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Atheism/Women governance in world religions

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Expert: - 5/20/2005


Question
Hi Austin - Do you know whether any of the world's main
religions have women in their top governing body?

Answer
I don't know for sure one way or another. However, not every religion has a "top governing body" - not ever religion is quite so centralized. For example, I don't know if there is a world-wide governing body for Reform Judaism. If not, then any female rabbi in Reform Judaism is about as high as you can go.

The same is almost certainly true of Wicca, a religion without a central organization and with a great deal of participation by women. Wicca, however, may not qualify as a "main religion" for you.

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Austin Cline

Expertise

I can address questions regarding atheism, agnosticism, skepticism, humanism, religious philosophy & history, and arguments both for and against theism. I am also familiar with many of the skeptical and atheist resources in print and on the internet.

Experience

I have been an atheist and a secular humanist for many years. I actively run a site about agnosticism & atheism and attempt to help people understand more about these topics. I have made extensive study of both philosophy and of a wide vareity of religions.

Organizations
I belong to the Freedom From Religion Foundation and the Council for Secular Humanism.

Publications
My writings appear every week on the Agnosticism/Atheism site

Education/Credentials
I have a BA from the University of Pennsylvania and an MA from Princeton University. I have also studied in Germany and Switzerland.

Awards and Honors
Phi Beta Kappa and a Fulbright Scholar.

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