mother-lovin' jews?

I finally figured something out.
It only took me fifteen years or so.
I wasn't actively puzzling it all that time, mind you. But when i first learned that jewish culture traces lineage through the mother, something about that seemed...wrong. Counter-intuitive. Contrary to everything we know about judaism's abhorrent chauvinism. You don't need to see YENTL to figure that one out. Not that jews have any kind of monopoly on woman-hating...religion in general is pretty much synonymous with female denigration. Why GOD HATES WOMEN isn't a popular bumper sticker, rather eludes me.
But indeed, jewish matriarchal lineage is so airtight that if a child is born of a jewish father and non-jewish mother, that child is not considered a jew.
Not a jew.
In a profoundly sexist religion, why would women appear to be elevated and honored in one rather crucial aspect?
In an oft-persecuted religion (and oft violently so), why would you toss away millions of potential soldiers of god?
I knew that whatever the real reason was, it wasn't likely to appear in any official explanation. When i finally figured it out, i checked relevant sources just to be sure of that. And indeed, the doctrinal justification is a bunch of mumbo jumbo absent any logic or consistency.
Nor do i feel bad about this puzzle taking fifteen years to solve. When it comes to religion in general, the appropriate reaction to anything so noxiously offensive to the basic dignity of life is to quietly walk away and wait for all that self-loathing to collapse in on itself and disappear forever.
But here's the little bell that went off in my head. It's not the discovery of the ages - i'm sure it's been apparent to many for a long time.
Matriarchal lineage allows jewish males to fuck around, while avoiding any responsibility for unwanted offspring.
Isn't that just precious?
Now, are you ready for the "surprise"? Judaic forefathers wanted to have it both ways. Giving women the illusion of influence is one thing, but actual influence is another. So it turns out that certain crucial genealogical factors, such as tribal affiliation, are traced through...everybody say it together...the father.
How perfectly convenient.
So self-serving the only appropriate response is to puke.
Okay, we've given doctrinal matters more than enough consideration for today. Let's return to the world of sanity, and leave religion to pass away from history.
That may be, by the way, the only time you'll ever hear me say "pass away" when what i mean is die. But i've no desire to be too harsh. The proper response, when face to face with anyone "of the faith" is pity, not anger. That person was properly fucked up long, long, LONG before they became any kind of semi-reasoning adult.
Just like you and i, incidentally.
But we're all getting better.
May i have an amen?