Do Husbands "Own" Their Wives?

The concept of marriage in many cultures still reflects a concept of "ownership" of a woman, reflected in a number of societies where a man is allowed to beat, even kill his wife inasmuch as she is considered his "property". Religious teachings tend to reinforce those ancient cultural practices, and it is a big challenge to remove wrong beliefs and abusive behavior when religious "scholars" claim that "God's Word" says it, so it must be obeyed. Both Muslims and Christians are upholding interpretations of scriptures that condone abuse of women and women are too afraid to refute them. Family, we will not solve the problem of violence in our society until we correct the relationship of men and women and make it one of mutual respect and equal value. A number of so-called "honor killings" have gone unpunished among Muslims, even here in America, in which a woman who married someone the family disapproved of was killed. There are Muslims that will swear that the Quran condones beatings of wives. I used to be one of them, until God revealed to me the falseness of this belief. Sisters, your soul knows this is wrong. How do we correct religious misinterpretationsand create marriages of mutual respect in which no one owns anybody and the body in which your soul resides belongs to you and you alone?