For many people, the religion seems at odds with feminist ideals and offers equal rights to men and women; I am one of those people. As a young girl, I never really took religion seriously: for me, it was something I had to do every Sunday and alternate Thursday evenings for an hour. Born and raised Roman Catholic, Sunday school was filled with swaying my feet brushing the floor while picking my nails and absentmindedly reciting hymns that had been assigned for memorization. In my early teens as a youth group leader, I began to seriously question this religion I was associated with, but was urged to do the sacrament of Confirmation so that I could get married in the Catholic Church if I wanted to. Today, I have only reinforced my distance from religion in general. Lately, reasons for my anti-religious attitude include non-belief, reluctance to institutionalize personal matters such as faith, and questioning the ability of religious texts to provide and promote a level playing field for the sexes. I don't consider myself a crazy feminist who believes that all humans should be considered asexual beings: I think there are traditional characteristics that the majority of women should (and will) play on (I'll allow my little friend to give me a gift). meal if he wishes). However, I see the problem as arising when a woman's “proper place” is dictated as such by an external voice – whether that voice is male, female, societal, or textual. I have come to view religion in this light: in both their structure and language, many religions place emphasis and preference on the masculine gender (e.g. Eve as a sinner, male-only priests , Mary Magdalene described as a prostitute). my first in...... middle of paper...... prepare yourself for the Muslim faith. The Independent. Retrieved February 18 from http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/the-islamification-of-britain-record-numbers-embrace-muslim-faith-2175178.html « Tony Blair's Sister - In-laws Lauren Booth converts to Islam after “sacred experience” in Iran” (2010). Online mail. Retrieved February 18 from http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1323278/Tony-Blairs-sister-law-Lauren-Booth-converts-Islam-holy-experience-Iran.htmlvan Nieuwkerk, Karen ( 2006). ). Women embracing Islam: gender and conversion in the West. Austin, TX: University of Texas Press. Retrieved April 14 from http://www.thedivineconspiracy.org/Z5254C.pdf “Why are so many modern British career women converting to Islam? » (2010). Online mail. Retrieved February 18 from http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1324039/Like-Lauren-Booth-ARE-modern-British-career-women-converting-Islam.html