All logic gets lost when following the Bible - why?

Question

I just read this female's answer to a ? where she stated it was the wife's duty in the Bible to submit to the man... I just can't get over a female saying that....

When r ppl going to realize that there r things in the Bible that were written BY MEN in a time of no rights for women... the women were just as much property as slaves.. couldn't get educated, vote, own property, etc...

If ppl r going to follow every single word of the Bible without logic then what about in Genesis where it talks about the Supernatural beings laying with the normal humans. And where it discusses selling your daughters into slavery being acceptable. Or where it talks about redistributing wealth every 7 years.... I could go on and on.

Don't u have to say to those things, "Well those were the times..."

Why do ppl through all logic out the window when it comes to religion but at the same time, THEY ONLY PICK PORTIONS of their doctrine to follow to the letter?

BTW, I am a Christian.

Answer 1

The submission issue does cause problems for many people, Christian and non-Christian alike.

It's hard to tell what Paul meant, what conditions he was addressing, what his ultimate intentions were, and whether we are reading more into the text than we should.

Some others have rightfully pointed out the concept of "mutual submission" (mentioned in the Bible as well), in addition to husbands submitting to Christ and giving their lives (emotionally, physically, whatever is required) for the sake of their wives.

We do know that, in the culture at the time, the Romans did want the wives to submit to their husbands, but in theory -- even while some men were decent -- husbands had no real stipulations placed on them.

What Paul definitely did do (as part of presenting the church in a way that the world would understand and admire), was to reaffirm the wife's role while at the same time going far BEYOND the norm and charging the husband to be just as responsible to his wife as she was to him. He basically said, "I'll do you that, and go you one better," in regards to the roles in a marriage. (So it was a step up for the wife's rights, and NOT a step down -- the husband was finally being held accountable.)

Also, the "value" of a woman is a bit different than what you're assuming it was here, based on your modern western mindset. I can't really go into detail here, and to be honest, have only done general research on it; but assigning a monetary value to someone was less treating them as an object in that culture and more a way to make sure their rights were protected legally.

Craig S. Keener (a Christian) has written a number of books concerning women and the Bible in NT times. His book "And Marries Another" (covering divorce and remarriage) specifically delves into the view of women by Christians and Romans in NT times and elsewhere, covering some of these very issues. There are many other good Christian books that dig into the social context of these passages. Maybe his books (search Amazon) and related ones will be useful to you.

I do think there are too many Christians who read a single verse and then use it as a general standard without considering the context it which it was given and (importantly) how it would apply in light of OTHER moral truths presented by the Bible. If the faith system is consistent, everything needs to tie together rather than contradict; and we can readily see how Jesus valued women, how salvation is equally given to males and females, and so forth...

In any case, we need to "think" more than we often do. Good question; you're right to be concerned about it.

Answer 2

Your question is fabulous. The christian response should be some of the Bible was written by women, that the passages about sumbission require men to submit to their wives, and both to submit to God, and that the slavery thing was "different then they treated them humanely and only had them for seven years."

To the slavery thing I say thats just crazy.

I'm not a Christian because I don't take the Bible literally but think theres lots of good stuff in it.

Answer 3

Number one priority is following the ten commandments. The ten commandments is not just a book for children. Every one of us as individuals are expected to follow the spiritual law in which the ten commandments is all inclusive. The ten commandments include love to the Lord and love to the neighbor because they command worshipping the Lord alone and not damaging the neighbor. Paul's advice on marriage can only be followed if the husband is a good man and has genuine religion. Paul was writing to the churches not the unchurched.

Answer 4

yea you have to realize the time the bible was written and who revised it the catholic church , which at the time didnt even see women able to play any important role in life , i think its a shame people have to hang on every word on the bible , i gurantee that the same couple your talking about doesnt truely rest on sundays or recognize holdidays like the bible describes , thats why i have pretty much become agnostic , i believe in a god but i dont get into the doctirne , i simply believe in being kind , or chirtlike ....thats the only staple of christianity .

Answer 5

In my religion we believe men and WOMEN are equal and nobody has to submit to anybody besides God. Yes Women should be loyal to their husbands but no where does it say that they should be slaves to them. I agree when it comes down to religion people lose all common sense. Even in our religion, which happens to be one of the most easiest to follow religions out there, but ofcourse all the culture blend and everything has made it so difficult to comprehend. it's just ARGH.

Answer 6

The man is the head of the house you are supposed to follow everything he says that doesn't harm you but with our own free will the woman can still go to work and have fun

Answer 7

God created man, man created sin. God gave us a choice of doing right or wrong, and sadly most times we choose to do wrong.. We can't blame stuff on God. If God wanted us to be robots, He would have made us that way. And women weren't perfect either! And not all men treated them like slaves either.. Thats just my opinion

Answer 8

Your premise is false.

The fullness of that teaching is that a woman should be subjected to her husband as her husband is subjected to Christ. The Bible is not playing favorites here, and if one understands the full meaning of this, then one knows that women are getting off easier than men.

This I believe; http://homelessheart.com/testimony.htm

Answer 9

that is from the old testament and i think that when Jesus came to save us a lot of the old testament rules got changed. and with the rules that we follow today make those rules seem wrong and sinful in some ways.

Answer 10

Because logic was formed by man.