Feminism and the Bible?

Question

Ok, I understand that the website I am presenting is a bit fundemental but when this guy comes down to scripture, I had to hand it to him, he uses that Bible quite well.

Just look at it first and tell me what you think. But most importantly, please explain what is the best way to approach a feminist with this topic.

My Contemporary Fiction teacher is a big time feminist. Saying out loud with confidence that the Bible is a fiction story telling book and that Women are the key to human existance. She even went as far as to say that the only reason we are still here is because of women. (I laughed inside because the statement was so... How do I say in a nice way, idiotic)

She's convinced most of the girls in the class that women are better than men or at least equal (When it physicaly isn't)

Anyway's, please explain your views. Thanks.


http://www.jesus-is-savior.com/Evils%20in%20America/Feminism/feminism_is_evil.htm

Answer 1

you want me to take seriously a website that says "beware the feminists, many are lesbians"??? How offensive. Your fiction teacher is more a fem-nazi. Being a feminist just means standing up for equal rights. Chill.

Answer 2

I am a feminist, formerly a feminist activist back in the late 60s and 70s. I found the website obviously not only offensive but highly ignorant.
Feminism has had some slightly different meanings but basically it really has nothing to do with claiming that women are better than men. Feminism is a philosophy which exposes discrimination against women, as well as the cultural ways of disrespecting women in so many ways.. Feminism basically just calls for equality...a change in culture...not a silly boys against girls kind of thing.
I think many people have compensated for the horrendous ways they see culture dealing with women by denigrating men or claiming women are better. that is not in my opinion the way to deal with this. The best way is to continue to support and respect our women and girls as much as we do men and boys. When the culture changes, the discriminatory practices go away.
We all do better when we learn to respect each other better. My solution is simple: Kindness, a simple yet profound idea.

Answer 3

I think you might grant your teacher that some cultures that put women out of the public decisions and minimize their influence on society, tend to be a little more violent... and men benefit from the interaction... lead off by agreeing with as much as possible and granting there are some issues of equity, fairness and justice... but without going toooo far

You may point out:
the first defender of the faith was Eve
the first righteous act of civil disobedience was the Egyptian midwives that rescued the Jewish baby boys
the first succesful legal challenge the daughtes of Zeloophehad, they appraoched MOses about an issue and God said they were right
Esther put herself under the curse of the law, in order to rescue her people and is a picture of the redeemer Jesus Christ

but in the end... is you teacher falling in the trap of being so pro women that whe does what she despises in some men and is unfairly putting them down? You definitely dont want to fall in a tap of saying a woman is not equal to a man unless she acts like a man that is self defeating. A woman should be valued for being a woman, for her unique point of view. her unique way of thinking aboutthe whole and not so easily setting aside emotions in an issue

frankly a male pointt of view and a woman's point of view TOGETHER pften makes for the best decisions... did you ever see the TV show Designing for the Sexes on HGTV? the most beautiful rooms are when husband and wife work together and the least beatiful when one dominates and gets their way at the expense of the other

and in history... the first European laws about spouse abuse probably occured under Calvin in Geneva... and I doubt she realized it

Answer 4

First of all, I am a devout Christian, wife of a Lutheran pastor. Women and Men are equal. We are not the same - not at all, but we are equal if equal means of like value.

The Bible is not about men being dominant over women, but rather a division of labor. Men and women both have talents and gifts suited for their abilities - not the same, but of equal value in God's eyes.

God created Adam first, then Eve. As first created, Adam was given the task of being the head or leader of the family. He dropped the ball when he saw Eve sin with eating the apple and did not step up, but blamed her when God called him on it. He said in effect - yeah well it was the woman YOU gave me.

Your comment that we are not physically equal is troublesome. So you equate superiority with physical strength? - well then we are all inferior to the gorilla which has all of us beat! So see, it is not about physical strength.

Women bear cold better than men because we have extra fat, it does not make us superior overall, but different. And there are many ways that women surpass men, and men surpass women - it isn't a competition but a division of labor.

We are at our best when we are together in Christ. Just like God planned it that way!!

