The Bible contains many quotes about how women must be subordinate to men. For many contemporary Christians, this forms a serious barrier between them and a very literal interpretation of the Holy Bible. I don't agree with them and left Christianity for these and other reasons. There were some interesting responses to a similar question concerning Transubstantiation.
At what point do you give in to "Buffet Christianity" in response to such ridiculously outdated beliefs? Do you believe that you don't need to follow all of what the Bible says to do in order to be a good Christian? Should all of the Bible be taken as the divine truth, even the really, REALLY excentric stuff if one is to call themself a good Christian?
2006-09-11 13:59:11 · 13 answers · asked by valoriousblue777 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
The Bible is only outdated if you think you have risen above the wisdom of God. God put things in a certain order as it pleased Him. There is no evidence that says God changes to suit the society of this world.
2006-09-11 14:01:52 · answer #1 · answered by Southern Apostolic 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋
I am a pretty good student of the bible. The only place I see a woman taking a subordinate role is in a Christian marriage. People have confusing ideas about this. Subordinate doesn't mean inferior. The man should be the spiritual leader of the home.
I am a Christian woman, not married, and don't feel inferior to anyone. I know who I am in Jesus Christ. With regard to the verses Paul wrote about a woman being silent in church, this has to do with a woman not being in a position of authority over a man in that particular setting.
The bible says: "In Christ there is neither Jew nor Greek, male nor female, slave nor free".
2006-09-11 21:45:21 · answer #2 · answered by Esther 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Christians today just pick and choose what parts of the Bible they want to obey or believe.
Here are two quotes to show how Christian women should behave. Let me tell you up front that they are from the New Testament. Christians love to pick and choose from the Old Testament, but these don't give you that luxury.
"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
"Let a woman learn in silence with all submissiveness. I permit no woman to teach or to have authority over men; she is to keep silent."
- 1 Tim 2
How can a woman be a Christian an not obey these rules? There are even women pastors which totally goes against what the Bible says.
2006-09-11 21:06:17 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 1⤋
You say your source is the Bible. Where are these quotes of being subordinate to men? If you want equality in religion you won't find it.
You will find equality in Christianity. The New Testament is full of equality...
Gal. 3:28 There is no Jew nor Greek; there is no bondman nor freeman; there is no male and female; for yea are all one in Christ Jesus.
That means we are seen as Spirit and not as male or female.
We do not live under the law of the Old Testament. We live under grace from God / Jesus.
You need to stop making excuses such as the Holy Bible is outdated. It applies as much to our lives today as it did 2000 years ago.
Christian = follower of Jesus Christ and His teachings from the living God
You need to stop twisting and perverting the Bible for your excuses that you don't want to be a Christian. God will let you do what you want...it's called free will...just stop twisting His word.
You need not judge others, "if you are a good Christian" you are not my judge...God is.
Only He knows if I am a good Christian or not.
May you once again find the grace of the living God and His Son Jesus. May your search be short and your life long.
2006-09-11 21:02:00 · answer #4 · answered by Salvation is a gift, Eph 2:8-9 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
The Bible also sates that there is neither male nor female in Christ. In Job and in the Book of ActsGod's promise is that "In the last days saith God I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh" That means male & female, young & old. You shouldn't allow the views of others to cause you to leave Christianity. The love uyou have for Christ and the love he has for you should be your strong and firm foundation. Also the idea about male dominance over women is not from God but from Apostle Paul who was speaking his mind so to speak. God wants and desires to use anyone who is a willing vessel.
2006-09-11 21:12:31 · answer #5 · answered by rob f 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Something that a lot of people miss when reading about the creation of woman is that she was taken from the man's rib. Not his head... not his foot... so she is neither above or below him, but was designed to walk beside him.
With that in mind, I ask you to take into consideration that someone ultimately has to be responsible... and that role he gave to the man. From that perspective... God gave instruction to the man. To that end, a man is responsible for passing on God's instructions to his family and God holds him accountable.
Those who interpret the Bible to mean that women are subservient to men are misconstruing a vital Biblical truth and are on dangerous ground because the Bible tells men that they are to love their wives as Christ loved the church and sacrificed himself for it... so men should put the needs of their wives ahead of themselves (uh-oh... some fellas are gonna be mad about that one).
The Bible doesn't have many excentric truths... a lot of what people are taking out of context implying something extreme have missed the historical value of the book... for example:
Paul said Let women keep silent in the church. Some denominations take that to mean women shouldn't be preachers... however... they fail to take into consideration that the church Paul wrote that statement to had been burdened with having high priestesses from pagan religious attempting to teach Christianity (and thereby mixing the two). If Paul really thought women weren't worthy to teach, he would't have commended women... several of them by name... even so much as he went out of his way to name Timothy's mother AND grandmother. These people also fail to take into consideration what a preacher actually is: someone who brings the gospel. If you remember that the Gospel (Good News) is that Jesus conquered death (he was ressurected), then the FIRST preachers were women.
Please, don't be dismayed because some people spend more time giving their interpretation of the Bible than they do letting the Bible speak for itself.
2006-09-11 21:26:07 · answer #6 · answered by Rev T L Clark 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
It's a slippery slope. If you accept the notion that one can pick and choose parts of the Bible, there have to be SOME limitations otherwise the Bible is meaningless and you might as well just not bother reading it.
But I agree, women should be equals in the eyes of the church. I wouldn't even consider turning Catholic until they start allowing female priesthood.
2006-09-11 21:02:27 · answer #7 · answered by I Know Nuttin 5 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Sounds like you just need to attend a non-denominational Christian church rather than your old one... Yes, the Bible is the the inerrant word of God, and you should get schooled in some SOUND Bible-based doctrine ASAP...! I don't believe you've left Christianity, or else why would you have bothered asking such a question...?
2006-09-11 21:20:56 · answer #8 · answered by KnowhereMan 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Someone has to be responsible to God, and God made that the man in the family. He is the one who is responsible (in God's eyes) if his family fails and isn't provided with what they need. This is not a matter of inequality. The husband is commanded to love his wife, like Christ loves the church. Christ would never keep anyone under his thumb, neither does a Christian man.
I am equal to my husband, but I am not the same.
2006-09-11 21:07:50 · answer #9 · answered by chris 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
99.9% of religions in the world seem dominate or try to make women subordinate.
I think from what I have noticed in north America it has something to do with the average north American male being very insecure (the sight of a naked breast makes them stupid) and thus feel that by dominating/bullying it makes them seem like a stronger man. And I agree too many religions will not accept that we are so different but yet EQUAL!
Blesse Be..... )O(
2006-09-11 21:31:29 · answer #10 · answered by Brutal honesty is best 5 · 1⤊ 2⤋