Why are most spiritual master in religion usually men, not women?

Indonesia
February 26, 2008 9:45pm CST
In many religion, mostly their spiritual master (prophet, guru, master or whatever) is a man. Does it mean that men have more spiritual capacity than women? I don't think so actually. I'm a man, but I think my spiritual capacity is less than women :) I know many women who sincerely devote their life for religious or spiritual purpose. Hm, even we use "He" to call God. Is He (sorry....) a man?
2 people like this
9 responses
@magica (3707)
• Bulgaria
27 Feb 08
Most of the religions are too discriminative and even sexists.They refuse to the woman to develop their spiritual beliefs, some information is for men only, so the men are more educated and prepared for spiritual role.Almost all religions think that the only mission of the women is to be a good wife and mother, but nothing more.
1 person likes this
• United States
28 Feb 08
Fear of women. People who cannot interact in a healthy way with a woman might need something else to devote themselves to. If they devote themselves to religion, then because of their efforts that religion will develop dysfunctional attitudes towards women, too. At least, that's my working theory.
• China
28 Feb 08
good question.:-) in fact i think the master have all power.he can change his apperence.there famale masters too ,but in the earth we know a little about the gods things ,there r only several gods come here ,so .if u want to know clearely i think u should have a master he will tell u many things , and it secrets to the people who donnt have belives
• United States
28 Feb 08
If I understand correctly, you practice some form of paganism. I'm not familiar with the terms you use "master." It was a little difficult to follow your post. "In fact, I think the master has all the power. He can change his appearance. There are female masters, too, but in the earth we know only a little about things of the gods. There are only several gods that have come here, so if you want to know more clearly, I think you should have a master. He will tell you many things, and secrets to the people who don't have beliefs." That's my best translation of your post. I might be off on what you intend. One of the areas of support for pagan type religions would be the inclusion of women in the priesthood. This would be a motivating force for a woman who is spiritual but doesn't feel she has the opportunity to be a spiritual leader in Christan worship.
• United States
28 Feb 08
"Master" -- the word was taken from the original poster referring to the lead "prophet" of major world religions being a man. Got it!
• China
29 Feb 08
sorry ,my eglish is not good :-)i cannot undstant the "master" clearly,i think it mean the king of the heaven,
• India
28 Feb 08
well if women went around preaching religion, who would bear the children and feed these spiritual leaders? Just goes to show how perfect hypocrite men can beā€¦not only have they dominated women by dint of their superior physical strength, they have succeeded in thwarting the spiritual progress of women too so that women are left as mere wives, mothers and mistresses. And even if there were women who were bold enough to speak out, they were labeled as witch and burnt at the stakes.
• United States
28 Feb 08
You might actually be giving men too much credit. Women in the workforce achieve less, too. It might be some idea of assertiveness or social aggressiveness that plays a part here. It might be that men devote themselves to the priesthood because they don't have the option of the rewarding role of loving mother. You seem to be implying intent and organization. Men might not be so well organized as you seem to think. --- It is perfectly feasible for a woman to have a child and leave it with a loving father while she goes off to preach. It is certainly possible for a woman to take a man's role and a man to take a woman's. I, for instance, might have thought the option of staying home with my daughter all day was a good idea! I love children, always have. Kids are the most wonderful playmates. It would also be reasonable for a priestess to select the most spiritual men in her congregation and have a child by them. Entrusting them with the child's upbringing as a sort of spiritual service to the "Mother Goddess" because it allows the priestess to devote herself to preaching. This just doesn't happen. I can't explain why it doesn't happen. It might have something to do with the aggressive / assertive man behaviors. Like a child banging on pots and pans trying to get someone to notice them. Boy children are different than girl children. These differences might go a long way towards explaining why men and women value different things -- and tend to take different life and career paths.
@ClarusVisum (2163)
• United States
28 Feb 08
It's because these religions, especially the oldest ones, are literally MAN-made. They were created in a sexist, patriarchal society. Right in the Bible, for example, it says that women are not allowed to lead a congregation, and it forbids them from even SPEAKING in church. The Abrahamic god is referred to as a male for the same reason. Disgusts me personally that so many people still adhere to these bigoted religions.
28 Feb 08
i dont know.i also wonder why so many famous philosophers came from German.
• Australia
27 Feb 08
I don't know why this is, but i dont like it i think their needs to be more female representation in religion. I think this could help the way women are treated and portrayed in these regilious sections.
• United States
28 Feb 08
I tend to agree. If women are not fairy represented in the religious leadership, their point of view will be more easily dismissed.
@lecanis (16647)
• Murfreesboro, Tennessee
28 Feb 08
I think it depends on the culture, personally. Even if a woman were very spiritually advanced, she wouldn't be allowed to hold a position of power in many traditional churches (or other religious organizations). I've heard a lot of excuses for it, but I haven't heard any really good explanations yet. The most popular excuse seems to be that it's a woman's job to teach her spirituality to her children, not share it with others outside the home. In a lot of "pagan" or "new age" religions, men and women are pretty much equal, and there are even a few where women are more likely to be in positions of power. My personal religion is Celtic Reconstructionist Paganism. In the ancient Celtic religion my beliefs are based off of, the clergy are called "druids", and could be either male or female. So in my religion, I have no reason to believe I cannot be as spiritually advanced as a man, and I have often led rituals or religious groups that included both genders.
@vijigopi (991)
• United States
27 Feb 08
Personally, I think there are many spiritual Gurus who are/have been women. Generally speaking, most women who are more spiritually evolved than the common man do not come out and show it. They just carry on their usual routines in the secret of their houses and very few come to know how evolved these woman actually are. The few that are too popular come out and do what they can for the upliftment of society. I think the latter type become popular because they are not married and so they don't have material worries like looking after their family. But I don't mean to say that all such spiritual personalities are unmarried. There were quite a few of them that were married but still chose to come out of their married life for the life spiritual. As for calling God as 'He', I think God is genderless but we prefer to call God as Him, since the father is the head of the family and we consider God to be the head of the universe. Maybe that is why we say "Him".... just my thoughts.
@Hatley (163776)
• Garden Grove, California
27 Feb 08
Oh my religion can be a touchy subject but why cannot a woman be just as religous as a man? She has been taught from day one to be sensitive to the needs of others so she has the capacity to be a spiritual master I am sure. look at Mother Teresa for example these women who are spiritual masters just do not go around tooting their own horn, they are too busy doing for others.