A Canaanite woman from that vicinity came to him, crying out, "Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is suffering terribly from demon-possession." Jesus did not answer a word. So his disciples came to him and urged him, "Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us." He answered, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel." The woman came and knelt before him. "Lord, help me!" she said. He replied, "It is not right to take the children's bread and toss it to their dogs."
Christian women love to tell the world how Jesus loves women and without Jesus the world would be brutal for women. This story in Matthew 15:22-27 Jesus calls a woman from Canan a "dog" because of her nationality. That does not sound very loving and inclusive for a "creator" to say about his creation. He does not acknowledge her humanity or correct her for assuming a child is "demon possessed", but ridicules her to the other disciples. She has to agree she is a dog and humors him to heal her daughter. Since healthcare had not evolved many mysterious illnesses were considered to be "demon possession". Why did Jesus not use his time on earth to expand the knowledge of mankind about biology and science and germs and disease? He played to the base and "cast out demons" wherever he went. The church today tries the same replication of miracles on any given Sunday throughout christendom. To be told you need to have satan "cast out" of you is a pretty alarming and very intimidating and humiliating experience. There is never proof of "demon possession" or the exorcism, just a lot of hoopla and going through the motions. In Africa parents are abandoning their children and claiming those children are demon possessed. The amount of cruelty and harm done to those children in the name of superstition, mysticism and fanaticism is horrendous. Children as little as 3 years of age are being abandoned on the street by smug, uncaring superstitious "christian" parents. Their religion justifies their cruelty to their own children. The bible offers them plenty examples of callousness and false piety.
Sunday, August 29, 2010
Women must be veiled?
"But every woman praying or prophesying with her head unveiled dishonors her head. For it is one and the same thing as if she were shaved."
Author: 1 Corinthians 11 Verses #: 5
It is wrong for a man to pray with his head covered and wrong for a woman to pray without her head covered. Contemporary christian women ignore this verse entirely. Up until the 1960's women at least wore hats and veils in church. Modern protestant churches have completely given this edict up. It is just not popular. A head scarf is an inconvenience and a visual reminder that women and men are not equal scripturally. This is just not a popular concept and the practice of women covering their heads has been given up except for nuns in the catholic tradition. There is nothing more inconvenient that having to keep something on top of your head. The head covering is still completely required for an islamic woman to show piety. Nothing reveals inequality more. Men are free to be themselves and women must be covered. Modern christian women have chosen freedom in this aspect and have rejected the symbolism that they are "different" and must appear different than men. The whole of Paul's teaching served to keep women silent, powerless and "covered" for 2,000 years of dogma. Modern women reject this. Should we also reject that God is male and male is god. Should we also reject that Eve was "created" from Adam? Biology and evidence would tell us that Eve birthed the first human(s) and is the mother of all humans. The worship of a "male god" who devalues women and their biology has negated their right to exist for 4,000 years. At one point the first Eve birthed the first "human", and she was not wearing a veil when she did it!
Author: 1 Corinthians 11 Verses #: 5
It is wrong for a man to pray with his head covered and wrong for a woman to pray without her head covered. Contemporary christian women ignore this verse entirely. Up until the 1960's women at least wore hats and veils in church. Modern protestant churches have completely given this edict up. It is just not popular. A head scarf is an inconvenience and a visual reminder that women and men are not equal scripturally. This is just not a popular concept and the practice of women covering their heads has been given up except for nuns in the catholic tradition. There is nothing more inconvenient that having to keep something on top of your head. The head covering is still completely required for an islamic woman to show piety. Nothing reveals inequality more. Men are free to be themselves and women must be covered. Modern christian women have chosen freedom in this aspect and have rejected the symbolism that they are "different" and must appear different than men. The whole of Paul's teaching served to keep women silent, powerless and "covered" for 2,000 years of dogma. Modern women reject this. Should we also reject that God is male and male is god. Should we also reject that Eve was "created" from Adam? Biology and evidence would tell us that Eve birthed the first human(s) and is the mother of all humans. The worship of a "male god" who devalues women and their biology has negated their right to exist for 4,000 years. At one point the first Eve birthed the first "human", and she was not wearing a veil when she did it!
