Christianity, is it sexist?

[mercygate]

I still would like to know what the Bible’s definition of dominion for women is? Is it owning a couple of goldfish and planting a flower garden? The word dominion means to rule what are we ruling over…air?

Here’s one biblical description of a good wife from Proverbs 31. She’s a real estate agent and manages a vineyard as well as engaging in small manufacturing and trade:

A good wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels. The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain. She does him good, and not harm, all the days of her life. She seeks wool and flax, and works with willing hands. She is like the ships of the merchant, she brings her food from afar. She rises while it is yet night and provides food for her household and tasks for her maidens. She considers a field and buys it; with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard. She girds her loins with strength and makes her arms strong. She perceives that her merchandise is profitable. Her lamp does not go out at night. She puts her hands to the distaff, and her hands hold the spindle. She opens her hand to the poor, and reaches out her hands to the needy. She is not afraid of snow for her household, for all her household are clothed in scarlet. She makes herself coverings; her clothing is fine linen and purple. Her husband is known in the gates, when he sits among the elders of the land. She makes linen garments and sells them; she delivers girdles to the merchant. Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come. She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue. She looks well to the ways of her household, and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: “Many women have done excellently,
but you surpass them all.”

I don’t want to be limited in whatever I want to do with my life. If I choose to be a coal miner or whatever what business is it of you Christians? What does choosing a profession have to do with morals or being a woman anyway?

I don’t know what “Christians” you are talking about. I know Christian doctors, EMS workers, teachers, bankers, accountants, actors, police officers. Get a grip, girl. You’re raving here.

I have met a few church going women that Christians would define as sluts. Maybe the woman in the coal mine doesn’t sleep around like the church lady? Women should be judged by their characters not by what jobs they do in life or whether they attend church.

This is nothing more than a rant. Nobody – no Christian – would argue that character is not important. We just don’t consider it in antitheses to one’s career path. Your problem is not about Christianity. Your “Christianity” in no way resembles the genuine article.

By the way… there are no male only jobs. In some countries the women do all of the agricultural jobs and yet the Bible says that Adam was to tend the land.

 

[Nancie_Lew]

It is from the New Testament. Let me ask you this. Do you think that people in general should interupt a service by speaking?

In some of the cultures that Paul ministered to, there were women who had very little social contact. Once they were married they were expected to sit at home and only leave when their husbands allowed them. When these women did go somewhere, they wanted to socialize and talk. In other words they had no knowledge of how to act during a more formal meeting.

Paul, is saying, let the women come to church-something some of the husbands probably were not doing-but teach them to hold off asking questions until after the service.

I’ve never understood why this is a controversial verse. If I was in a church service I would be annoyed if people were talking around me.

Because he was from an Jewish background, Paul could have said, let the women and men be seperated during service. That is what Orthodox Jews do today. The fact, considering his background, that he was all right with the genders being intermingled is pretty amazing to me.

1. Who said women should be silent? Was it Paul or God?\
2. Why is it shameful for them to speak?
3. Is it only church they have to be silent?
4. Should they be silent at all times or only on special occasions?
5. Does this include praying, singing, praising and prophesying?
6. Is this restriction binding on women for all times or just during those times.
7. What is the law that supports this restriction?
8. Why ask their husbands at home?
   9.What if their husband is a pagan?
9. Did Paul think all women were married?
   11.Can women serve as missionaries since that would include teaching?
   12.Are they allowed to witness?
   13.Can they be Sunday school teachers, sing in the sactuary?
   14 Is this restricted to only unlearned women which Paul specifically addresses?

 

[Al_Masetti]

It’s Christist.

 

[st_lucy]

1. Who said women should be silent? Was it Paul or God?\
2. Why is it shameful for them to speak?
3. Is it only church they have to be silent?
4. Should they be silent at all times or only on special occasions?
5. Does this include praying, singing, praising and prophesying?
6. Is this restriction binding on women for all times or just during those times.
7. What is the law that supports this restriction?
8. Why ask their husbands at home?
   9.What if their husband is a pagan?
9. Did Paul think all women were married?
   11.Can women serve as missionaries since that would include teaching?
   12.Are they allowed to witness?
   13.Can they be Sunday school teachers, sing in the sactuary?
   14 Is this restricted to only unlearned women which Paul specifically addresses?

I remember when I was younger I had a hard time with this saying also. But I finally stopped complaining about this passage and read it in context and realized that St Paul wasn’t being sexist.

