A question for Christians regarding women . . .?

Question

One of the major problems I have had with Christianity is it's view of women.

God is portrayed as male, Jesus is a man and he had twelve male apostles. A woman (Eve) is blamed for the fall. The New Testament has quite a few verses saying that "man is the head of woman" and that women should not speak in church, etc. The Bible relegates women to an inferior position to men.

To me, this is nothing but an attempt to justify a patriarchal system. Men are not superior to women, and I see no justification for men "ruling over" women, or being the head of the household.

What is your response to this?

Answer 1

I agree with you completely and one hundred percent.

In fact, we could almost be best friends. You will love this next verse.

11 Let a woman learn in quietness with all subjection.

12 But I don't permit a woman to teach, nor to exercise authority over a man, but to be in quietness.

13 For Adam was first formed, then Eve.

14 Adam wasn't deceived, but the woman, being deceived, has fallen into disobedience;

15 but she will be saved through her childbearing, if they continue in faith, love, and sanctification with sobriety.


This is from 1 Timothy, chapter 2, verses 11 through 15. Isnt it disgusting? Basically it says women arent allowed to teach, and if they have the ability to learn to do it in subserviance!

Then it goes on to say that their only hope for redemption is through child birth. So yes, it is ALL about ruling, and keeping control of a women by keeping her restricted in duty, only as a set of ovaries and a womb to pop out children. Its horrible and most christians arent even AWARE that this is what their bible says. Then, they will turn around and quote scripture to you like:

" There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus." (this is in Galations)

Which is a perfect example of how hypocritical the bible is! One minute its saying how women are unable to learn or teach, then the next minute its saying how we are all equal in christ. Its utterly horrific and pathetic.

Also, you will completely laugh at this:

"In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with braided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array;"

That is 1 Timothey, chapter 2 verse 9. All sorts of christians will be like, oh, you are taking that out of context, etc etc. Whatever. Read the whole freaking chapter and i garentee you it will say the same thing, it isnt taken out of context at all.


Also, here is another good one

"18 Wives, be in subjection to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord."

That is Colosians, chapter three verse 8. Look them up! It will make you want to completely vomit.

But then again there is nothing like quoting the TRUE bible to a christian. Their blind conviction is so sad, i almost dont like showing them things like this...

I may update this with more if i think of them.

Answer 2

God has no gender.

Jesus is male true but his mother is female, to be truly human you have to be born of a woman, so both sexes are included in the Incarnation of God.

Eve isn't to be blamed for the fall, it's Adam really who caused the fall.

In heaven now there's a King ( Jesus) and a Queen ( Mary) so both sexes are included in the glorification as well.

The priests are men because Jesus was a man but the Church is feminine so that includes us all.

And our souls are considered feminine in regard to Jesus.
(I wonder what that makes us ; ))

Many strong women fill up the ranks of the Saints in Church.

Mary Magdalen
Cecilia
Anastasia
Monica
Brigid
Mother Cabrini
Mother Theresa
Therese of Lisieux
Teresa of Avila
Catherine of Siena; these last 3 are Doctors of the Church ie universal teachers.

and on and on.

Hope you get a bit of another picture.

btw Christianity has a bit different wiew of what power means compared to modern ideologies, the best place is not at the top the best place is the "last place".
Of course there are "power-structures" but these are not important, what's important is to serve others and to be holy.
There are more woman Saints than male, I wonder why?

Answer 3

I do find it strange that in the animal kingdom the male seems to be the dominate of it's species, and in human the same, it is something that occurs in all life forms, it is a mystery why this phenomenon dose happen, and what is stranger yet is if it wasn't for the female species of all life none of us would be here, there simply would be no life on earth if we didn't have females, so it really is a mystery why scriptures put down woman, I simply don't and won't believe God has had a hand in this so called rule that supposedly makes man superior over woman, but if all this is true then just maby we worship the wrong God.

Answer 4

Well I am a Christian woman and I don't have a problem with anything in the bible. By the way, I find it interesting that, even after the garden of Eden, most places in the bible, it's actually Adam that is mentioned with regard to the "fall". This verse comes to mind: "as through the sin of one man (Adam) all fell, so by the obedience of one man (Jesus) will many be redeemed". Even though Eve initially took the fruit, it seems like Adam gets the finger pointed at him the rest of the way!

