THE BEAUTY, DIGNITY AND ROLE OF WOMEN IN RELIGIONS IN CONTEMPORARY AFRICAN SOCIETY AND BEYOND
1Nwangama, Edwin Ukpabi & 2Nwangama, Joy Chinyere
1Department of Christian Religious Studies, Ebonyi State College of Education, Ikwo
2Department of Arts Education, University of Nigeria, Nsukka
Email: edwinnwangama@gmail.com; chinyerej91@gmail.com
ABSTRACT
This paper examined the beauty, dignity and role of women in religions. Its main thesis is that women are by nature beautiful and dignified and that they played crucial role in religion in the beginning of the creation of the world. Sadly, such role has been eroded by patriarchal mentality. Adopting the analytical approach and anthropological theoretical base, the paper used some of the religions of primal society as well as Roman, Christian, Jewish and Islamic religions to drive home the points that women played crucial role in religions in spite of the fact that they have been suppressed, cajoled, ridiculed and suffered all forms of degrading treatment in the hands of men both in religious activities and in secular affairs not only in Africa but the world over. The paper concluded among other things that patriarchy be dismantled, that women’s role in religion and other activities should be appreciated and that the world would be a haven if rape, forced marriage, wife battery and the like are abolished.
Key words: Religion, God, Women, Beauty, Dignity
