Is Religion a Conservative or a Liberal Force?

Most people would answer the above question very forcefully as conservative. Throughout the world, religion - and here I am not talking of any particular religion - is considered to be a strongly conservative force. A large number of people who think of themselves as liberal would insist that religion is not only conservative, it is reactionary. This is an assessment that I would disagree with. I believe that contrary to general opinion, religion is actually a liberating force. Let me add that here I am not talking about cults; I am talking religion in the traditional sense of the word.

Why do I make this claim? It is important to distinguish between what a religion teaches and the actions of the adherents of that religion. Consider Christianity. It is considered to be a religion of love. Yet throughout history, the most violent and intolerant actions have been those of people who considered themselves devout and pious Christians. Again consider Islam. A religion of peace. The very name means submission and is a root for peace in Arabic. Yet today, many non-muslims regard it as a violent religion. So the actions of a religion's adherents can be at a disconnect with the teachings of that religion. Again, take Islam. The religion gave women rights to property and inheritance at a time when they were universally considered to be the property of males with no rights of their own. This is an astonishingly liberal act done in a strikingly conservative milieu.

It has been said before that anyone can read whatever they like in the holy texts of their religion. That is undoubtedly true and generally speaking, a strongly conservative interpretation has been done on these texts. Yet the fact remains that many of the positions taken in these texts are unambiguously liberal.