How Does Christianity Value Women?

Question

"Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, as christ also is the head of the church, he himself being the savior of the body. But as the church is subject to christ, so also the wives ought to be to their husbands in everything." (Ephesians 5:22-24)

"Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. For Adam was first formed, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression." (1 Timothy 2:11-14)

• "Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience as also saith the law. And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church." (1 Corinthians 14:34)

Leviticus 15:19-30 Explains that a woman having her menstruation must be avoided to the point of not even touching what she has touched. It is curious that women are punished for simply having a biological function that “God” claims to have created. What is so just about vilifying what you created?
Deuteronomy 20:13-15 Kill all the men and boys in the cities that God “delivers into your hands,” but keep the women for raping.

Deuteronomy 21:11-14 I

If you see a pretty woman among the captives then just take her home and “go in unto her.”

Remember, Isaac (at 40) married Rebekah (the mother of Jacob and Esau), when she was three.

"According to the Midrash, Rebeccah was 3 years old when Abraham sent his loyal servant Eliezer to his family's homeland in Aram-Naharayim to find a wife for Isaac."
How old was Mary when Jesus was born?

Answer 1

it doesn't! glad to b a muslim woman!

Answer 2

When the Apostle Paul wrote the Epistles to the Ephesians and Corinthians, it was during a time when men and women and children did not sit together in Church. The women and children were in an entirely different area. The women were also not educated in the Holy Scriptures as the men were. To avoid any interruptions in the service, Paul instructed the men to make sure their wives didn't speak out in church when they didn't understand something...or argue any points they didn't quite agree to. The men were to explain things to their wives at home. The conversion from Judaism to Christianity was hard enough. You would have to understand customs of that time, and the rigid rules the Jews were subject to. Here these rules were being bent, twisted, and in some cases, changed altogether. In this period of time, women could not inherit properties if there was a surviving male member of the family. Women had to withstand many unfair situations...and, not necessarily by the Hand of God. Rules were made by Levitical Priests, Pharisees (Paul used to be a Pharisee by the name of Saul, before his conversion on the road to Damascus) and the secular Government, which played a major role in the lives of the Jews, as well. Anyway, since women had been held back, and held under, for so long they WERE the weaker vessels...more delicate physically, and mentally. I don't believe Paul...or God, for that matter...meant for men to Lord it over women...Obedience didn't mean cleaning house when the husband told the woman to do it, or fetch his beer, or bread. If you would, perchance, take a look at the last chapter of Proverbs and read the end of the chapter regarding the virtuous woman. She was the Biblical example of the famed Enjoli woman. She could "bring home the bacon, fry it up in a pan, and never, never, ever let him forget he's the man..." To really understand what was going on, you would have to read the history, and read about the culture of that time.

Answer 3

mary was 12 which illustrates how when women get power that they can (as sometimes men do) make laws that truly do not refect the heredity each of us was born with. In the 19th century being 12 and married was not in the least bit rare. Today marriages last an average of 4 years where as in those days it was nearly unheard of to be raised in a one parent family. In many countrys today where the familiy gives the bride there are extremely young marriages.


With regards to what appears to be your objection to wives being submissive to their husbands I would remind you of the well known fact that men have very little need to be loved but have a much higher need for respect than do women. Women want to be loved, men not so much. If the bride finds a way to make it known to her husband that she respects him then they will be loved better than if they do not. This is an undisputed fact. The most efficient way to show respect is through obediance.

The fact is that if Biblical standards are applied to daily life then life is better.

Jesus washed the feet of his apostles to deliver the message that to be of service was a worthy life strategy. Why on earth is it that many females believe that they are devalued or not held in high esteam by the christian community. That is a view espoused from outsiders looking in. If a female christian feels they are not valued then no one forces them to continue down that path.

This area is just so misrepresented it is difficult to explain without taking a day or two of classes.

Any one who believes it is in own interest to give in to their own competitive nature and let that nature be their guide to lead them to a fulfilling well balanced life,,, i think they should wait to become a christian until they have learned the pain that kind of thinking brings and then christians will welcome and love them.

Answer 4

you missed the one about how husbands can divorce their wives, and the wife must live as a widow and his children will be as orphans, but if a woman divorces her husband she is an adulteress--the bible is extremely sexist, which was a mark of the times as an unwed or single mother would be hard put to surviv in a world without a welfare system, and having a womb was realistically viewed as putting them at a disadvantage

Answer 5

It doesn't, simple as that. That's one of the reasons why I am an Atheist. I was raised to be a strong independent woman, to view myself as being equal to men. Christianity totally goes against this philosophy so I cannot support something so derogatory.

Answer 6

Even a cursory look at the Catholic Church shows that the Blessed Virgin Mary is held in higher esteem than anyone other than Our Lord Jesus Christ.

Answer 7

yeah, the Bible shows that women are suppose to subordinate to men. It's funny how the pastor never does a sermon on those verses huh? Christians only obey the Bible rules that they agree with, so they apparently think that God is wrong and can make mistakes.

This is one reason that i am not a christian anymore

sincerely a high atheist

Answer 8

Well obviously the Christian bible treats women with no higher regard than does the Koran,of course since the church treats them somewhat better today christian women find it easier I guess to act as if they are not second class citizens according to scripture.

Answer 9

You did not post the very next three verses of the letter to teh Ephesians:

Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ loved the church and handed himself over for her
to sanctify her, cleansing her by the bath of water with the word,
that he might present to himself the church in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.
So (also) husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself.


Consider that Jesus endured torture and death for the sake of His church. Husbands should be willing to endure torture and death for the sake of their wives.

Answer 10

Woman is man's equal and his partner for life. Our women are not slaves; they don't have to hide behind a mask or shroud.

Answer 11

Now people who are Christian will say that this is the old version, and they don't go by this version. Funny how they can pick which version of the bible they want to go by, and THIS is ok, but they can't pick what religion they want to practice. If you ask me, it is the same thing.