Women are second class citizens in the bible. But I've never heard a woman complain about it. Why?

Question

First of all, the bible blames Eve for all the sins in the world.

Then, the bible has all these rules about women being "unclean" and forced into seclusion during menstration.

Then, the only woman that Jesus hangs out with is (at best) a loosey goosey, and (at worst) a downright sl ut.

But women never seem to mind how they are portrayed in the bible.

Why is this?

Answer 1

there are some women that ACTUALLY believe that,that's the real shame.

Answer 2

First off the Bible is not a historical document. Meaning it was not written from any first-hand accounts. The Bible was not written until about 300 years "after" Jesus walked the earth. Hence, anything in there that says "Jesus said" cannot be confirmed. The first biblical writings were in Hebrew. Then translated into Greek, then into Latin. At this time in history very few people could read or write, let alone understand Latin. Along comes King James who decided that all people who wanted should be able to read the bible. Now remembering that women have always been second class citizens, many of these translations reflect that. For instance, Phoebe was a deacon in the "church", but in the King James version she is a nurse. Sorry this answer is so long. I guess the short answer is that the Bible was written by man not God.

Answer 3

I left the male dominated Roman Catholic Church. Right off the bat, I had to cover my head as a child in Church, while men did not. It has a male hierarchy like many male dominated religions. Only a few aren't male dominated. I changed to be a United Lutheran, as women can be pastors and in the hierarchy. The Bible is sexist as anything. Even the 'good' women are wimps. There are no strong female types and right off the bat we are blamed for everything. Lots of women complain about it. Polytheistic religion at least had some female goddesses. Yup, religion was written by men, for men and women were garbage. How is your period a bad thing or unclean? It's is a cleaning out process. Such nonsense. The 4 gospels aren't bad though. Some people only follow that. That's okay with me. That is what Jesus thought and the only part of the Bible I like or follow.

Answer 4

The bible doesn't blame Eve for all the sins in the world. He gave his first children the choice between good and evil; Eve was conned into choosing the 'evil' path and had to live with the consequences.

The rules about women being 'unclean' during menstruation were given to the Isrealites while they were in the desert and had immense practical value in their day, they were not re-iterated in the New Testament and are therefore not valid as a 'law' today.

Jesus' companions were many, women amongst them. I think you are thinking about Mary (the ex-prostitute)? Note that that was her former profession and that Jesus forgave her for her sins. The confusion arises also because there were, as I remember, four Maries mentioned in the various gospels; one of which was his mother (who, despite being an unmarried mother, was not a 'loosey goosey'). The others were described as being very strong, spiritual women.

Other examples of strong, spiritual women occur all through the bible: Abraham's wife, Ruth, Naomi, loads of them in the New Testament, try reading the book of James, for example, to see how women were thought of amongst the first century christians.

The problem that most people have with religion in general where women are concerned is that they seem to be an underclass; true christians don't think that way, women are regarded as the backbone of the congregation.

Try reading the bible for yourself, don't take other peoples word for it. These are not the dark ages, all the information is available to everyone who cares to look.

Answer 5

Mr. Gator...

You must have been reading a woman haters Bible somewhere, where the scriptures have been re-written.

Eve does sin first, however, her husband Adam is standing right there. When she needed him most to champion for her, fight for her and stand up for her...what does he do? He slips into passivity and fails as her husband. Look in Genesis 3, it's in there.

As for the "unclean" and seclusion during her period, remember you are reading from the Old Testament. It was the law for them at that time. We now live under grace in the New Testament. ((Don't get me wrong, the Old Testament is important and we can learn from the principles there.))

Now, why are you calling Mary Magdalene a slut? No where in the New Testament does it say she was a "loosey goosey" or prostitute for that matter. What it does say is that Jesus freed her from seven demons. It also goes on to say that she was one of his financial supporters.

There was a pope in the 9th or 12th century (I don't remember which one) that called her a prostitute and it stuck. Some guy, centuries later labels her without facts and you believe what someone else has said?

The Bible was written over a 3500 year period. Women were treated as second class citizen by most cultures...but Jesus never treated women that way. Period.

Perhaps you need to do your homework. Read the Bible for yourself instead of taking someone (that feed you miss-information) word for it.

The truth will set you free.

Answer 6

I've often wondered this myself. With the amount of oppression put on women by the bible, it's astounding to me that any woman would want, much less CHOOSE to follow the bible.

I know I certainly don't choose to follow the archaic and downright sexist laws. I do mind how women were portrayed, unfortunantly I don't think any rewrite I could do would be nearly as worldspread.

If there is a god and he really does want all these sexist laws and unclean woman this, unclean woman that .. followed, he's not the kind of god I'd be worshipping in the first place.

Maybe I mind because I can think for myself and don't simply blindly believe because someone and some old book told me so.

Just my thoughts.

Answer 7

While the role of women is very undermined in the Bible, within the church and church doctrine it isn't as bad as the things you've mentioned. In fact, I remember being taught that Adam was to blame for sin, and that sin was passed down through Adam not Eve (thus why Jesus was born sinless... because he was not of man's seed).

Now, I am talking about my own experience and there could be much worse churches out there suppressing women.

BTW: It always made me uncomfortable with Paul's views about women and the church. Of course, it was all his own opinion and he never tried to say "It must be like this". It was just advice to different churches for different purposes... but most church members didn't see it that way.

Answer 8

I think those are examples of history, time were different then. That is NOT how the Bible is saying women should be treated.

Jesus spent time with sinners of all types, regardless of the type of sin. No one is beneath His forgiveness.

Also, Eve was the temptress, she is not blamed for all the sins of the world.

Answer 9

because, at the same time as the Bible replaced into written, women were second-type voters. They were little better than resources and bargaining chips for his or her husbands, brothers, and fathers. they'd *economic fee*, FFS. in a large number of elements of the international, they are nonetheless dealt with like this - and the individuals of those societies use faith and holy books to justify this treatment.

Answer 10

Firstly, the bible never blamed Eve for ALL the sins in the world, have you been reading the mad magazine?

Secondly, the bible never cast these women into seclusion, it only says they are unclean DURING the mesntruation period.

Thirdly, Jesus never hang out with anybody, these people FOLLOWED Him.

So, you see, you got your facts upside down. Check and see if you're reading the bible.

Answer 11

No, they're not.

Read on, rabble rouser, and you will find that it was these very women who Jesus sent to spread the word of his resurrection - the men had all abandoned him. Crying, arguing about what really happened, who was going to take His place, how they were going to make out without Him - they sounded pitiful. All of the men!

Jesus never felt He was too good and holy to be seen talking, eating and hanging out with a slut, a wine-bibber, the IRS man, raising these same unworthy folk. He demonstrated how we all ought to treat one another - sluts included.