Answer 5

for me feminism is not about women becoming superior and taking control over men. feminism stands for equal rights of women which is denied because of the long time evolving patriarchy.

religion is defined and practiced to support patriarchy. Hinduism, Buddhism, Christianity, Catholicism and etc in practice affects women in an unfair manner. Jesus or even Buddha treated all human beings as equal. but the religions that originated through their teachings, in practice helped the suppression of women and provide basis for men to have more power within the society.

women and men are for no doubt different. but difference does not have to create inequality. that's what i believe feminism is fighting for.

Answer 6

I say in a way she is right but also wrong. Women are not superior over men because god made Adam and eve not just eve. It never said in the bible that woman were over men. But in a sense without women there would be no babies being born. But without men there would be no well you catch my drift. So your teacher is a bit over the top!

Answer 7

Well it doesn't have the women in the Bible as much but it dosen't mean that we're not as important. It says in the Bible that women are equal to men when God created Eve. One of my teachers said that women are one of the most important parts of the gospel but because God didn't want women to go through that kind of pain and ridcule he has the men do it because he doesn't want to see the women get hurt. Also she says that she doubts the men would want to see women get hurt like that and that men are naturally protective of women and that's why we're not talked about as much.

Answer 8

Lectio Divina is Latin for “spiritual reading” and represents an early monastic technique of prayer which continues in practice though less widely, intended to achieve communion with God as well as providing special spiritual insights and peace from that experience. It is a way of praying with Scripture that calls one to study, ponder, listen and, finally, pray from God's Word.

History
Lectio Divina was first expressed in the year 220 AD. It was found that to read the Bible profitably it is necessary to do so with attention, consistency and prayer. The systematization of “spiritual reading” into four steps dates back to the 12th century. Around 1150, Guigo II, a Carthusian monk, wrote a book entitled “The Monk’s Ladder” (Scala Claustralium) wherein he set out the theory of the four rungs: reading, meditation, prayer and contemplation. In 2005, Pope Benedict XVI stated, “This is the ladder by which the monks ascend from earth to heaven.”

Method
Lectio is typically practiced daily for one continuous hour. A selection from the Holy Scriptures is chosen ahead of time, often as a daily progression through a particular book of the Bible.

Time
Selecting a time for lectio divina is important. Typical methods are to pray for one hour in the morning, or to divide it into two half-hour periods, one in the morning and one in the evening. The key is to pre-select the time that will be devoted to the prayer, and to keep it. Using the same time every day leads to a daily habit of prayer that becomes highly effective.

Place
The place for prayer is to be free from distractions. This means it should be isolated from other people, telephones, visual distractions, etc. Some find a religious icon to be helpful. The same place should be used for lectio if possible, especially as one first begins to practice it. Familiarity with a location reduces the possibility of distraction away from the prayer. Some practitioners conduct other devotions, such as praying before the Catholic Eucharist, as a preparation for Lectio Divina.

Preparation
Prior to reading, it is important to engage in a transitional activity that takes one from the normal state of mind to a more contemplative and prayerful state. A few moments of deep, regular breathing and a short prayer inviting the Holy Spirit to guide the prayer time helps to set the tone and improve the effectiveness of the lectio.

Once the stage is set it is time to begin the prayer. There are four phases of the prayer, which do not necessarily progress in an ordered fashion. One may move between different phases of the prayer very freely as the Spirit guides.

The Four Moments
Lectio
Read the passage several times.

Meditatio
Reflect on the text of the passage, thinking about how to apply to one's own life. Gravitate to any particular phrase or word that seems to be of particular import. This should not be confused with exegesis, but is a very personal reading of the Scripture and application to one's own life.

Oratio
Respond to the passage by opening the heart to God. This is not primarily an intellectual exercise, but more of the beginning of a conversation with God.

Contemplatio
Listen to God. This is a freeing oneself from one's own thoughts, both mundane and holy. It is about hearing God talk to us. Opening our mind, heart and soul to the influence of God. Any conversation must allow for both sides to communicate, and this most unfamiliar act is allowing oneself to be open to hearing God speak.

Answer 9

Whoa...that man is pretty full-on.I am for EQUAL rights.I don't believe that men are better than women,and I don't believe that women are better than men.I think both are equal,anad compliment each other in different ways.That picture of the aborted baby totally disgusted me though.That is one example of 'women's rights ' that I am opposed to.

Answer 10

I think anyone who would post a picture of that dead baby on their website to underscore a point has a serious problem. That in itself turned me against whatever they had to say.

God is love...His message should always be spoken with love and humility. Whoever is responsible for that page has neither.