On the Bible & Women
Posted by mu on January 9, 2008
“Given the depth and scope of patriarchy in human history, we need to entertain the possibility that the negative attitude toward women in the Bible is symptomatic of something far deeper. That realization forces us to enter the realm of the unspoken and perhaps the unconscious, for that is where taboos are born.”
The Apostle Paul’s written instructions to the churches in the Bible are most often used [misused] to promote inequality and separation, to keep women in a submissive and inferior role, and patriarchy thriving in societies, churches, homes and relationships.
As former bishop of Newark and author, John Shelby Spong points out, it is very clear that Paul was a man who was in constant conflict and inner-turmoil, which was never reconciled. Paul himself wrote that there was a constant war going on inside of him between his mind and his body, and between his past and present. He came from a “rigid patriarchal background” and had obvious anti-female and other biases, yet--and this is a very important point, in the midst of his passionate and ecstatic proclamation of his Christ experience, what did he say without taking the time to think about or edit his words as he did with his instructions to the churches?
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