Gender and religion

Religious traditions differ in their beliefs, traditions and practices regarding gender. Deities, spirits and other theological beings may be depicted as either possessing or lacking a gender. In some religious communities, women are allowed to serve in leadership roles, being ordained as priests, rabbis or imams, while other religious communities forbid women from performing in those roles. Religious beliefs and institutions also influence wider societal debates relating to gender, sex and sexuality, including the morality and legality of abortion, divorce, sexuality, and the role of transgender people.

These differences around gender and sex can be classified as either "internal" or "external". Internal religious issues are studied from the perspective of a given religion, and might include religious beliefs and practices about the roles and rights of men and women in government, education and worship; beliefs about the sex or gender of deities and religious figures; and beliefs about the origin and meaning of human gender. External religious issues can be broadly defined as an examination of a given religion from an outsider's perspective, including possible clashes between religious leaders and laity; and the influence of, and differences between, religious perspectives on social issues.