Gender roles in religious rituals of Middle Eastern and Eastern religions today

It is an undeniable fact that religion has an important place in human life. It is known that religious beliefs and rituals keep people in particular and society in general alive and provide continuity in relations with the creator. In addition, religion allows the individual to live a meaningful life in peace with himself and his environment by mixing with various beliefs and rituals in human life; it prevents them from falling into despair and a spiritual void. From this perspective, religious rituals also directing people's feelings, thoughts and behaviors. When societies and religions that have taken their place on the stage of history are examined, it is observed that there are differences in practices or responsibilities between men and women in religious rituals as in many areas. In this study, gender roles in terms of rituals in Middle Eastern and Eastern religions are discussed. The aim of the research is to reveal the distinction between men and women in the rituals of these religions and their roles. The study consists of an introduction, two research sections and a conclusion. In the introduction, in addition to the importance, purpose, method and sources of the subject, the gender that constitutes the subject of the thesis is explained, male and female issues are discussed, and information about ritual and worship is given. In the first part, gender roles in the rituals of the Middle Eastern religions of Sabianism, Zoroastrianism, Judaism, Christianity and Islam are mentioned. In the second part of the research, gender roles in the religious rituals of the Eastern religions of Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism, Confucianism, Shintoism and Taoism were discussed and the findings, interpretations and conclusions reached at the end of the study were included. Key Words: Religion, Ritual, Gender, Female, Male.