Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!mips!dimacs.rutgers.edu!aramis.rutgers.edu!athos.rutgers.edu!christian From: lang@rex.cs.tulane.edu (Raymond Lang) Newsgroups: soc.religion.christian Subject: Re: Sexism in the church?? Message-ID: Date: 3 Apr 91 08:52:55 GMT Sender: hedrick@athos.rutgers.edu Organization: C.S. Dept, Tulane Univ., New Orleans, LA Lines: 47 Approved: christian@aramis.rutgers.edu In JKH107@psuvm.psu.edu (Joy Haftel) writes: >Genesis 3:16 >"Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy > conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire > shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee." There were no reporters taking notes in the Garden of Eden. The story is an explanation of man's condition. The ancient author (it was probably NOT Moses) observed that part of the human condition was that women have great pain in delivering children and that the men were in charge. He explained this condition by saying it was the punishment for Eve's actions. In saying that the men rule over the women is part of Eve's punishment, I believe he is implying that it is not part of God's original plan of how men and women are supposed to interact. >I Timothy 2:11-15 >"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. Notwithstanding > she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity > and holiness with sobriety." This passage must be considered in light of the prevailing cultural standards of the first century. To apply it out of context to men and women today is simply foolish. Paul may have been under the special guidance of the Holy Spirit (as were all the biblical authors), but that does not make him (or his writings) immune from the prejudices of his day. I believe the meaning of this passage for men and women today is that we have all sinned and none of us is fit to lord authority over another. Rather, we must all carry out the responsibilities and duties of our station in life with humility and charity. Frankly, I think the conclusion reached in your parents' church is wrong. It's based on a misinformed reading of the passage and fails to consider the social milieu in which Paul wrote. In another place, Paul writes, "In Christ there is no Jew or Greek, male or female, slave or freeman." Clearly this passage is more central to Christian living than the one above. It's startling how Christians sometimes twist the New Testament, ignoring important passages and raising insignificant ones to the status of the 10 Commandments. Ray lang@rex.cs.tulane.edu