Hi jane, welcome to the forum. :)
Before I answer your questions, I will give you personal information, maybe it's useful for your assignment. I am a 45 years old man, married, have kids, and live in Indonesia.
format_quote Originally Posted by
Jane2012
What does your religion say about gender, race, war, poverty etc?
Since the begining I learn Islam when I was kid, all of my teachers always said, that paradise is under the mother feet. They always remind me that women have special position in Muslim society because they are people who give birth people. Pregnant and give birth is not an easy duty, that's why paradise is under the mother feet.
My teachers taught me too, that men and women have different duties and different rights. But it doesn't means the one is lower or higher than another. And as a man who live in society that dominated by Muslims, I see the truth, that not true if in Islam women are oppressed. I know it from what I have seen everyday, from how religious Muslim males in my place treat women around them.
Oppression on women actually is caused by culture and misinterpretation of Qur'an and hadith. Not because Islam.
About human race. Racism is unacceptable in Islam. You can read post #7.
Okay, now is night in my place. I must go to bed. InshaAllah I will back tomorrow to answer other questions.