Why are women Christians?

Question

Throughout both the Old Testament and the New Testement are passages that demean women and degrade their worth. The Bible equates a woman to cattle and other property man may own. Women are "taken" into marriage, regardless if they want to be married or not, and are often bartered for or sold outright. 1 Samuel 18:27 shows David buying a bride for 200 foreskins. 1 Timothy 2:11-15 says women may not usurp man and that they may be saved through child bearing. 1 Corinthians 14:34-35 forbids women to speak in church. They are to ask questions of their husbands at home if they don't understand something. Romans 1:27 talks about homosexuality as men "leaving the natural use of a woman." So basically, the Bible says women are only good for pleasuring their husbands, having children, and indentured servitude. In fact, there are practically no mention of female births into families at all after Genesis, only male births. So why would you be a part of a religion that does not value you?

Yes, the Catholic Church is a brightly burning beacon for women. Just look at all the female priests. No, wait, women aren't allowed to be priests, are they?

Yes, I am leaving out some of the Bible...like the parts where women are to subject themselves to their husbands. They are to obey without question. That if a young widow remarries she will be damned. If women are so valued, then why are there not an equal number of mentions in the Bible?

By not allowing a woman to take the lead in the Church it is saying that women are not smart enough to be able to comprehend the teachings of the Church. It also says that they are not worthy of that position and that they will always be second to men. How is that NOT degrading to women?

Oh for crying out loud. I never said anything about wanting to dominate males. I believe balance, that men and women are EQUALS. I do not believe, however, in the stereotypical roles men and women are placed in. My ovaries do not preclude me from being a stong leader. And as for "gossiping women", have you ever heard of the MEN'S LOCKER ROOM? And for the record, I never said that being a mother was a bad thing to be. I AM A MOTHER. What I did ask was a serious question that I hoped to have serious answers to, but like everything else people have to come in and be belligerent and ignorant in their discourses. I happen to be proud of my femininity, but I refuse to be told I can not do something because I'm a woman. The same reason I don't accept that men should be forced to do things because they are men.

Answer 1

Maybe you should read something about the Catholic faith because our greatest saint is a woman. All Catholics call her blessed (as it says in the bible). We even call her our spiritual mother (as she is the new "woman" and superior to Eve), and we often get criticized for that because people commonly falsely accuse us of worshiping her as a god. We believe that we should honor her the same way that Jesus did. It's that simple.

Also, read the bible in context of the rest of the bible and in the context of the teachings of the Church that put the books of the bible together. There is a lot of the bible you are conveniently leaving out. What did Jesus say to the people when the people were about to stone the woman caught in adultery? Hmmmm?

This is a good example of why the bible says that it should not be a matter of personal interpretation.

I also think that before you try to read the bible you have to shed some of your bitterness. You have to have the Holy Spirit within you before you can even begin to comprehend the bible, and you can't have the Holy Spirit within you if you are filled with bitterness.

P.S.
Your problem is not with the Catholic Church only ordaining men, your problem is with the divinity of Jesus and His wisdom in choosing to set the example of 12 men for the Apostles (the first Bishops of the priesthood). If the Pope ever went against this, he would be putting Himself above Jesus (God in the flesh) by saying that he doesn't think that God got it right. This would be the ultimate in arrogance. But it won't ever happen with any Pope because that office is guided by the Holy Spirit, so don't hold your breath.

The bottom line is that we all will live forever, it's only a matter of where you want to spend eternity and whether or not you want to accept what Jesus did for you in dying on the cross just for you so that you might believe that He is God and be saved from Hell (eternal separation from God).

It's your choice, but I'm assuming that you are an adult and don't need someone to hold your hand in making that decision.

By the way, read up about Mother Angelica. She has been arguably the most influential Catholic leader in America for the past 25 years. As a cloistered nun, she founded what is today the largest religious television station in the world, and she did it out of a garage with no money. She only had faith in God and humbleness of heart, but God provided. Who says that you have to be a priest to be a leader? This is her website:
http://www.ewtn.com/

And about what you said about what the Church thinks about women understanding the faith, 3 females are named by the Catholic Church with title of Doctor of the Universal Church.
This is a link to an article written by a nun about the female doctors of the Church:
http://www.catholic.net/rcc/Periodicals/Dossier/MARAPR99/Reflections.html

The Church teaches that men and women are EQUAL IN DIGNITY but NOT THE SAME. There is a difference between equality and sameness.

