i know christianity best--so that's where i'm coming from. answers about any other religions (some that don't restrict women, some that do in different ways, etc.) are appreciated as well.
in the bible's teachings, why must women be quiet and obedient; they are not allowed to preach or hold positions of authority and they are aldultresses; women are often lesser and must be commanded and kept in line.
aside: i know that there are some virtuous and good women in the bible. . . but they are far outnumbered. so i'm not saying there aren't any good women, but why the huge difference in morality and control for men and women? why do the stories of wicked and bad women overwhelm the good ones so much?
2006-09-25 09:50:11 · 14 answers · asked by serasotto 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
yes, men wrote it. but, it is still there and there are no disclaimers about that at church.
and the virgin mary was one against jesus and the disciples, the prophets, david, moses, and so on and so on. . .
2006-09-25 10:01:18 · update #1
Wicca and witchcraft does not oppress women -- but rather glorifies them for their ability to create and give life. Women are oppressed because men are power-hungry. As much as Christians say that the bible is the Word of God and divinely inspired -- the truth is that it was WRITTEN by men. It was EDITED and CHANGED and RE-TRANSLATED by men as well -- who omitted and added and revised things as they saw fit to accomodate their personal agendas at the time. Not to mention how many words in the traditional Hebrew and Aramaic language that do not actually translate into English or Latin well. In English we have only one word for "Love" when in other languages there are three. Eros and Agape are the only ones I remember... but Eros is sexual love, and agape is unconditional love -- the kind that Jesus showed for ALL people, regardless of race, creed, color, or spiritual choice.
Anyway -- not all religions opress women. :-)
Blessings and Light!
~RW
2006-09-25 09:55:57 · answer #1 · answered by Phoenix's Mommy 4 · 3⤊ 1⤋
So...you asked a great question. There nothing degrading about women in the Bible. In fact they usually put in a place above men.
And I should say that the womens rights movement in our country has hurt women more then helped them. I am not taking a position on that, just making an point. I am 59 years old and when I was a child most men worked and their wives stayed home. The rule of thumb was that the man's salary paid all the bills. The house payment was one weeks salary. Today both have to work just to make the bills. Today children are raised by daycare and many are home alone much of the time. So are we better off? Are woman better off? I remember the women's rights movement in the late 60's and one of their "big deals" was that they were no longer going to wear bras and I must say that made me very unhappy. Wink! Don't know whoever said they had to, to begin with. Wear a bra, that is.
2006-09-25 17:39:27 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You don't know? well, I guess maybe you wouldn't think of it... The bible has been around for a long time, and it has been revised many times.. in most instances by men who held positions of influence and wanted to further thier own ideas about women. Sadly, these ignorant men held the beliefs you mentoned about how women should act and behave, and they had a negative view of women in general.. thier bias and hatred unfortunately has been preserved in thier revisions to the bible. These narrow minded men were of the belief that all evil in this world was brought about by the first woman Eve who first tasted the forbidden fruit(according to the bible) and thus women are wicked by nature and responsible for all that is bad, and should be restricted and treated differently to prevent them from spreading thier wickedness. For all we know if it had been woman in power and revising the bible, there might be today the same ignorance and bias of men in religious texts and it might now be Adam who first tasted the forbidden fruit....
I am sorry to say but this is the main reason why I do not have faith in anything written in the bible, it has been passed around and changed so much from what it originally was in order to further the agendas of differing humans throughout history that it is no longer a true representation of the original book. That is not to say that some of the moral ideas are bad but in general much has been changed by people who are not the best examples of humanity and held ignorant narrow-minded beliefs. I am not a religious person but I don't discount the possibility of God and I do think the general message of peace, love and acceptance is good, but I know the bible was written and revised by humans and as such it cannot be wholly trusted and unconditionally followed.
2006-09-25 17:14:38 · answer #3 · answered by Kelly + Eternal Universal Energy 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Unfortunately we live in a patriarchal society and history and religion are written by men. Throughout history man has been able to destroy any culture that has been matriarchal in form and has denounced any matriarchal religion as heresy. All references of women being equal were erased from the bible at the council of nicea. Mary Magdalane was portrayed as a prostitute instead of the Queen, or Princess that she has been historically proven to be. Even the dead sea scrolls support this, but this has been erased and ignored by the Vatican. Jesus himself held her above all others yet we are supposed to believe that she was a prostitute. The Jews of the time killed Jesus with the help of the Romans because he was leading a radical reform of the Jewish faith. He viewed women as equals among a long list of reforms he was trying to implement. He went against the establishment and was killed for it.
2006-09-25 17:02:03 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Never forget that God's most perfect creature is Woman (must have saved the best for last)! Mary is Queen of Heaven and Mother of God.
It is our call to imitate Christ. If, as a woman, you can imitate Christ like Mary did, the Kingdom is yours!
Peace.
2006-09-25 16:58:07 · answer #5 · answered by ManOfPhysics 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋
there are many women that played very important roles in the bible rebekah of the old testament, especially, many see her as a precurser to mary. and mary in the new testiment acredited with crushing sin, id say women play an important role in religion.
many idiots say catholics worship mary. so really dont see your point.
2006-09-25 17:52:50 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
In the Wiccan religion women are actuallu put up on a pedistal.
2006-09-25 16:58:02 · answer #7 · answered by eightieschick70 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
The first human to sin was a woman... But aside from that, in those days woman were opressed. It doesn't make them less it's just how it was.
2006-09-25 17:09:41 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
Religion...and especially xtianity...was created by men FOR men.
2006-09-25 16:54:38 · answer #9 · answered by Medusa 5 · 2⤊ 1⤋
They were created by MEN.
2006-09-25 16:52:38 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