful childbirth, fear of snakes, etc..
Islam also does not have original sin as an element. In
Islam, the burden of a sin is born only by the sinner. But wait, there is more...
Khadija bint Khuwaylid
She was a 40 year old widow who became the young Prophet Muhammad's first wife and the first convert to Islam.
The tradition in many arab speaking Moslem countries of the laity having the Koran read to them, has given men a real leg up, and their own misogynistic edge.
“Khadija became a very successful merchant. It is said that
when the Quraysh's trade caravans gathered to embark upon their summer journey
to Syria or winter journey to Yemen, Khadija's caravan equalled the caravans of
all other traders of the Quraysh put together.”…Khadija entrusted a friend
named Nafisa to approach Muhammad and ask if he would consider marrying. At
first Muhammad was hesitant because he had no money to support a wife. Nafisa
then asked if he would consider marriage to a woman who had the means to
provide for herself. Muhammad agreed to meet with Khadija, and after this
meeting they consulted their respective uncles. The uncles agreed to the
marriage, and Muhammad's uncles accompanied him to make a formal proposal to
Khadija. It is disputed whether it was
only Hamza ibn Abdul-Muttalib or only Abu Talib or both who accompanied
Muhammad on this errand. Khadija's uncle accepted the proposal, and the
marriage took place. “https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khadijah_bint_Khuwaylid
Can you imagine a young woman in Afghanistan, who has learned to read, and decides to read a Koran? Talk about a WTF moment!
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