Jesus Planted Revolutionary Seed Of Male-Female Equality
Within a patriarchal culture, Jesus and his followers planted seeds of revolution, including equality for women. Through the sweep of Christian history, however, women have not experienced the respect for their dignity, worth, potential, leadership, and authority they deserve and that was called for by the essential teachings of the Christian tradition.
In the early church, women served as religious leaders. Later, however, many men within the church sought to reproduce more faithfully that patriarchal culture of the first century after Christ than the teachings on women characteristic of Jesus’ ministry. Thus, male leaders of the church — while advocating a theology that restricted women’s leadership roles — depended on women to carry out much of the hard work in the ministries of the church.
As in relation to so many other issues, a gaping chasm exists between the spirit and substance of the Christian Scriptures applicable to women and the theological and moral perspectives from which many Christians make decisions about women. A similar gap exists between the official policies on women in many Christian institutions and the roles actually played by women within those same institutions.
Women should not be excluded from any position or role in religious, social, or governmental institutions. To discriminate against women in any way is to violate the fundamental principles of Christianity and -- in my opinion -- the fundamental moral truths of other religions as well.
By
Welton Gaddy
|
January 21, 2007; 10:29 AM ET
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Posted by: Tod Meyer | December 18, 2007 10:27 PM
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Posted by: Curtiss Bonner | November 3, 2007 11:03 AM
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Posted by: Ashley Gates | October 17, 2007 12:15 AM
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What dross!
Women have faught for equality THEMSELVES in the very REAL World...not in the supposed words of a supposed man who was supposedly the Son of some supposed God!!
It was with the Industrial Revolution, The suffragettes and the two World Wars (where women were left behind and ended up doing all the things men normally did) that were the milestones in equal rights...as well as the basic evolution of a free society.
Evolution that most Bible thumpers and especially the Qu'ran huggers decided not to be part of a lot of the time.
Posted by: Dave Brock | January 22, 2007 1:11 AM
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Fish, your handle tells us what you're doing. Keep "fishing" around. It's in there somewhere. That's what disgruntled guitar pickers do, they just keep picking at it with faith the tune they seek to play is in there somewhere.
Posted by: BGone | January 21, 2007 4:18 PM
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So what is the fundamental principle of Christianity?
All I know from the Bible is to be of service to each other and forgive one another. These are designed or consequently restoring social relationships upon which the social order of society holds. While many men have been persecuted and assassinated for their belief, women are striving to 'payback', 'get even', and 'gold digging' which are contrary not only to such fundamental principles, but also to the nature of the spirit.
Their struggle is a political argument, and these arguments are irrelevant in the separation of the state and religion.
When man and woman unite in the body they are equal before God. It is man and woman's own doing that they want to be like God. They separated and have created their own images to worship - again, is Capitalism and not religion. They have their own wealth in separation, but even so it is not enough to fill the bottomless bit.
Their downfall shall continue to deteriorate their condition as desire is parched in the fire for they cannot survive in the body alone, further from God.
You can repent, forgive, and start anew, or continue to corrupt your soul in the dark. The choice is yours, and so is the responsibility.
Posted by: Fish | January 21, 2007 1:31 PM
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Well BA'AL, that means no Baptist will be voting for Hilliary Clinton. How much authority does the CIC actually have?
Posted by: BGone | January 21, 2007 1:08 PM
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The problem is that there are passages in the canonical New Testament that contradict your position (although, as with much of the New Testament, the provenance of these passages is suspect). For example, the head of the Board of Trustees of a Baptist seminary claims that the Apostle Paul says, 'I permit no woman to teach or have authority over a man'.
That is a radical proposition.
Posted by: Ba'al | January 21, 2007 1:03 PM
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Jesus is proved to be the would be "son of God" Amenophis IV. She had a few small problems with the "son" part of son of God being perhaps the most significant.
http://www.hoax-buster.org page 2 for the life of the REAL person on who's life the Biblical figure Jesus is based.
The Bible is a proved hoax. It's a good one and as Rev Gaddy demonstrates, it can be interpreted to fit the con man's momentary needs.
Now while we anxiously await the return of Jesus who will take His hoily place in the "Kingdom of God, Earth?" Will the highest religious authority there is please stand to be crowned.
Posted by: BGone | January 21, 2007 12:41 PM
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This is a joke, right?
You're actually claiming that the Jesus was a fortune teller who saw the future?
Wow. What a revisionist. Martin Luther slept with nuns because he knew all religions would eventually be exposed as a joke on women. So why not enjoy life. He was a prophet, like Jesus, right?
Women were leaders in the early church, um hum. . . your evidence isn't in your comments, though. But that's okay . .. I BELIEVE you becuase you said this too:
"To discriminate against women in any way is to violate the fundamental principles of Christianity and -- in my opinion -- the fundamental moral truths of other religions as well."
Sure. Check out Sam Harris' commentary, he proves your point with even more recent evidence.
Thank you so much for all your hard work and dedication to the nonpartisan educational organizations the Interfaith Alliance and the Interfaith Alliance Foundation, and that wonderful national weekly radio show you host.
Posted by: Bob | January 19, 2007 10:02 PM
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