Monday, August 23, 2010
Long hair = spirituality
"But if a woman has long hair, it is a glory to her, for her hair is given to her for a covering."
Author: 1 Corinthians 11 Verses #: 15
For 2,000 years christian women abstained from cutting their hair. I find it iteresting that short hair became fashionable with the victory of the women's movement in achieving the right to vote for women. Women became free in the 1920's and beyond with shorter hair and shorter skirts. There are "cults" and christian groups who still teach that a woman should have long hair and long skirts. They adhere to literalism of scripture and they teach women to continue a lifestyle of domination through "authoritarian" marriages and church groups. These women have never experienced the women's movement and are living a lifestyle that was challenged by women starting the the 1800's. I can only imagine the engergy it must take to constantly teach that women cannot wear shorts, swimsuits and get their hair cut this day and age. Legalistic, perfectionistic, performance based belief systems are exhausting and eventually just don't work. It is religious lobotomy to be forced to live to the teaching of a very old book written by ancient men.
Author: 1 Corinthians 11 Verses #: 15
For 2,000 years christian women abstained from cutting their hair. I find it iteresting that short hair became fashionable with the victory of the women's movement in achieving the right to vote for women. Women became free in the 1920's and beyond with shorter hair and shorter skirts. There are "cults" and christian groups who still teach that a woman should have long hair and long skirts. They adhere to literalism of scripture and they teach women to continue a lifestyle of domination through "authoritarian" marriages and church groups. These women have never experienced the women's movement and are living a lifestyle that was challenged by women starting the the 1800's. I can only imagine the engergy it must take to constantly teach that women cannot wear shorts, swimsuits and get their hair cut this day and age. Legalistic, perfectionistic, performance based belief systems are exhausting and eventually just don't work. It is religious lobotomy to be forced to live to the teaching of a very old book written by ancient men.
Saturday, August 21, 2010
Child abuse encouraged by the bible
Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.--Pr:22:15
This verse has been the sole justification for centuries and centuries of childhood abuse. The human race has been whipping, beating and spanking and hitting their offspring for centuries based on this one verse. Humans and especially, children are very fragile and capable of being injured both emotionally and physically. Children have their own unique view of the world but that does not mean that they are beyond reason and must be beaten into submission. Child abuse, just like spiritual abuse is rampant in the church because cruelly, it is justified in the bible. The abuser does not benefit the heart of the child, but breaks it. I find it surprising that many children who experience being spanked/beaten as children grow up to continue a relationship with the parent abuser and with the parent's god. Children who experience being beaten with a "rod" of correction often grow up hypervigilant and become abusers themselves. The "good" book encourages parents to spank their children when they see fit and for perceived "foolishness". Children need love and discipline and attention, rest and nutrition and adequate periods of exercise. They do not need to be spanked and beaten with a rod. In my opinion, this verse is proof that an all-knowing and all-wise god wrote the bible. It was written by violent men who had a very limited knowledge of psychology and sociology and biology. Talk to your children, listen to your children...don't beat them when you are having a bad day and want to extend your personality as their "authority". Parents do not have a right to use a "rod" on their children...that is spiritual, physical and psychological abuse. One sure way of making sure children are angry, hurt and inwardly filled with rage is to "hit" them. I blame this bible verse on the violence that fills our "christian" nation and fills our prisons and guides the pentagon mind set.
