Koran More Feminist Than Bible: Scholar

Muslim text 'more modern' than Christian regarding women

By Michael Foreman, Newser User

Posted Sep 2, 2008 11:36 AM CDT

(Newser) – Certain passages in the Koran give women more freedoms than the Bible, a Dutch philosopher tells Radio Free Netherlands. On the site bibleandkoran.net, Marlies ter Borg compares texts on economic independence, marriage, and divorce from both books to dispel what she calls misconceptions about the Islamic faith. "In many ways, the Koran is more modern than the Bible," she says.

Ter Borg cites dowries and divorce procedures that favor women as evidence of the Koran's progressive outlook. "Many people think the Koran is anti-women," she says. "But there's nothing in the Koran to suggest this. Christians, on the other hand, often think they are more tolerant towards women. But Bible texts can be worse on that point."

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Philosopher Marlies ter Borg argues the Koran is friendlier to women than the Bible. (AP Photo)

"Many people think the Koran is anti-women. But there's nothing in the Koran to suggest this," Marlies ter Borg says. "Christians, on the other hand, often think they are more tolerant toward women." (AP Photo)

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We want to bring facts into the public debate which we think have escaped people's attention. ... We don't claim we have the final answer or a monopoly on the truth. - Dutch philosopher Marlies ter Borg

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Koran More Feminist Than Bible: Scholar