Does God see men as superior to women?

Question

It was suggested to me that all the key religions, i.e Islam, Judaism, and Christianity, put men above women (women should be submissive to their husbands, men can marry many wives etc)

If so, why would God make anybody superior to anybody? Isnt HE supposed to teach us all about humility? What kind of heaven is it for women if we are subordinate to someone?

Is it ungodly to want equality for all people??

Answer 1

I doubt it.

In the statement that women should be submissive to their husbands, there is absolutely nothing to suggest that the contrapostive, that men should be submissive to their wives, is by any means untrue. It just isn't a part of the same epistle.

Abraham was at least partially submissive to his wife Sarah, when he took Sarah's handmaiden, Hagar to be another wife, and was at least equally as submissive to Sarah when Sarah demanded that he put her and his at-that-point ONLY child out to fend for themselves in the wilderness.

In any even quasi-righteous society, polygamy would be at the behest and under the strict governance of the women, not the men.

In Navajo society, the government rested upon the shoulders of the post-menopausal women of each settlement... not because they were better than the men, but because they had been around to see many more moons than most of their menfolk, who would have by that age either died in battle or have become too cowardly to fight a good fight, and therefore, had lost the respect of their own gender, who would rather be led by their grandmothers than their noncombatant elder men. Nor, however, would they have much confidence in menopausal women, whose decisions would be based upon their daily moods. So, the great spirt they worshipped surely didn't see it as you seem to think other religions see it.

That is only ONE thing that I believe in common with them.

Answer 2

Good question. Christianity can often be misunderstood. God does not see men as superior to women. Most people misunderstand that submission is not some evil, subserviant ideal. Submission and obedience lead to blessing. Men are not superior. However, men and women were created for different purposes. They also sinned in different ways in the garden of Eden. God's judgement on what happened there has everything to do with the things we now see in the world. Ultimately this was not God's desire. Our world -- beginning with Adam and Eve -- fell into sin and away from true fellowship with God. God has ordained all relationships, like marriage to be a mutual blessing. Whenever one person is "lording it over" the other in any relationship, sin is at work. God's desire is that we love one another and that we willing give up our own plans, agendas and selfish desires for the benefit of others -- that's real love. And, God is love. I hope this helps.

Answer 3

Seem like God would have to be male and female since one can not survive without the other. In Africa we thought our woman were equal - Balance! - the west had a problem with the woman and blamed her for all the woes in the world. The first trinity was Man, Woman and Child but the west took the woman out and replaced it with a ghost. You had great woman leaders such as The Queen of Sheba! Here is a ancient African saying - "In order for there to be a God there has to be a Goddess - in order for there to be a Goddess there has to be a God!!!!" The west should of never got rid of the Goddess concept. Maybe that is why homosexuality runs so deep in they history. The Greeks and Romans were very Gay!

Answer 4

God was created by man, in the image of man. And men consider themselves in general to be superior to women.

Oh well, as long as they still have hard feelings...

As for religion, remember most were originated centuries ago on old fashioned ideoligies and superstition. Women in western society have advanced in leaps and bounds to secure their freedoms over the last hundred years. Other cultures are still lagging in evolution to put it blunt. But if their women are happy in the majority to live like that, so be it.

Answer 5

The Gods I worship (I am a Celtic Pagan)view all life as being equal.

We have both God's and Goddesses but something I've often wondered is why do people assume the Abrahamic God is male?

Answer 6

welcome to most religions sister. I don't know what conclusions you draw from it but heres what i have concluded, religion is man (not woman, man). god is man, heaven, hell, afterlife, repentance, all men. By that i mean they are all constructs of man and they all go with the principle of the conservative: I am special and superior. Afterall, don't you see a theme here? Christians, muslims and jews all believe they are special and chosen and all non-believers are wrong and headed for disaster; animals and all other living things are inferior and not worth much except for their meat because man is special and chosen. Women are inferior and should dedicate their lives (covering up their faces, dressing without any body part exposed, obeying, submitting, respecting, taking care of men) to prevent men from falling into temptation and sinning, because again men are special, it's all about men. Nothing about the comfort of the woman or what men do that may make her "sin" eg, raping her, abusing her etc. It's all about men. That's what religion is made for, because it is man and made by man.
BUT, you are allowed to join in if you keep your mouth shut, submit, cover your head in shame, obey your husband and religate all leadership positions and power to him. Yes they are gracious enough to let you in.
For the person who says christianity is not sexist and quotes the women submit to men and men take care of your wife and children, you think that's a show of equality? Why would equals submit to each other. And if inded the woman was considered equal, why does she need to be taken care of? What BS. Please jump out of the denial river

Answer 7

The story of the Garden of Eden is symbolic.
Eve, being made from Adams rib. The "middle" of his body. Shows that women are not above, nor below a man. But "equal" to him in the eyes of the
Creator.

Answer 8

Hi, first of all - God made Eve from the rib of Adam because God said it's not good for man to be alone. Eve wasn't inferior she complemented Adam. I agree with everyone who said we are created equally. The Bible has to be read in context to get the complete understanding rather than pick out one sentence. There are women teachers, prophets and judges in the Bible just like today...

Answer 9

DiD you ever wonder why there's is'nt a picture of god= God is a spirit within each of us, when you believe in god your actually believeing in yourself, As for how different denominations in the far east believe, Its mostly because they enjoy sex so much that many females were born and traded for needs and riches from alot that have to those that did'nt have until the trades. This is why they believe men are over women.

Answer 10

People can try to justify and rationalize it all they want, but the 3 "religions of the book" are deeply misongynistic. A few women can get an important role... but all the power and goodness generally rests in men. You can see this by reading Leviticus in the Old Testament, the Pauline Epistles in the New Testament... and just taking a look at any Muslim country.