I mentioned above the statement I made that caused ABuddhist to perceive me as "attacking Buddhism". I should have added his own response from that 2019 exchange.
He replied: The issue is not that women are unclean, nor necessarily that they arouse lusts in men, but that monks must behave in ways, set forth in the Vinaya, that protect them from rumours about their non-virtues and help them to cultivate discipline.
I have some difficulties with that perspective, though I think I understand it well enough. The matter is probably best addressed in the Eastern Texts or General Religious sections of this site rather than here, if at all.
I only wish to reiterate that I find myself having mostly positive feelings about Buddhism in general and the way I see many devotees engage with their belief-system and related customs. I don't like the idea of separating oneself as monks but I respect those who see things differently. We all have our different backgrounds, perspectives and personal needs, and I respect those. My disagreements arise from my own experiences which are not theirs.
I once visited a Buddhist "Disneyland" type world with all sorts of grotesque models in blood-curdling poses to try to depict what Hell is like; I didn't like that, nor did I feel any sense of brotherhood with the monk at the entrance who scowled at me because I had not "voluntarily" donated enough for the privilege of entering the park of horrors. Nor have I felt any sympathy with the Buddhist Sri Lankan authorities and their treatment of Tamils.
But I find myself with a liking for ABuddhist here, and with other Buddhists in my online circle. I have no reason to "condemn Buddhism" per se and regret my statements have been interpreted that way.