Women Priests and the fundamental truth?

Question

There was a debate on Radio 4 this morning about whether women should be ordained as priests.
As an atheist I find it hard to see the rationale behind denying women the opportunity to become priests just because it says they can't in one part of the Bible.
Should the church be recognising that they can still keep the basic truth of Jesus' message whilst accepting more contemporary ideals? If not, will it harm the church to be so steeped in dogma that there doesn't appear to be any room to evolve?
I'm interested in both points of view.
Thanks!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/5160388.stm

Potski - could you elaborate? Thanks.

Answer 1

Dogmatism is in fact our most formidable foe. It says I shouldn't be circumcized. But that hasn't stopped God from accepting me and blessing me profusely. That statement has relativity that was only pertinent during that period of time. As is probably the case considering women as priests.

Answer 2

When I think about the fact that the 3 middle eastern based religions are devoid of positive females in their stories and the subservient position they put their women in, I get the feeling that the men who wrote these stories were all really tired of female dominated religions - that they were trying to claim their position of authority. I thnk there are a lot more religions who naturally have a female image as the life creating force in the world, or a pair of opposite sex images - since that is how our species is built.

The only reason for the church to not give women access to all the positions of the church is their fear that they will one day take over - which is strange, because women don't really want to take over, they want to do what they are good at and have a solid, reliable partner to do what they are not good at. We should all just work together for a more harmonious planet.

Peace!

Answer 3

Episcopals, Methodists, American Baptists (as opposed to Southern Baptists) and Lutherans all ordain women as priests/pastors. I've always recieved better guidance from female pastors than men. And... even though there are a few SITUATIONAL prohibitions against women speaking in church in the Bible, there are way more examples of women in leadership positions: Lydia, Priscilla, Deborah, the church at Phillipi.
I think it's good for the church as a whole to have female leaders, and it might be their only hope to continue.
People who are clinging unswervingly to a few little verses in the Bible are really using it as a way to keep women out of the way.

Answer 4

My great-uncle died a few weeks ago and I was pleasantly surprised to learn that his funeral was officiated by a female priest - he was a memeber of the United Church of Canada, which is Canada's largest protestant church and ordains ministers regardless of both sex and sexuality.

Some churches will try to enter the modern world. Some will continue to resist it as long as possible. But they all do move forward - either by choice or kicking and screaming. Either way, they do move forward.

You and I may be kilometres ahead of even the most progressive church, but still - a slow crawl is better than nothing!

Answer 5

The Bible is and has been situational. Sacrifice of animals had value at one time to God. Now it does not. In the past, man and women had roles that made it difficult for women to become priests because of societies norms. Those norms are far gone and the Church needs to reconcile that the Bible has situational aspects to it. In summary, there is no reason that women should not be priests but human reasons. Hopefully, this will change.

One way I look at this is that there are but 2 commandments from God and for any religion. Love God with all your heart, and treat others as you wish to be treated. How one goes from this to excluding women is not from God. However, it made sense at one point in time in terms of the Catholic religion.

Answer 6

It doesn't have anything to do wit the bible. In the very early days, women were deacons. I believe when they went out to preach, especially to pagan peoples, women were largely ignored and even attacked for taking on such an authoritative job. Since then men have been in charge and giving up that power is extremely difficult. After all, look how long it took them to clear Copernicus. Eventually, the Church will come around, but it's going to take a very, very long time and I don't think I will see it in my life time.

Answer 7

There are female only positions too.

The point is that there are different positions within the church for different people.

These 'fights' are simply feminists trying to get attention. If you ask religious women, who actually understand the issue, they would say that priests should be male

Answer 8

Contrary to what some liberals say, there is nothing from preventing women from dedicating their lives to God in the Catholic Church.

If they really wanted to do so, they would by becoming nuns.

Answer 9

Women can teach spiritually as well, if not better than men, because spirituality is about feeling and love. Who knows more about that than women. Maybe it would stop Christian priests form hurting little boys.

Answer 10

The argument against women priests is about sexism and power, nothing else. You can't control people you see them, and they see themselves, as equals.

Just as important is the nonsense about celibacy.
http://www.libchrist.com/bible/catholiccelibacy.html