This verse has been the sole justification for centuries and centuries of childhood abuse. The human race has been whipping, beating and spanking and hitting their offspring for centuries based on this one verse. Humans and especially, children are very fragile and capable of being injured both emotionally and physically. Children have their own unique view of the world but that does not mean that they are beyond reason and must be beaten into submission. Child abuse, just like spiritual abuse is rampant in the church because cruelly, it is justified in the bible. The abuser does not benefit the heart of the child, but breaks it. I find it surprising that many children who experience being spanked/beaten as children grow up to continue a relationship with the parent abuser and with the parent's god. Children who experience being beaten with a "rod" of correction often grow up hypervigilant and become abusers themselves. The "good" book encourages parents to spank their children when they see fit and for perceived "foolishness". Children need love and discipline and attention, rest and nutrition and adequate periods of exercise. They do not need to be spanked and beaten with a rod. In my opinion, this verse is proof that an all-knowing and all-wise god wrote the bible. It was written by violent men who had a very limited knowledge of psychology and sociology and biology. Talk to your children, listen to your children...don't beat them when you are having a bad day and want to extend your personality as their "authority". Parents do not have a right to use a "rod" on their children...that is spiritual, physical and psychological abuse. One sure way of making sure children are angry, hurt and inwardly filled with rage is to "hit" them. I blame this bible verse on the violence that fills our "christian" nation and fills our prisons and guides the pentagon mind set.
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Pat Robertson anti-woman quote
"(T)he feminist agenda is not about equal rights for women. It is about a socialist, anti-family political movement that encourages women to leave their husbands, kill their children, practice witchcraft, destroy capitalism and become lesbians." –Pat Robertson
A compilation of the stupid things Pat Robertson has said since he began bloviating on TV since 1961 would be encyclopedic. It is hard to imagine how he has dominated the airways for 50 years and amassed a personal wealth of over a billion dollars from closing his eyes and claiming to "talk" to and "hear" directly from God. He practically, singlehandedly ushered in the neo pentecostal movement where believers on any given day also claim to know divine thoughts and intent. On any given Sunday an unsuspecting visitor to any number of non-denominational/pentecostal churches will witness speaking in "tongues", "claims of healing", the casting out of demons and claims of divine intent on their life. Who can argue against an "experience" whether there is any evidence of any of it is in fact reality. The neopentecostal "show" has changed church going forever. Ordinary people walk around with their bibles and expound to one another from unprovable statements that begin with "thus saith the Lord", or "God told me to tell you"...such and such. Everyone gets by with it....especially Pat Robertson. People listen and give lots of money to people who claim to speak to God, hear from God and tell others all their revelations whether they are provable or not. Women seeking equality and social justice could count on Pat Robertson to speak against such a noble cause. "Godly men" through the ages have failed to see the value in women having equality with men. They and their organizations are "anti-woman" and have lead a confused following of doting women. It is the "faithful flock" of women followers who give financial support to pastors, teachers, televangelists and politicians that ultimately keep women's equality unequal. It is women who listen to leaders who teach them to go against their own best self interest and the self interest of women around them. I suppose we will know when equality has arrived when men such as Rush Limbaugh and Pat Robertson no longer dominate the airways with vitreol and disdain for women and their movement and women no longer serve as the main donors of their "hate speech" airways.
A compilation of the stupid things Pat Robertson has said since he began bloviating on TV since 1961 would be encyclopedic. It is hard to imagine how he has dominated the airways for 50 years and amassed a personal wealth of over a billion dollars from closing his eyes and claiming to "talk" to and "hear" directly from God. He practically, singlehandedly ushered in the neo pentecostal movement where believers on any given day also claim to know divine thoughts and intent. On any given Sunday an unsuspecting visitor to any number of non-denominational/pentecostal churches will witness speaking in "tongues", "claims of healing", the casting out of demons and claims of divine intent on their life. Who can argue against an "experience" whether there is any evidence of any of it is in fact reality. The neopentecostal "show" has changed church going forever. Ordinary people walk around with their bibles and expound to one another from unprovable statements that begin with "thus saith the Lord", or "God told me to tell you"...such and such. Everyone gets by with it....especially Pat Robertson. People listen and give lots of money to people who claim to speak to God, hear from God and tell others all their revelations whether they are provable or not. Women seeking equality and social justice could count on Pat Robertson to speak against such a noble cause. "Godly men" through the ages have failed to see the value in women having equality with men. They and their organizations are "anti-woman" and have lead a confused following of doting women. It is the "faithful flock" of women followers who give financial support to pastors, teachers, televangelists and politicians that ultimately keep women's equality unequal. It is women who listen to leaders who teach them to go against their own best self interest and the self interest of women around them. I suppose we will know when equality has arrived when men such as Rush Limbaugh and Pat Robertson no longer dominate the airways with vitreol and disdain for women and their movement and women no longer serve as the main donors of their "hate speech" airways.