The verses about women speaking in church, are saying that a woman should not have authority over men in a pastoral setting. Now, some churches ignore this, and have women pastors. Okay, that's up to them.

In reading the bible, it's important not to get sidetracked with issues that don't lead anywhere. Feminist issues don't lead anywhere. I believe it's a ploy by satan to get a person thinking...hey, this is sexist. It isn't at all. Jesus lifted women up...He honored them. We have to remember the culture of the day. In a time where women were possessions, Jesus told the men that they should not divorce their wives for any reason, like they could before He came along! And who did Jesus appear to when He first arose? A woman. My life has been lifted up, my virtue and purity restored by the same God that you are speaking of.

I think a person has a choice when they open their bible. They can either ask God to reveal to them what He would have them know...or they can look through it trying to find things to criticize. I recommend the first option.

Answer 5

Yu failed to mention that Paul said "Women are to be silent in the church!" You also failed to mention "like should be with like"!

It's not just Christianity, Jews and Muslims as well!

A Muslim has the right to beat up his wife for certain reasons!

I've always wondered. Why does man have nipples.

Maybe God was a Woman and She created Eve and made Man from Eve's Rib and that's why he has nipples.

But man is larger, taller, stronger and if Eve complains man beats her down.

So man write and re-writes the bible and all of a sudden SHE is the evil one.

It's a theory.

Would Jesus Champion Women and Gay rights if he were in the world today.

I think he would, based upon what he did back then.

Would the world call him a fake and crusify him for doing this. Absoultely!

We haven't learned a lot in 5,700 or 2,000 years!

But we are improving a little.

Answer 6

First, Eve was not blamed for the fall. Adam was. The Bible doesn't relegate women to an inferior position. Due to differences in the way men and women thinks and act our roles are different. Women are superior to men in nurturing and organization, while men tend to be more decisive. Finally if you put it all in context, a man is supposed to love his wife as Christ loved the church, (Christ sacrificed himself). If both parties in a marriage do what they are supposed the marriage will be happy and successful.

Answer 7

I agree with you. That's one of the largest problems with the Big Three (Judaism, Christianity and Islam) is that women are portrayed at best as second class citizens (if they're citizens at all) and worst as chattel to their husbands/fathers/sons. It's apparent in Catholicism which will not make women priests and a Mother Superior is still under the lowest Brother; in Protestantism, the woman is in charge of house and children and nothing else (although you ought to see some of the farm women around here) and for Islam...well, look how that's turned out! It is indeed a patriarchal system which needs to upgrade itself to include all the sexes. People can say that it does but it hasn't. Blessings on you, my child.

Answer 8

God tells women to submit to man but he also tells man to love women like Jesus loved the church. I'm sure if man loved his woman that much there wouldn't be any problem with her submitting to her man. The not speaking in church is probably old testament although Ruth and Esther had something to say too.

Answer 9

The Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin, got her start in the church belting out gospel music with her signature style. She didn't let anybody push her around then, and she doesn't let anybody push her around now. I asked her about your question, and this is what she had to say:

"Elwood, I love my Jesus. He never told me to be anybody's slave, which is good, 'cause I ain't gonna do it anyhow. I've had to deal with oppression in big and small ways my whole life. It's not a Christian thing, it's a people thing; and all God's children have to make their own way."

And that, my friend, is why the lady IS the Queen of Soul.

Answer 10

You gloss over the fact that men are commanded to love women as they love own bodies.

Imagine being told to love someone as much as you love living life! Not dominance in that statement, but TOTAL self sacrifice to women.

Mary is the New Eve in which God the Father used to redeemed the world. It is her human blood which was pulsing through the veins of her son and our Savior Jesus Christ. So God displays, through Mary and all women, the power and respect He has for His creation. Mary was submissive to Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ in return sacrificed His very Body for everyone sins.

Your view of Christianity seems to come from the New York Times, Washington Post and other Democratic organizations. Hardly reliable references.