Difference between revisions of "Gender Politics within the Church"

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The beginning of Christianity was marked by the elevation of women by Jesus' impartiality and Paul's words, "In Christ there is neither male nor female."  However, Western culture has caught up with the New Testaments teaching and goes farther than the teachings of the Church at large. Some Christians oppose the secular intrusion, while some Christians believe the Church succumbed to historical sexism and no longer teaches God's original equality.
 
  
Divisions of thought are not well defined. Many Christians don't know what they believe or may believe very differently from the creed of their attending church.
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Conservative Christians, the majority of devout Christians in the West, say that men and women are equal but have different gender roles in accordance with how God created them. English Bibles are almost always translated with this perspective.
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Early Christianity was marked by the elevation of women by [[Jesus]]' impartiality and [[apostle Paul|Paul]]'s words, "In Christ there is neither male nor female" ([[Galatians 3:28]]). Western culture has generally caught up with [[New Testament]] teaching regarding equality and in some cases goes farther than the teachings of the [[church]] at large. Some Christians oppose this apparent secular intrusion, while other Christians believe the church succumbed to historical sexism and no longer teaches God's original equality. The issue is often muddied by being conflated with [[homosexuality]] and gay rights.
  
Orthodox share the same basic view as conservatives on gender roles, but tend to be more limiting to women. For example, conservatives and the orthodox agree men have more authority in the household than the women, but disagree as to how much more.
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Divisions of thought are not well defined. Many Christians do not know what they believe or may believe very differently from the creed of their attending church.
  
Egalitarianism, in its extreme form, says that the gender roles of men and women are the same, that God may (or may not) call either sex to perform any duty. Many egalitarians support their view from the Bible, holding that the Bible has been mistranslated and/or misinterpreted.  Some egalitarians refer to themselves as "feminists" as a synonym, not the way "feminist" is normally defined.
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Conservative Christians tend to teach that men and women are equal but have different gender roles in accordance with how God created them. [[Eastern Orthodoxy]] shares the same basic view as most conservative Christians on gender roles, although in some cases it appears more limiting to women. 
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Egalitarianism, in its extreme form, says that the gender roles of men and women are the same, that God may (or may not) call either sex to perform any duty. Many Christians who hold to this view look for support in the Bible, holding that the Bible has been misinterpreted in parts.  
  
 
===Issues in Scripture===
 
===Issues in Scripture===
  
God's Law of Marriage - Genesis 2:24 - "A man will leave his family . . ."
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Biblical statements concerning women include:
 
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* God's Law of Marriage in [[Genesis 2:24]] - "A man will leave his family . . ."
Eve Controversey - Genesis 3 - Eve's Role
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* Controversy about Eve's Role in [[Genesis 3]]
 
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* Woman being created from Adam's Rib ([[Genesis 3:21]] - [[Genesis 3:22]])
Adam's Rib - Genesis 3:21-22 - Adam's Rib
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* [[Head Coverings]] ([[1 Corinthians 11:2]] - [[1 Corinthians 11:16]]) - Women must cover their head when praying or prophesying
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* Women must keep silent during church services ([[1 Corinthians 14:34]])
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* Paul's instructions to Timothy ([[1 Timothy 2:8]] - [[1 Timothy 2:15]])
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* Submission in Marriage ([[Ephesians 5:21]] - [[Ephesians 5:33]])
  
[[Head Coverings]] - 1 Corinthians 11:2-16 - Women must cover their head
 
 
Women Keep Silent - 1 Corinthians 14:34 - "Women must keep silent . . ."
 
 
Paul's Word to Timothy - 1 Timothy 2:8-15 - Paul's words to Timothy
 
 
Submission in Marriage - Ephesians 5:21-33 - Submission in marriage
 
  
 
==Quotes==
 
==Quotes==
  
 
==Links==
 
==Links==
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{{returnto}} [[Christianity]] -> [[Current issues]]
 
{{returnto}} [[Christianity]] -> [[Current issues]]
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[[Category:Christian doctrine and debates]]

Latest revision as of 00:20, 27 August 2009

Gender and Christianity
RELATED TOPICS
SERMONS, ESSAYS AND OPINIONS
CONTENTS


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Early Christianity was marked by the elevation of women by Jesus' impartiality and Paul's words, "In Christ there is neither male nor female" (Galatians 3:28). Western culture has generally caught up with New Testament teaching regarding equality and in some cases goes farther than the teachings of the church at large. Some Christians oppose this apparent secular intrusion, while other Christians believe the church succumbed to historical sexism and no longer teaches God's original equality. The issue is often muddied by being conflated with homosexuality and gay rights.

Divisions of thought are not well defined. Many Christians do not know what they believe or may believe very differently from the creed of their attending church.

Conservative Christians tend to teach that men and women are equal but have different gender roles in accordance with how God created them. Eastern Orthodoxy shares the same basic view as most conservative Christians on gender roles, although in some cases it appears more limiting to women.

Egalitarianism, in its extreme form, says that the gender roles of men and women are the same, that God may (or may not) call either sex to perform any duty. Many Christians who hold to this view look for support in the Bible, holding that the Bible has been misinterpreted in parts.

Issues in Scripture

Biblical statements concerning women include:


Quotes

Links


Return to Christianity -> Current issues