I think that maybe if you did some more research, and not from those who skew things in one way such as Mary Daly (who is such a sad women it really breaks my heart to know there are people out there who are so broken, I will definitely be praying for her). You will find that the Church is not sexist and is actually the opposite and unlike those who try to deny the Church,you will see the Church is actually the only institution out there that truly embraces womanhood and all the wonderful contributions that women have to offer.

I really suggest you read Alice Von Hildebrand The Privilege of Being a Woman. It is a great view of the how wonderful womanhood is. Amazon has it here:

amazon.com/Privilege-Being-Woman-Alice-Hildebrand/dp/097061067X/sr=8-1/qid=1172017547/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/103-4081096-2788669?ie=UTF8&s=books

 

[MariaG]

1. Who said women should be silent? Was it Paul or God?\
2. Why is it shameful for them to speak?
3. Is it only church they have to be silent?
4. Should they be silent at all times or only on special occasions?
5. Does this include praying, singing, praising and prophesying?
6. Is this restriction binding on women for all times or just during those times.
7. What is the law that supports this restriction?
8. Why ask their husbands at home?
   9.What if their husband is a pagan?
9. Did Paul think all women were married?
   11.Can women serve as missionaries since that would include teaching?
   12.Are they allowed to witness?
   13.Can they be Sunday school teachers, sing in the sactuary?
   14 Is this restricted to only unlearned women which Paul specifically addresses?

1. We believe God inspired Paul to write those words.
2. Because they were being disruptive. It would be like going to a conference to hear a speaker and talking while everyone else was trying to hear the speaker.
3. Paul was refering specifically to Church.
4. They should be silent when it is appropriate. Speaking while the “main speaker” is trying to give his message is rude.
5. No.
6. Basic manners are for all times.
7. What law? Paul was basically trying to teach manners, not law. These women had no manners and did not know how to act appropriately in Mass.
8. Because their questions were apparently being disruptive to Mass. That they were told they should ask their husbands at home, tells us they were probably very basic questions that Christian husbands could answer.
9. Then I am sure they would be encouraged to ask AFTER Mass.
10. No more so than he would think all men are married. Most would certainly be married. But that has no bearing on his discussion. His words, while inspired by God, have to read in a literalist manner. That is, take what he say literally but understand the audience he was speaking to. He was speaking to married christian women with no manners.
11. If one looks at the Catholic Church today, you will see that throughout history, women have founded many things, including schools to teach in their missionary work.
12. Yes.
13. Yes.
14. Restricted to? No, since today, no one should do things things either. But in the sense that most women are not as uneducated as these women, yes, it is “restricted” to them.

 

[Hellisreal]

Maria G,

You really have the bible down pat!

 

[Imagine23]

This was brought up in another thread and I felt it was more appropriate to discuss it elsewhere.

The question is, Is Christianity sexist? Is there a difference between Catholic and Protestant? Differences within different denominations?

This was sparked from this post by Nancie Lew #168

And this one by dessert post # 175

So people, anyone care to tell a non-Christian (Nancie Lew, not dessert ) why they should become Christian since they percieve it to be sexist?

God Bless,
Maria

Read this biblical quote and tell me what you think:

Ephesians 5:22-24: “Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.”

 

[dessert]

Read this biblical quote and tell me what you think:

Ephesians 5:22-24: “Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.”

That is if your husband IS submitted to the Lord truly. Dessert

“Be Jesus, Share Jesus” Mother Teresa

 

[deb1]

Read this biblical quote and tell me what you think:

Ephesians 5:22-24: “Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.”

The bible has to be taken as a whole to understand. Just as you wouldn’t take a sentence out of War and Peace and expect to understand the entire book, the same can be said of the bible.

Yes, women are expected to submit to their husbands just as husbands are called to *honor *their wives. Look it up 1 Peter Chapter 3 verse 7 says that if a man doesn’t honor his wife his prayers will be hindered from being heard in heaven!!! Nothing is threatened to the woman who doesn’t submit but to a man who doesn’t honor his wife, God apparently stops listening!!!

If I was a man this would scare me to death!!!

Its strange, there is a lot of moaning about the fact that women should submit to their husbands but no fuss about the fact that a man can have his prayers hindered or that a man is supposed to love his wife as CHrist loves the church. Um, Christ died for the church, so that means the husband should be willing to die for his wife.