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Bith control as equal to murder for 16 Centuries
Listen to this early Christian church father St. Augustine (354-430): "Any woman who acts in such a way that she cannot give birth to as many children as she is capable of, makes herself guilty of that many murders ..."
Early church fathers made birth control on an equal footing with murder. The current Quiverfull christian movement makes the same argument 16 centuries later. The catholic church still forbids as a mortal sin the use of birth control and sterilization and forces that dogmatic stance on any man or woman who receives care or is employed by any one of their 648 Catholic hospitals in america. Hospitals are a very profitable enterprise and the local diocese and the vatican is made wealthy by these hospitals and clinics and yet they do not respect free choice in the very private realm of family planning. When I think of the multitudes of women who died over the centuries for complying to a church edict at their own peril when pregnancy and delivery were in fact a deadly proposition for both the mother and the baby makes me weep. Multiple pregnancies are dangerous for any female and sterilization becomes a safe and life extending option for almost any woman after age 40. Haitian women die at or about age 45 after having 5 to 6 babies and leave behind orphans. The Haitian healthcare system has been dominated and run by the catholic church for hundreds of years. How can they call themselves Pro-Life when the outcome of no birth control and no sterilization procedures are so deadly? This is just the subjugation of women by male dominated religions that are blinded by the dogma of aged popes and church fathers.
Early church fathers made birth control on an equal footing with murder. The current Quiverfull christian movement makes the same argument 16 centuries later. The catholic church still forbids as a mortal sin the use of birth control and sterilization and forces that dogmatic stance on any man or woman who receives care or is employed by any one of their 648 Catholic hospitals in america. Hospitals are a very profitable enterprise and the local diocese and the vatican is made wealthy by these hospitals and clinics and yet they do not respect free choice in the very private realm of family planning. When I think of the multitudes of women who died over the centuries for complying to a church edict at their own peril when pregnancy and delivery were in fact a deadly proposition for both the mother and the baby makes me weep. Multiple pregnancies are dangerous for any female and sterilization becomes a safe and life extending option for almost any woman after age 40. Haitian women die at or about age 45 after having 5 to 6 babies and leave behind orphans. The Haitian healthcare system has been dominated and run by the catholic church for hundreds of years. How can they call themselves Pro-Life when the outcome of no birth control and no sterilization procedures are so deadly? This is just the subjugation of women by male dominated religions that are blinded by the dogma of aged popes and church fathers.
Sunday, August 15, 2010
Sperm is sacred and birth control forbidden
"Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them. They won't be disappointed when they speak with their enemies in the gate."
Author: Psalms 127 Verses #: 5
There is a movement among fundamentalist believers called the "Quiverful" movement. They escew birth control as sinful and try to have as many children as they can. They think their sperm is "sacred" and should not be wasted into a condom. Sex is for procreation. The women are raised to believe that their roll in life is to be a wife (helpmeet) to a man, birth as many kids as possible and homeschool those children. They are serious about having babies for Jesus. One or two children are never enough. The women are taught through their pastors and prophets and priests that their value comes from being a "baby factory". The men and male leaders do not consider the strain on the wives and children in this arrangement. The above bible verse is the sole verse in the bible that these christians base their lifestyle on. Currently, the Duggar family from Northwest Arkansas are seeking their 20th child, even though the last pregnancy delivery was nearly deadly for both mother and baby. I discovered a blogger who has a website called http://www.nolongerquivering.com/ where the author is trying to warn women of the spiritual abuse and false teaching of this movement. The author had 7 children before she realized how dangerous multiple pregnancies were to her. She also has come to realize how cruel the movement is to the children who are raised to be "kidbots" under a system where they are not allowed friends outside the family or the "movement". The children are not given the freedom to pursue childhood, but are forced to work and conform to the rigidity within a large family. The children and the women are to be silent and submissive under the male head of the household. Why any woman participates in this philosophy is beyond comprehension, but the movement is growing, and by the time the woman "wakes up"....it is too late for her and her children.