If you were truly secure with your femininity, you feel good about the differences between being a woman and being a man and you wouldn't feel like women need to be the same a men in everything.

I have no doubt that you are proud, but that is what the problem is. It takes humility to enter into Heaven, but Pride is the root of all sins and what leads people to Hell. Pride was what turned Satan against God and what Satan, in turn, tempted Eve with. And sin leads to death. If you commit spiritual suicide, it will be something that only you will have to live with for eternity. You are only hurting yourself and maybe your children if you are leading them on the same path to destruction.

Answer 2

First of all I am a Catholic wife and mother so that makes me a woman. Second of all I do NOT want female priests. If only because I am NOT telling my sins to a gossiping woman. Also Christ did not choose any female apostles. Women are not less than men only different. I do not want to be a man nor do I want their roles. If you do you have a serious problem with your femininity sister. Third of all I do NOT find any part of the Bible that I consider anti feminine. Motherhood is the greatest vocation a woman can aspire to outside of the Religious life. Who else joins with God in creating a new person. It is an awesome responsibility. I believe and feel Christs presence and basically that is why this woman is a Catholic Christian. You obviously are part of the confused females seeking domination over the males. That makes you no better than a male chauvinist. Too bad you can't go live with the Amazons since they don't exist. Xena warrior princess.

Answer 3

Reading the account at 1 Samuel in its entirety rather than just verse 27 will clear up any misconceptions. The entire account is 1 Samuel 18: 18-28. One notices that Saul’s daughter, Michal, was in love with David and King Saul used the feelings of his own daughter as a snare by which to set up David. The only person demeaning anybody is Saul demeaning his own daughter – something the scriptures do not support.

1 Corinthians forbids a woman to take the lead in church. How does that degrade or demean her? Romans mentions the natural use of a woman. How does that translate to “she’s only good for pleasuring a man?” Is it not natural for a man and woman to come together in sex? Is it not natural for a man’s sexual member to fit naturally inside the body of a woman? Where is the degradation?

What woman was taken into marriage regardless of how she felt about it? What scripture do you cite?

Usually, this position comes from not reading an account in its entirety, not understanding the account or trying to apply 21st century C.E. opinion to 14th century B.C.E. practices.

Answer 4

The Bible from the Catholic standpoint is not completely factual, and by looking at society during the time period during which each writer wrote, we can tell that it is not a Christian value, but the way society was run back then -- during that time period, men were completely dominant over women, so that came out in the writing. God didn't write the Bible -- it was *inspired* by God, meaning that the truths of it are more important than some of the little details the authors are going to throw in based on their own experiences. Christians don't support the male-over-female line of thinking (although some of that is sadly still apparent in some traditions, like only male priests in the Catholic church).

Answer 5

I am not a christian, but an atheist. I didn't realise just how demeaning the bible is towards women. But I suppose that it doesn't really surprise me as I have been studying Gender and Language as part of my degree and have discovered that high levels of patriarchy have been dominant throughout history.

I am just glad that I am living in the age where women, although still not considered by some ignorant creatures as truly equal to men, are increasingly regarded with respect and worth. I probably would have ended up being stoned to death for being so outspoken if I had lived around the time the bible was supposedly written!!

Answer 6

1 COR 7:3 (NRS)

"The husband should give to his wife her conjugal rights, and likewise the wife to her husband. Fro the wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does; like wise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does."

You sound so angry. I'm a devout Catholic and it doesn't bother me that I can't become a priest - it is according to scripture. And not only Catholics do not have women priests, Baptists do not allow female preachers.

