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Jul. 18th, 2001 02:04 amTomas and I were discussing Christianity last night when the topic turned to the way women are treated in Christianity. I've always been a bit cold towards "outsiders" opinions on this because I think it's pretty easy to step in, take things out of context, and make judgments. Tomas is having serious doubts about what he believes and in the existence of the God of Christianity. We have been taught that the Christian God is a loving God.
For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God...Romans 8:38-39
Tomas feels like a loving God who's purpose for creating humans was to have creatures of free will to love why does he not let himself be known in undeniable ways?
I was thinking about the examples of women we have in the bible. When I thumb through mine I see all these men's names. Yes, I understand it was a different era but I was raised to believe that the bible was a divinely inspired, literal Word of God. If that were the case why would he not make certain men and women were treated equally? There are women in the bible, let's take a look at some of them...
In Genesis we have Potiphar's wife who became angry with Joseph (of the many colored coat) because he rejected his advances towards her and had him sent to prison.
In Exodus there is Miriam, a prophetess, who's story goes completely untold.
Judges gives us the story of Samson and Delilah who turns out to be a temptress who ties Samson down, cuts his hair, and robs him of his strength.
Then we have the tale of Ruth [Opps, that would be Esther. I thought Esther and typed Ruth. Ruth would be the gal who stuck with her mother in law.] This is the gal who saves her people by marrying the right man.
In Samuel there is the Witch of Endor.
King David's history brings several women into the mix. There is his wife Michal who got pissed because he went dancing through the streets practically naked and was cursed with childlessness because of it. Then there was Bathsheba, the wife of one of his generals who he caught a look at while she was bathing on the roof next door. He slept with her, got her pregnant, then had her husband killed so he could marry her.
Anyway, you get the idea. Not too many positive stories of women. And that's without mentioning the whore Hosea married as an example of Israel's unfaithfulness or Lot's wife who God turned into a pillar of salt.
Then we get to the instructions the bible has for we women.
As in all the congregations of the saints, women should remain silent in the churches. They are not allowed to speak, but must be in submission as the law says. If they want to inquire about something they should ask their own husbands at home; for it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in the church." 1 Corinthians 14:34-35
It's interesting to me that in the book right after this one the same writer (Paul) says:
"know that a man is not justified by observing the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ." Galations 2:16
and
"The entire law is summed up in a single command: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' "Gal. 5:14
Unless they happen to be female apparently.
Paul, dear man that he was, was no where near done:
"Now I want you to realize that the head of every man is Christ and the head of the woman is man." 1 Cor. 11:3
"A woman should learn in quietness and full submission. I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over aman; she must be silent. For Adam was formed first then Eve. And Adam was not the one who deceived; it was the woman who was deceived and became a sinner. But a woman will be saved through childbearing - if they continue in faith love and holiness with propriety." 1 Tim. 2:11-15
"Wives submit to your husbands as is fitting in the Lord."Colossians 3:18
"Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. Then they can train the younger women to love their husbands and children to be self controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, to be subject to their husbands so that no one will malign the word of God."Titus 2:3-5
And it goes on and on like this. As I said I understand that these were different times. However as someone who was taught that these things were applicable to my life today I am infuriated. Where am I in the bible? How can I give myself to a faith that has such a belittled role for women? I've found it difficult to let go of the childhood emotional ties that bind me to Christianity but it's becoming easier and easier. I also find it disappointing. It's like finding out a parent isn't who you thought they were. Now I am left wondering if I will ever find something to fill the whole that this has been left in my life. As a child and teen my faith spilled into so many areas. It was my social life, my spiritual life and it was my moral life. I can't live the rest of my life refusing to think about these things and I don't want to live the rest of my life without answers.
For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God...Romans 8:38-39
Tomas feels like a loving God who's purpose for creating humans was to have creatures of free will to love why does he not let himself be known in undeniable ways?
I was thinking about the examples of women we have in the bible. When I thumb through mine I see all these men's names. Yes, I understand it was a different era but I was raised to believe that the bible was a divinely inspired, literal Word of God. If that were the case why would he not make certain men and women were treated equally? There are women in the bible, let's take a look at some of them...
In Genesis we have Potiphar's wife who became angry with Joseph (of the many colored coat) because he rejected his advances towards her and had him sent to prison.
In Exodus there is Miriam, a prophetess, who's story goes completely untold.
Judges gives us the story of Samson and Delilah who turns out to be a temptress who ties Samson down, cuts his hair, and robs him of his strength.
Then we have the tale of Ruth [Opps, that would be Esther. I thought Esther and typed Ruth. Ruth would be the gal who stuck with her mother in law.] This is the gal who saves her people by marrying the right man.
In Samuel there is the Witch of Endor.
King David's history brings several women into the mix. There is his wife Michal who got pissed because he went dancing through the streets practically naked and was cursed with childlessness because of it. Then there was Bathsheba, the wife of one of his generals who he caught a look at while she was bathing on the roof next door. He slept with her, got her pregnant, then had her husband killed so he could marry her.
Anyway, you get the idea. Not too many positive stories of women. And that's without mentioning the whore Hosea married as an example of Israel's unfaithfulness or Lot's wife who God turned into a pillar of salt.
Then we get to the instructions the bible has for we women.
As in all the congregations of the saints, women should remain silent in the churches. They are not allowed to speak, but must be in submission as the law says. If they want to inquire about something they should ask their own husbands at home; for it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in the church." 1 Corinthians 14:34-35
It's interesting to me that in the book right after this one the same writer (Paul) says:
"know that a man is not justified by observing the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ." Galations 2:16
and
"The entire law is summed up in a single command: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' "Gal. 5:14
Unless they happen to be female apparently.
Paul, dear man that he was, was no where near done:
"Now I want you to realize that the head of every man is Christ and the head of the woman is man." 1 Cor. 11:3
"A woman should learn in quietness and full submission. I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over aman; she must be silent. For Adam was formed first then Eve. And Adam was not the one who deceived; it was the woman who was deceived and became a sinner. But a woman will be saved through childbearing - if they continue in faith love and holiness with propriety." 1 Tim. 2:11-15
"Wives submit to your husbands as is fitting in the Lord."Colossians 3:18
"Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. Then they can train the younger women to love their husbands and children to be self controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, to be subject to their husbands so that no one will malign the word of God."Titus 2:3-5
And it goes on and on like this. As I said I understand that these were different times. However as someone who was taught that these things were applicable to my life today I am infuriated. Where am I in the bible? How can I give myself to a faith that has such a belittled role for women? I've found it difficult to let go of the childhood emotional ties that bind me to Christianity but it's becoming easier and easier. I also find it disappointing. It's like finding out a parent isn't who you thought they were. Now I am left wondering if I will ever find something to fill the whole that this has been left in my life. As a child and teen my faith spilled into so many areas. It was my social life, my spiritual life and it was my moral life. I can't live the rest of my life refusing to think about these things and I don't want to live the rest of my life without answers.