Author: Psalms 127 Verses #: 5
There is a movement among fundamentalist believers called the "Quiverful" movement. They escew birth control as sinful and try to have as many children as they can. They think their sperm is "sacred" and should not be wasted into a condom. Sex is for procreation. The women are raised to believe that their roll in life is to be a wife (helpmeet) to a man, birth as many kids as possible and homeschool those children. They are serious about having babies for Jesus. One or two children are never enough. The women are taught through their pastors and prophets and priests that their value comes from being a "baby factory". The men and male leaders do not consider the strain on the wives and children in this arrangement. The above bible verse is the sole verse in the bible that these christians base their lifestyle on. Currently, the Duggar family from Northwest Arkansas are seeking their 20th child, even though the last pregnancy delivery was nearly deadly for both mother and baby. I discovered a blogger who has a website called http://www.nolongerquivering.com/ where the author is trying to warn women of the spiritual abuse and false teaching of this movement. The author had 7 children before she realized how dangerous multiple pregnancies were to her. She also has come to realize how cruel the movement is to the children who are raised to be "kidbots" under a system where they are not allowed friends outside the family or the "movement". The children are not given the freedom to pursue childhood, but are forced to work and conform to the rigidity within a large family. The children and the women are to be silent and submissive under the male head of the household. Why any woman participates in this philosophy is beyond comprehension, but the movement is growing, and by the time the woman "wakes up"....it is too late for her and her children.
No welfare to be given to young female widows according to the Bible
"But refuse younger widows, for when they have grown wanton against Christ, they desire to marry;"
Author: 1 Timothy 5 Verses #: 11
Paul had instructed Timothy to instruct the church to care for "widows" who were "widows indeed" if they did not have family to care for them, but to deny support to the younger widows because they were more likely to desire to have a spouse. Biblical marriages were arranged marriages until the last 200 to 300 years. The family chose your spouse and arranged who you were to be married to. Paul is assuming and chastising and denying care to younger widows because they were likely to desire to marry. This is cruel treatment and this is a cruel view against young widows, who no doubt have children that they were struggling to feed and clothe and house. It is natural to desire to pass through life with someone who will share and care for you and your children. Paul, again, shows a lack of tenderness and compassion to young widows who may need help and may desire companionship. Paul views a desire to marry as something sinful. He instructs Timothy and other single believers to remain single as he was. A desire to marry was a desire to give into "fleshly desires". Women desired children in hopes that when they grew older the children would take care of them. The teachings of Paul that instructed single believers to remain single was not a jewish teaching and tradition, but eventually became a way to be "godly". It became a prerequistite to priesthood. Through Paul's teachings godliness was attributed to a single and celibate lifestyle. This was a unique New Testament concept fostered by the teachings of Paul, who never met Jesus, nor heard Jesus speak. The very earliest 1st century jewish believers rejected Paul's teachings and status as an apostle. It was nearly a hundred years after Paul's writing that certain groups vied for Paul's doctrines and teachings to be taught. In the 2nd and 3rd century the followers of Paul began to dominate christianity by calling themselves "Pauline" christians. The earliest christians did not have Paul's teachings and did not follow Paul's teachings and no doubt viewed all widows in a more compassionate light.
