Voted for

• Religion is not the primary cause of gender inequality.

Religion questions seem to be making the rounds here on dpoll. :)

I can't speak for all religions, but in my experience, it's not so much the doctrine as it is the interpretation. And it's not alway so much that as it is the failure to implement the doctrine to its fullest, whatever the interpretation.

Also, in my experience, whether it's leading the household, a meeting, or whatever, I've always been around strong women with their own minds and good ideas. From my grandmother to my wife and now my daughters-in-law, or employees I had working with me, or women in church. There is a hierarchy for organizational purposes only, but everyone, within their own spheres of influence and stewardship, have the ability to make their own decisions. Sometimes it's strictly for themselves, and other times it's for a group.

I think the idea of women being subservient to men can be more or less rested at the feet of Adam and Eve as far a religion is concerned, and there's been plenty of wrong interpretation and telling of that event, so it only stands to reason that those misinterpretations would magnify and ripple out into all walks of life.

I'm not sure about prophetesses in the time of Abraham, but there Miriam was considered a prophetess in the time of Moses, a descendant of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and there were others so called after her. However, whether or not that gave her any authority over others or not is unlikely, as a prophet could be anyone who God would reveal His will to for the good of the people. They didn't always govern.