Why does christianity look at women so negatively?

Question

What the canonized saints of Christianity said about women:

"Woman is a daughter of falsehood, a sentinel of Hell, the enemy of peace; through her Adam lost paradise" (St. John Demascene)

"Woman is the instrument which the devil uses to gain possession of our souls" (St. Cyprian)

"Woman is the fountain of the arm of the devil, her voice is the hissing of the serpent" (St. Anthony)


"Woman has the poison of an asp, the malice of a dragon" (St. Gregory)

some quotes from the bible:

Timothy 2:11-14 "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."

Ecclesiastics 7:26-28 "And I find more bitter than death the woman who is a snare, whose heart is a trap and whose hands are chains. The man who pleases God will escape her, but the sinner she will ensnare.

Point taken "WitchyPoo", but read this:

Corinthians 11:5-10: "But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven. For if the woman be not covered, let her also be shorn: but if it be a shame for a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her be covered. For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God: but the woman is the glory of the man. For the man is not of the woman: but the woman of the man. Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man. For this cause ought the woman to have power on her head because of the angels."

This suggests christian women are required to cover themselves.

Answer 1

Because it is based on an ancient culture in which women were chattle.

Answer 2

Really interesting question with no simple answer. I think the root cause of misogyny in Christianity is the cultural context in which the religion flourished; that of Ancient Palestine and the Late Roman Empire.

Both societies were unabashedly patriachal. Roman society, for example, was hierarchical and saw the ideal woman as pretty much one who was a good hostess, served her husband, was fecund and docile. The ideal Roman was the warrior male.

Initially, women were more attracted to Christianity because of its egalitarianism: that all are equal before God. This was a breath of fresh air compared to the stifling Roman aristocracy. However,. as the religion spread, it imbibed the misogyny of Classical civilisation. It did not help that the clerical hierarchy was male. They did all they could to denigrate women. Hence the writings of the saints above.

The results were disastrous for women so much so that Western society's perception of women only began to change in the 18th century-with the rise of modern science.

Why is all this important? It shows the futility of interpreting scriptures as literal, static truth. Fact is, the "truth" is a moving target. What may have worked in 1st Century Palestine cannot be extrapolated to the 21st century. They did not have internet, instant communication and changing gender roles. The Bible (and any other claims to absolute truth) must be interpreted in light of the zeitgeist.

Answer 3

I don't trust those "canonized saints"... no offense.
But i DO believe in the Word of God, so I'll give you my interpretation for one of those Bible verses.

Timothy 2:11-14 "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."

Do not think of this as something that undermines women. God said this for a reason. Look, Eve was formed so that she can be a helper for Adam. We, as women, are called to help others, which requires a great deal of humility, patience, and strength. Don't see it as a curse-- it's a blessing. When male pastors preach the Word of God at church, it's really easy to become prideful and steal God's glory. However, when women continuously offer help to others, we develop a great amount of humility and it's easier for us to submit to the Lord as well.

I hope that helped..
God bless

Answer 4

Because Christianity is so ancient and derives from the times when women were second class citizens, who's thoughts or opinions did not matter. The world was ruled by men.
Even up to the end of the middle ages women were blamed for most evils by the church, hence the atrocious witch hunts.
Not all put to death were women but the vast majority were.

Answer 5

Easy

Women have sex

Sex gives woemn massive power over guys.


think how much trouble and money gones into guys trying to impress girls.


how easy it is for girls to get past security by flirting.

The fact girls can make like £80/hour up to £800 a night as a pole dancer simply dancing, keeping fit and changing bikinis

Or how girls get guys to by them drinks etc.


Relgion is made by old men jealous and threanted by said power


Plus sexaully contented people have no need of a heaven or a god again no more power to priests.

Likewise if people dont feel guilty about sex no need for relgion

Answer 6

You are mislead. Genesis 2: 18 is why woman was created as a "complement" to Adam. Meaning having qualities man did not have that would complement his.

Assigning headship to man is not demeaning to women. "God is a God, not of disorder, but of peace." --1 Cor. 14:33 Just as Jesus under his Father, is head of the congregation; man is put in relative headship of his family. As in business, there is a head officer to make final decisions. Just as Jesus must answer to his Father for his headship of the congregation, so man must answer for his headship of his family.--1 Cor. 11: 3

Further, husbands are to"love their wives as their own bodies" and "assign honor" to wives--Eph. 5: 28; 1Peter 3: 7

Proverbs 31: 10-31 emphasizes the high value of a wife.

The dignity of women's position in God's arrangement is shown by Jesus referring to his congregation as his bride. (Rev. 19: 7; 21: 2, 9) God refers to His own spiritual organization as a woman, his wife, the mother of His sons. (Rev. 12:1; Gal. 4: 26)

While the quote from 1st Timothy is true, in context it is about not challenging or demonstrate lack of subjection according to the headship arrangement. That does not prevent them from being ministers as they are fine ministers. When the holy spirit was poured out on those after Pentecost,33CE, both men and women recieved the gift.

Those having the heavenly hope are not distinguished whether they are male or female.--Galatians 3: 26-28.

You have the wrong view of women in the Bible influenced by the lies of false religion.

Answer 7

Good question. Men who wrote those words had no regards for women. Of course, they didn't (openly) because they were allegedly living in chastity. (Yeah, right).

I wonder what those "saints" were into.

Answer 8

I believe that men feared women because of their own weakness .Why else would they wish women to remain subservient when it is their own morality that is the problem. Other religions take this further veiling and secluding women for "their own protection ".

Answer 9

Because some women use lust and sex to get what they want, not caring what the consequences are.

Answer 10

Good questions, maybe because the people who wrote the bible are men?