Non-Religious Sources of Communal Values (Leaving Cert Religious Education): Revision Notes
Non-Religious Sources of Communal Values
Introduction to feminism as a non-religious value system
Feminism represents a major example of how communal values can develop and spread without religious foundations. This movement has focused on establishing equality for women over the past century, drawing its principles from secular ideas about human rights rather than religious teachings.
The feminist movement demonstrates how communities can create and share values based on reason, justice, and human dignity, independently of religious authority.
Feminism serves as a prime example of how powerful value systems can emerge from humanist principles rather than religious doctrine, showing that communities can develop strong moral frameworks through rational thought and shared commitment to equality.
Historical origins of the feminist movement
The Enlightenment foundations
The feminist movement began during the Enlightenment period, which emphasised equality and human rights. However, early revolutionary documents like the "Rights of Man & the Citizen" excluded women from these new concepts of equality, despite women's participation in revolutionary struggles.
This exclusion prompted early feminist thinkers to challenge the fundamental contradiction between proclaimed universal rights and the reality of women's continued subordination - a contradiction that would fuel centuries of feminist activism.
Pioneer feminist writers
Olympe de Gouges (1748-1793) wrote the "Declaration on the Rights of Women and the Female Citizen" in 1791. This groundbreaking document included:
- Women's right to education
- Women's right to equal treatment with men
- Challenge to male-only political participation
Her work inspired Mary Wollstonecraft (1759-1797), who published "Vindications of the Rights of Women.". This book became one of the first major feminist texts, establishing intellectual foundations for women's equality arguments.
Historical Example: The Cost of Early Feminist Advocacy
During the "reign of terror" in 1793, the French Government took decisive action against feminist voices:
- Banned women from all political activity
- Executed Olympe de Gouges for her feminist writings
- Suppressed advocacy for gender equality
This demonstrates the dangerous opposition early feminists faced when challenging established gender hierarchies.
The suffragette movement
Definition and aims
The Suffragette Movement focused primarily on securing women's right to vote. Suffragettes were members of women's organisations in the late-19th and early-20th centuries who campaigned for extending the "franchise" (voting rights) to women in public elections.
The term "suffragette" specifically refers to the more militant wing of the women's suffrage movement, distinguishing them from the broader "suffragist" movement that used more traditional campaigning methods.
Key organisations and figures
The movement was particularly strong in the United Kingdom, centred around organisations like the Women's Social and Political Union (WSPU). Notable leaders included:
- Emmeline Pankhurst
- Christabel Pankhurst
- Emily Davison
These women employed various tactics, from peaceful campaigning to more militant approaches, to draw attention to their cause.
Achievements in voting rights
The movement achieved significant victories:
- 1918: Women over 30 with property qualifications gained the vote in Britain
- 1922: Ireland followed suit with similar voting rights
- 1928: Suffrage extended to all British women over 21
The 1918 decision was heavily influenced by women's contributions during World War I. Women had successfully performed jobs traditionally done by men while men fought on battlefields in France and Belgium. This demonstrated women's capabilities and made their continued exclusion from voting appear unreasonable.
Modern feminism and ongoing challenges
Contemporary achievements
Modern feminism continues to work towards gender equality across multiple areas. Recent successes include the 2018 referendum on abortion in Ireland, which represented women's right to make decisions about their own bodies, free from traditional societal and religious moral constraints.
Political systems have begun implementing measures like female quota systems for political party candidates. These aim to increase women's representation in positions of power and influence, ensuring female perspectives shape law-making processes.
Remaining inequalities
Despite progress, significant challenges persist in:
- Workplace equality and pay gaps
- Childcare responsibilities
- Protection from physical violence
- Political representation
These areas reflect where "male lived experience has been dominant for so long," creating systemic patterns that require continued feminist advocacy to address.
Relationship between feminism and religion
Religious opposition to feminist values
The text explicitly notes that throughout most feminist history, religion has not supported the movement. Traditional religious interpretations, particularly those of the Roman Catholic Church and Biblical teachings, have historically "enforced the subjugation of women."
Many religious interpretations position men as "vessels for God's glory" and therefore superior to women, creating theological justification for gender inequality. This fundamental conflict explains why feminism has consistently developed outside religious frameworks.
Secular nature of feminism
Because feminist values often conflict with traditional religious teachings about gender roles, feminism has always tended to be secular. The movement draws its values from:
- Humanism
- Human rights principles
- Secular equality ideals
- Rational arguments about justice
This secular foundation allows feminist values to develop independently of religious authority, creating what the text calls "communal values movement having its source in humanism... and not in religion."
Key characteristics of non-religious value systems
Feminism illustrates several important features of non-religious communal values:
- Rational foundation: Based on logical arguments about fairness and human dignity
- Progressive development: Values evolve and expand over time through activism and social change
- Universal application: Principles apply regardless of religious belief or cultural background
- Democratic participation: Change occurs through public campaigns, political action, and social movements
Key Points to Remember:
- Feminism demonstrates how powerful value systems can develop without religious foundations, drawing instead on Enlightenment ideas about equality and human rights
- Key milestones include early writings by de Gouges and Wollstonecraft, the suffragette movement's success in securing voting rights, and modern achievements like Ireland's 2018 abortion referendum
- The movement has remained largely secular because traditional religious teachings often oppose gender equality, forcing feminists to find alternative sources of moral authority
- Non-religious value systems like feminism can create lasting social change through rational argument, political activism, and appeals to universal human dignity
- Modern feminism continues to address inequalities in politics, work, and society, showing how non-religious values remain dynamic and responsive to contemporary challenges