Author: 1 Timothy 5 Verses #: 11
Paul had instructed Timothy to instruct the church to care for "widows" who were "widows indeed" if they did not have family to care for them, but to deny support to the younger widows because they were more likely to desire to have a spouse. Biblical marriages were arranged marriages until the last 200 to 300 years. The family chose your spouse and arranged who you were to be married to. Paul is assuming and chastising and denying care to younger widows because they were likely to desire to marry. This is cruel treatment and this is a cruel view against young widows, who no doubt have children that they were struggling to feed and clothe and house. It is natural to desire to pass through life with someone who will share and care for you and your children. Paul, again, shows a lack of tenderness and compassion to young widows who may need help and may desire companionship. Paul views a desire to marry as something sinful. He instructs Timothy and other single believers to remain single as he was. A desire to marry was a desire to give into "fleshly desires". Women desired children in hopes that when they grew older the children would take care of them. The teachings of Paul that instructed single believers to remain single was not a jewish teaching and tradition, but eventually became a way to be "godly". It became a prerequistite to priesthood. Through Paul's teachings godliness was attributed to a single and celibate lifestyle. This was a unique New Testament concept fostered by the teachings of Paul, who never met Jesus, nor heard Jesus speak. The very earliest 1st century jewish believers rejected Paul's teachings and status as an apostle. It was nearly a hundred years after Paul's writing that certain groups vied for Paul's doctrines and teachings to be taught. In the 2nd and 3rd century the followers of Paul began to dominate christianity by calling themselves "Pauline" christians. The earliest christians did not have Paul's teachings and did not follow Paul's teachings and no doubt viewed all widows in a more compassionate light.
Saturday, August 14, 2010
OK to sell your daughter
""If a man sells his daughter to be a female servant, she shall not go out as the male servants do."
Author: Exodus 21 Verses #: 7
The bible condones slavery in both the Old Testament and the New Testament. This chapter in Exodus puts forth "tribal" law as it pertains to the buying and selling of slaves both within the family, the tribe and neighboring tribal clans. Polygamy, slavery and genocide are repeat themes in the bible.
When american multi-national corporations move to Mexico so they can "buy" cheap labor at .40 cents per hour they prefer to "buy" young females. These females are replaced when they marry, become pregnant or become ill with a newer and younger female. The world still allows "slave labor", we just call it NAFTA, CAFTA or multi-national globalization. When these very same corporations discover they can "buy" labor at .10 cents per hour in China they leave Mexico and set up shop in China where again, they overwhelmingly prefer young female labor. The happy meal toys made in China are our way of saying we condone "slave labor" at the cheapest price. The only question is "Do you want a boy happy meal or a girl happy meal"?
Author: Exodus 21 Verses #: 7
The bible condones slavery in both the Old Testament and the New Testament. This chapter in Exodus puts forth "tribal" law as it pertains to the buying and selling of slaves both within the family, the tribe and neighboring tribal clans. Polygamy, slavery and genocide are repeat themes in the bible.
When american multi-national corporations move to Mexico so they can "buy" cheap labor at .40 cents per hour they prefer to "buy" young females. These females are replaced when they marry, become pregnant or become ill with a newer and younger female. The world still allows "slave labor", we just call it NAFTA, CAFTA or multi-national globalization. When these very same corporations discover they can "buy" labor at .10 cents per hour in China they leave Mexico and set up shop in China where again, they overwhelmingly prefer young female labor. The happy meal toys made in China are our way of saying we condone "slave labor" at the cheapest price. The only question is "Do you want a boy happy meal or a girl happy meal"?
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Silent Women
"But I don't permit a woman to teach, nor to exercise authority over a man, but to be in quietness."
Author: 1 Timothy 2 Verses #: 12
It took 2,000 years before women were allowed to go to college. I am sure that this verse is responsible for the fact that it took christian society 2,000 years to advance the cause of equality for women and move on past this verse. Eventually even a judeo/christian society came to see the value of educated women. Because america wanted/ needed children who could read the bible and america had to allow women access to the teaching profession out of convenience. Because americans wanted their children to be able to read the bible we allowed women who were not married and did not have children to become school teachers. Each generation made some progress toward liberation In 1920 women were given the freedom to vote. That struggle lasted through 70 years of protests on the part of women. Most professions other than teaching and nursing are still dominated by men. It has only been in the last two decades that a few women have broken the glass ceiling and become doctors, professors, and lawyers and politicians and CEO's, but women and minorities are still a minority in almost all professions.
Christian sects that adhere to "literalism" still keep women strictly in the home and cleaning the church. The men are the prophets and preachers and priests. Out of convenience, the women run the day care programs and the bible schools, but are not the elders, deacons and ministers.
