I've heard Muslim women defend it as a way of prohibiting themselves from being looked upon and judged for their attractiveness (or lack thereof, as the case may be) and while I can't see any intrinsic flaw with wanting to do that for that reason, I don't for a minute believe that's the only, or even biggest, reason for them doing that. I'm fine with someone making a completely informed, free-of-coercion choice to accept certain stereotypical or perceived degrading roles like homemaker and parent with no higher education or career prospects if that is what they genuinely want. But if you're brought up in a culture that has a strong influence on not being given all the facts, not being given as many choices, having those with authority over you constantly influencing you to think or behave a certain way, that sort of takes the autonomy out of the choice. It may not be indoctrination the way we see some ideas form, but if opportunity is stymied, one can't really say a person is doing something like that of their own volition given how differently things might have gone with a broader spectrum of choice and knowledge.
Religions were invented to impress and dupe illiterate, superstitious stone-age peasants. So in this modern, enlightened age of information, what's your excuse? Or are you saying with all your advantages, you were still tricked as easily as those early humans?
---
There is no better way to convey the least amount of information in the greatest amount of words than to try explaining your religious views.
---
There is no better way to convey the least amount of information in the greatest amount of words than to try explaining your religious views.