Why is it that Fundamentalist Christian women seem to be their own worst enemy?

Question

I am not speaking of all Christian women here, just the ones that seem to have bought into the dogma that they are less capable, less valuable and should be in a subservient role to all men because they feel they are too emotional and do not have the same level of leadership skills. In some cases they appear to be more stanch supporters of these believes than their male counterparts.

What's up with that, does it make them feel more comfortable with their circumstances preaching this ideology even louder than Fundamentalist Christian men?

Well I have heard these comments and arguemnets again and again from Fund Christian women again and again, both on this site and else where... so if you are not one that would be a refreshing surprise.

No assumptions personal experience talking.

And by the way I believe in God, just not in your Fund Christian Ideology but I guess that would make me as you put it a "non-believer"...LOL

Answer 1

For an answer, I have an example. I am in my second marriage and we are both believers. In fact, I went to Bible School and have a degree. Prior to our marrying, he had another wife and he was in this church for twenty years. They were spiritually squashed by a single man the whole time. Women WERE subservient, they couldn't work, their kids HAD to go to the church school, the women only did church work underneath the men, wore only dresses, no makeup, no perfume, no jewelry. The worship hours were long; if you goofed up the elders got you and put you in a "prayer room" with no food or water for twenty four hours so you could resolve your sin. But these people stayed right along with their women. They could not have friends outside the church, marry outsiders, have TV's or standard magazines. All reading materials had to be approved (can't the the elders find you with Cosmopolitan). So, you have this going on and these women had no outlet for themselves except each other and they were all stifled and emotionally flattened. They were all powerless. I don't know how they endured it. Finally, the Pastor died and these people woke up one day. They began to disperse and very few people stayed at that church. And guess what? Most of the women had nervous beakdowns, including my husband's ex, who was in a mental facility for over a month on two occasions. She just went to pieces. So, I don't seem them feeling comfortable; I think they just plod through life because they are actually weak in their faith, are fearful of rejection by these others and think they are supposed to just follow along with whatever they are told in order to stay in the herd. By studying the Bible and learning it's truths, you can see the women standing out and shining in their various roles. Thus, I certainly don't see the value in allowing yourself to be emotionally and spiritually flatlined by ANYBODY.

Answer 2

So by your reasoning, Joesph should have had Mary stoned and Jesus would never had been born. No one can be sinless in this life. There are some cultures that will lop off the hand of a thief... but this was not a commandment. It was to illustrate the serious effort required to avoid sin in our lives. God provided a better way... His son, Jesus, the Messiah... who saves us from our sins. Slavery is still alive today. Do you work for someone? You are their slave by agreement... for wages or other benefits. The name (employment) was changed to protect the innocent... lol. Guess we are still "culturally biased". The earth's rotation makes it appear that the sun and moon rises and set... giving us day and night. The verse has nothing to do with the earth revolving around the sun, nor does it suggest that sun and moon revolves around the earth. It is reporting about the day the earth stood still. Your reasoning fails to convince anyone and overlooks why Christians believe it is the "Word" of God. The "contradictions and errors" are not important when compared to the spiritual aspects that it reveals. It simply is Spiritual book, written by men who were inspired by the Holy Spirit of God. While some of it's truths can be found literally, even more is revealed Spiritually, by the same Spirit that inspired it's writers... the same Spirit of God that dwells within the Christian believer.

Answer 3

I dont think Im a fundamentalist..I grew up as an extremely opinionated, strongwilled, my way or the highway black woman...(nuff said) and it was hard to accept the position of coming 'under' a husband. But if you really really look at what it means...its not demeaning. In fact, becoming more humble actually has the effect of elevating you, in the eyes of others. I have experienced my own husband change entirely as I became more submissive. He feels no need to 'exert his authority over me' and it leaves more room for him to be loving, supportive and caring.

Now mind you, we were created...to have equal dominion...and it seems like you are in that 'dominion' stage. God created man, 'male and female' and gave them dominion over all the earth. The change came when she got married...and became"woman" a helpmeet to her husband, and then a mother, Eve.... I firmly believe that so long as a woman remains unmarried..she has no obligation to come under any man..but as a wife..God calls you to a different role and I for one, have seen how it works trying to be that tough woman and that submissive woman. The latter has greater reward.

blessings~

Answer 4

This is one of those posts that make a statement (however wrong) and asks for an answer thereby validating the original false statement.

You go on to describe attribute supposedly shared by all Fundamentalist Women. What are your sources?

Why do non-believers like you set up straw-man arguments then expect us to knock them down, and in doing so give credence to your false assumptions?

Answer 5

Simple.

They follow those beliefs more strongly because they've been hit over the head with them since they were little. A guy doesn't necessarily consider such a belief central because he doesn't hear it as often. A young Christian woman, however, is often constantly told how she is expected to live specifically because of her gender. She is told to the the "Other" while the young male Christian gets to be the default human.

Basically, gender is only an issue for the women because they are the targets of the message. This just causes the cycle to repeat.

Answer 6

i know its weird

if you go to the FUndies Say The Darndest Things website yo uca nsee a bunch of comments that christian women have made. things like "well i think a woman SHOULD do nothing but clean the house and raise the children....and never have a job."

amazingly there are some women out there that dont beleive women should be allowed to vote, own property, have a job or income and all of these other archaic things.

so just think of all the women who spoke out in centuries past....all that work for nothing.

its really, really sad.

Answer 7

I know plenty of Christian women who actually like raising their children. They don't do all that stuff because they think they are somehow less valuable; they do it because they recognize how valuable they are in that role.

Answer 8

I know quite a few who'll say over and over that they're subservient, but their husbands know who the real boss of the house is! I am not sure how or why that works out for the women.

Answer 9

A very complicated an thought provoking question. Everything (laws, dogma, dress code) in Fundamental Christianity is very cut-and-dry. I think it is just easier for these people to know the rules (strict as they are) and follow them. God said so and my husband said so ... soooo ... I am what they make me. Very little accountability.

P.S. One of your responders said that the Bible requires women to be "subservient" to their husband ... the word is submissive, btw.
SUBSERVIENT: subordinate, obsequious, servile
SUBMISSIVE: inclined or willing

Answer 10

I think those women want to pretend they're weak and incapable because they want men to take care of them and protect them. They need a boost of self esteem to see that they are just as capable as men and they need not be subservient to anybody.