The apostle Paul, who is attributed to be the author of this bible verse never met Jesus and wrote in a time up to 30 years after the death of Jesus. The validity of Paul's teaching is a debate I will not even enter into, but many of his teachings are clearly designed to keep "women in their place" and in total submission to men and the church. Timothy, the young wanna be minister is living with his mother and grandmother who shared their faith with him. Timothy at the time of this writing was a very young man. Paul is instucting him on how to start a church. A desire to return to "literalism" is a desire to roll the clock back on equality to the last century and the century before that, and none of us would want that for ourselves, our "sisters" or our daughters. The catholic church and many protestant churches is still a place of silence for women. Women are discriminated against for being women and are made to feel like it is their purpose to be submissive and have babies for Jesus. Michelle Duggar truly believes her eggs and her husband's sperm are sacred and must be allowed to procreate no matter what the cost to her, her family and her babies. Biblical "literalism" is exposed for the lack of logic and insanity that it is.
Author: 1 Timothy 2 Verses #: 12
It took 2,000 years before women were allowed to go to college. I am sure that this verse is responsible for the fact that it took christian society 2,000 years to advance the cause of equality for women and move on past this verse. Eventually even a judeo/christian society came to see the value of educated women. Because america wanted/ needed children who could read the bible and america had to allow women access to the teaching profession out of convenience. Because americans wanted their children to be able to read the bible we allowed women who were not married and did not have children to become school teachers. Each generation made some progress toward liberation In 1920 women were given the freedom to vote. That struggle lasted through 70 years of protests on the part of women. Most professions other than teaching and nursing are still dominated by men. It has only been in the last two decades that a few women have broken the glass ceiling and become doctors, professors, and lawyers and politicians and CEO's, but women and minorities are still a minority in almost all professions.
Christian sects that adhere to "literalism" still keep women strictly in the home and cleaning the church. The men are the prophets and preachers and priests. Out of convenience, the women run the day care programs and the bible schools, but are not the elders, deacons and ministers.
The apostle Paul, who is attributed to be the author of this bible verse never met Jesus and wrote in a time up to 30 years after the death of Jesus. The validity of Paul's teaching is a debate I will not even enter into, but many of his teachings are clearly designed to keep "women in their place" and in total submission to men and the church. Timothy, the young wanna be minister is living with his mother and grandmother who shared their faith with him. Timothy at the time of this writing was a very young man. Paul is instucting him on how to start a church. A desire to return to "literalism" is a desire to roll the clock back on equality to the last century and the century before that, and none of us would want that for ourselves, our "sisters" or our daughters. The catholic church and many protestant churches is still a place of silence for women. Women are discriminated against for being women and are made to feel like it is their purpose to be submissive and have babies for Jesus. Michelle Duggar truly believes her eggs and her husband's sperm are sacred and must be allowed to procreate no matter what the cost to her, her family and her babies. Biblical "literalism" is exposed for the lack of logic and insanity that it is.
Sunday, August 8, 2010
Menstruation and levitical law
""'If a woman has a discharge, and her discharge in her flesh is blood, she shall be in her impurity seven days: and whoever touches her shall be unclean until the evening."
Author: Leviticus 15 Verses #: 19
A normal and natural part of being a women is shedding the lining of the uterus once per month in a discharge of blood. A creator would know this and acknowledge this as fact, and would declare that there is nothing unnatural about the occurence. The holy bible, on the other hand makes menstruation something that makes a woman an untouchable. I would assume that this included little children and breast feeding infants that absolutely require the "touch" of their mother whether she in having her monthly period or not. To refer to a biologic norm as an "impurity" which renders a woman an untouchable and impure speaks to an author and a biblical authority that does not understand biology and implies that Yahweh was completely out of touch with "his" own creation. Clearly, the bible was written by male priests 4,000 years ago who had no knowledge of science and biology and apparently little actual direct revelation from an all knowing "creator" who saw women as lesser beings who were impure and untouchable once per month.
