Religious Authority and Women's Rights in Indonesia: Reconstructing Gender Justice through Islamic and Christian Theological Ethics

Abstract

Religious interpretations can significantly influence social expectations concerning women's roles, family relationships, leadership, and access to public life. In Indonesia, theological arguments may interact with legal norms in ways that either strengthen or constrain women's rights. This article examines how Islamic and Christian theological ethics can contribute to a more substantive understanding of gender justice in Indonesia. Using comparative theological and normative legal analysis, the study investigates concepts of human dignity, equality, family responsibility, authority, and women's participation in social and public life. The article argues that gender justice requires more than formal legal equality because social and religious institutions may reproduce unequal power relationships despite the existence of constitutional guarantees. Both Islamic and Christian traditions contain interpretive resources capable of supporting women's dignity and participation, although theological disagreements remain regarding gender roles and authority. The study proposes a justice-oriented theological framework emphasizing equal human dignity, protection from discrimination and violence, agency, and participation. The framework does not require religious traditions to abandon their distinctive theological identities but encourages interpretations that are compatible with fundamental rights and substantive equality. Integrating theological ethics with human rights principles can strengthen the normative basis for gender justice while respecting Indonesia's religious and constitutional pluralism.