Did you know about the Women's Bible?

Question

According to Elizabeth Cady Stanton, famous feminist of the past, the Bible (as interpreted by christian conservatives of the day), was the greatest obstacle to women's rights in this country. So much so that she wrote her own version of the Bible, with the sexist parts removed.

When the women's suffrage organization that Susan B. Anthony ran (as President) wanted to write a resolution stating that the organization had no official connection with the controversial Women's Bible, this is what Susan had to say:

"The one distinct feature of our Association has been the right of individual opinion for every member. We have been beset at every step with the cry that somebody was injuring the cause by the expression of some sentiments that differed with those held by the majority of mankind. The religious persecution of the ages has been done under what was claimed to be the command of God. I distrust those people who know so well what God wants them to do to their fellows, because it always coincides with their own desires...

"Are you going to cater to the whims and prejudices of people who have no intelligent knowledge of what they condemn? If we do not inspire in woman a broad and catholic spirit, they will fail, when enfranchised, to constitute that power for better government which we have always claimed for them. You would better educate ten women into the practice of liberal principles than to organize ten thousand on a platform of intolerance and bigotry. I pray you, vote for religious liberty, without censorship or inquisition. This resolution, adopted, will be a vote of censure upon a woman [atheist Elizabeth Cady Stanton] who is without a peer in intellectual and statesmanlike ability; one who has stood for half a century the acknowledged leader of progressive thought and demand in regard to all matters pertaining to the absolute freedom of women."
http://www.sacred-texts.com/wmn/wb/wb75.htm

I should probably capitalized the words LIBERAL and PROGRESSIVE in her response.

Don't have to read it.

Just trying to shed some light on why christian conservatives hate feminists. This hate didn't start yesterday. Christian conservatives have always opposed feminists.

Here's the entire Women's Bible, chapter by chapter.

http://www.sacred-texts.com/wmn/wb/

Ruth,

I didn't bring up settlers, puritans, or anabaptists. I brought up the Women's Bible as written in 1898. We definitely did have baptists back then.

You seem to be making the argument that history is useless in explaining current events. I disagree.

As somebody once said,

History is to the nation what memory is to the individual. Without it, you don't know who you are or where you're going.

Let me add. I have no problem with real christians (who follow the message of Jesus), just the kind that use religion to hate others. I think their agenda is wrong for America and have no problem using history to prove it.

"If you knew ANYTHING about the Bible, you would know there is a curse on anyone who changes it for their own agenda. "

Well I guess that means Thomas Jefferson, one of the greatest founders of this country, is burning in hell too. He too came up with his own version, minus the miracles, and the words of Paul, which he didn't believe.

Ethnocentricism?

That is something liberals use to try to explain low test scores or oppose U.S. imperaliasm of other countries. It smacks of "moral relativism."

Never thought I'd see a conservative use it.

No squirm, just suprised a conservative would ignore the typical con opposition to "moral relativism" and actually use the term "ethnocentricism."

Argle,

So true.

"The radical of one century is the conservative of the next. The radical invents the views. When he has worn them out the conservative adopts them."
-- Mark Twain, Notebook, 1898

The cycle repeats. Today's conservative is yesterday's liberal.

Heart,

Get over yourself. You think you're proving me wrong, but what you're actually doing is changing the subject. I never brought up abortion. I brought up the fact that it was christians conservatives of the past who were the biggest obstacle to women's rights in this country. So much so that famous feminist (and atheist) Elizabeth Cady Stanton wrote her own version of the Bible.

Answer 1

Nope - but it's fascinating. The history of the christian church coughruthcough is very relevant to today. The christian history is full of blatant bigotry and injustice to those who they disagree with - even through today. The pattern remains in place, and it repeats itself over and over. They use such words as "morals" and "evil" to attack and objectify those people who they are threatened by. Right now the target is gays and liberals. "They" are destroying "america" (as if they owned america) with their non christian like behaviours and attitudes - destroying their definition of family and social structure - and ultimately "american values" (ownership). It's also true that they never see themselves as what they are - because "all that stuff is in the past" coughruthcough .

Answer 2

>> does it say in the bible, women are below men?         In Christian love, you're asking the wrong question. The question should be: Does God think less of women than He does of men? I think the answer to that question is, no. Creation-wise, woman was made from a rib in the man's side -- not from his head that she should rule over him, nor from his foot that she should be under his foot. Gen. 2:21 And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; Gen. 2:22 And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man.         Personally, I have always felt women had the greater responsibility for theirs is the nurturing and primary education of the children -- our future. She, in submitting to and being subject to her husband (Eph. 5:22,24), does not make her less than him. He, in being ruler over his wife (Gen. 3:16), does not make him greater than she. These roles merely establish a much needed hierarchy within the family.         As the Bible says, just as Christ is Head of His Church, so the husband is the head of his household (Eph. 5:23,24). But with that comes a great responsibility for, just as Christ so loves His Church, so the husband must love his wife (Eph. 5:25-30). Christ does not dominate His Church. The husband must not dominate his wife.         Lastly, if one examines the original language of Genesis 2:18 for the English phrase "help meet" you can get the concept of an "aiding counterpart." So, what made Eve the perfect, "aiding counterpart" for Adam? Genetically speaking, she was the clone of his better half. Think about it. ;-) God bless.

Answer 3

I cannot believe I am letting you suck me in...

Did YOU know that the early American settlers were PURITANS? Not evangelical Christians, not today's fundies, and certainly not acculturated at ANY level the way modern Americans are acculturated? (which makes this entire question complete ethnocentrism)

But regardless, did you know that some of the women burned as WITCHES were Anabaptist women (prelude to today's baptists).

Perhaps before you bring religious questions to politics, you should understand the nuances of religion.

If you knew ANYTHING about the Bible, you would know there is a curse on anyone who changes it for their own agenda.

Answer 4

wow... didn't know that... crazy... and interesting thanks...

but, JUST TO SAY, and this doesn't so much defend as perhaps explain the Bible's stances...

in the time the Bible was written, most societies in the world were dominated by men and women were for the most part thought of more as property than people...

so for and book or religion to gain any kind of mainstream appeal... it had to "play to the people" of the time... or "preaching to the choir" if you will

I mean if something said "women are equal" in 30 A.D.... 90 percent of men (who controlled everything) would have laughed the book and religion out of every building in the world... especially in more western cultures...

of course there are a few exceptions, but that was the way the world was to a great degree... very few woman leaders then, few more now, but it's not much better...

of course now that's not needed for mainstream acceptance for many, but people hide behind it to continue their prejudices...

Answer 5

Never heard of it but wouldn't care to read another fiction right now. But an interesting question non the less.

Answer 6

It is interesting that you evoke Stanton, who said that abortion was infanticide, and "When we consider that women are treated as property, it is degrading to women that we should treat our children as property to be disposed of as we see fit."

Your attempt to define a feminist monolith...is feeble.

Answer 7

The bible is misogynistic because it was written by bronze-age goat herders who didn't care about women.

Answer 8

Thank you for that information. I did not know about the Women's Bible, but I certainly will look into it now.

Answer 9

propaganda