To assume that women have no rights because we're not able to become priests, is erroneous. I have three words for you "Catholic Women's League" or "Legion of Mary". Women have a huge role in the church throughout history, our most revered Saint is a woman (Mary, Mother of God) and many of the favourite saints are women: St. Therese of Liseux, St. Catherine of Siena, St. Theresa of Avila, Bl. Mother Teresa, St. Faustina and much, much more. Women were the first to see the resurrected Jesus, it was mostly women who stayed at the foot of the cross. Some of the most influential Saints ARE WOMEN.

Re: Not mentioning female births in the Bible, back then women were never written into any history or news. You are right in respect to that - however, with that consideration - how incredible must these women have been if they WERE written about? Delve into their lives, instead of focussing on what isn't there, start focussing on what IS there and look at things in context.

I, even though I'm single, have never - EVER - felt devalued by any man in the church. I've dated non-Christians and Christians. For the most part, I've found Christian men to be more caring, loving, and respectful of women. They listen more, smile more, more considerate - as they have allowed Jesus to be the centrepoint of their life.

The priests I have known, and I know a lot, value women in the church, treat them with the utmost respect and care deeply about their parish's spiritual needs. They are supportive and appreciate everything that women do in the church. We are on the councils and other groups in the church that steer the parish's needs and funding. We have a significant role in the church.

Also, the Church is NOT just here on earth, it includes those who have gone before us and those who come after us.

I think you need to actually get to know Christians in your real life. Go to a Church, go to a gathering, get to know both men and women Christians, go to a Christian bible study. Get involved - allow the Holy Spirit to guide you to find peace and love.

May God bless you.

Answer 7

We are valued by God and by the Christian faith - and being Catholic, I can say from experience that women are valued there as well - just because we are not in the same roles as a man doesn't mean we aren't valued - we recognize that God gave men and women different strengths and weaknesses and roles. The part about buying brides was cultural and of those times - not specifically a Christian act. Women do have a role in the family, to their husbands and to God - some view it as submissive or wrong - but then some Christians view feminism as a crime against men - I truly do see it as hurting men and the relationship they have with women - their moms, wives, daughters and women in society greatly. God has a reason and a place and rules for everything... think of it, if we'd listened to HIm about the apple in Eden (as silly as that seemed at the time) we wouldn't be facing death at all.

Answer 8

We are all valuable in the eyes of God. Have you ever read the book or Ruth or Ester? Have you read about how God gave Sarah a child? How about how a man is to really love a woman? About Eve, first woman created by God? Mary the mother of Jesus? Deborah the only female judge of Israel? The Bible is full of stories about wonderful, powerful women.

In many countries today women are of no value. United States of America is different, but we still have never had a female president. This shows that society sees men as stronger, just as the Bible does.

Answer 9

In the time that the Bible was written, women were considered second class citizens at best. During that time in history, they thought that a woman was only good for taking care of the home, the man, doing what everyone else wanted her to. Over time as perception changed, as men started watching what women in general were doing, they started realizing that women had worth. It hasn't been until the early 1600's that women have been able to stand side by side with men. Biblicly she still accedes to her husband as the head of the household, yet she isn't treated like a doormat like she was during the first, second and thrid centuries.

Answer 10

Let's not forget that Laban gave his daughters rachael and Leah to Jacob (their first degree cousin) in exchange of work.


I cannot understand why divorcees are Christian, why single parents are Christians, why gays are Christian, etcetera, but I guess some people cannot think for themselves


WHOA WHOA WHOA! Everyone is saying "this was written 2000 years ago, it reflects the time, now we don't believe in that" So then why are Catholics against gay marriage and when asked why they quote the Bible?. Shouldn't we assumed that at that time there was prejudice against gays and now we shouldn't? YOU CANNOT CHOSE TO BELIEVE IN PARTS OF THE BIBLE !!!!!!!

Plus the Vatican will never say that what is in the Bible is the opinion of a person, their official position is that the Bible is GOD VERBATIM.

Now I am even more disappointed with Catholics ( which I am too by the way, or was, or I don't even know), because now you have not only the fanatic Catholics, you also have the selective Catholic , that choose to believe in what he/she wants.