Author: Leviticus 15 Verses #: 19
A normal and natural part of being a women is shedding the lining of the uterus once per month in a discharge of blood. A creator would know this and acknowledge this as fact, and would declare that there is nothing unnatural about the occurence. The holy bible, on the other hand makes menstruation something that makes a woman an untouchable. I would assume that this included little children and breast feeding infants that absolutely require the "touch" of their mother whether she in having her monthly period or not. To refer to a biologic norm as an "impurity" which renders a woman an untouchable and impure speaks to an author and a biblical authority that does not understand biology and implies that Yahweh was completely out of touch with "his" own creation. Clearly, the bible was written by male priests 4,000 years ago who had no knowledge of science and biology and apparently little actual direct revelation from an all knowing "creator" who saw women as lesser beings who were impure and untouchable once per month.
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Women twice as unclean after having a female child
"But if she bears a female child, then she shall be unclean two weeks, as in her period; and she shall continue in the blood of purification sixty-six days."
Author: Leviticus 12 Verses #: 5
In Leviticus 12:2 the bible states that when a woman bears a son she is unclean one week. In the above verse if she bears a female she is unclean two weeks and then she is declared unclean twice as long as if she had had a son. As modern man knows the length of time that a woman bleeds after having a baby has nothing to do with the sex of the child she delivered. The length of time a woman bleeds just depends on how quickly her body recovers from the delivery. Ancient biblical men saw women as less desirable and unclean. The bible strictly forbid women to be touched during their menstrual cycle or after childbirth and demanded that the woman present a lamb as an offering at the temple after her purification of 33 days for a boy child and 66 days if she had a female child. Women were isolated as untouchables after childbirth rather than embraced and helped and comforted. Only evil men would make such cruel rules for women to live under. Childbirth in the desert is hard enough, but when you are declared unclean and untouchable after delivery life was made very harsh for mother and child. Modern society sees a picture of the care of women and girls in the traditions of muslim societies today and the world is aghast. We forget that this same treatment of women was our heritage as well. It is only with centuries of struggle were christian women able to advance as well, and only after ancient and absurd and horrifying laws were discarded.
Author: Leviticus 12 Verses #: 5
In Leviticus 12:2 the bible states that when a woman bears a son she is unclean one week. In the above verse if she bears a female she is unclean two weeks and then she is declared unclean twice as long as if she had had a son. As modern man knows the length of time that a woman bleeds after having a baby has nothing to do with the sex of the child she delivered. The length of time a woman bleeds just depends on how quickly her body recovers from the delivery. Ancient biblical men saw women as less desirable and unclean. The bible strictly forbid women to be touched during their menstrual cycle or after childbirth and demanded that the woman present a lamb as an offering at the temple after her purification of 33 days for a boy child and 66 days if she had a female child. Women were isolated as untouchables after childbirth rather than embraced and helped and comforted. Only evil men would make such cruel rules for women to live under. Childbirth in the desert is hard enough, but when you are declared unclean and untouchable after delivery life was made very harsh for mother and child. Modern society sees a picture of the care of women and girls in the traditions of muslim societies today and the world is aghast. We forget that this same treatment of women was our heritage as well. It is only with centuries of struggle were christian women able to advance as well, and only after ancient and absurd and horrifying laws were discarded.
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Monday, August 2, 2010
Ordering the death of your daughter-in-law
Bring her forth, and let her be burnt." Genesis 38:13-18
Judah has sex with his daughter-in-law and then orders her to be burned to death. (verse 24)
This whole chapter is full of God killing people, but in this part of the story, Tamar, his daughter- in -law tricks Judah into sleeping with her so she can have children since she is his son's widow. Tamar followed Judah to where he was shearing sheep. She covered herself with a veil so Judah could not recognize her. Judah sees her and thinks that she is a prostitute because her face was covered. He proposes to pay her to have sex with him and asks how much it would cost to buy sex. She wanted his ring and his staff and bracelets as a pledge and she agrees to have sex for a baby lamb. Judah agrees to the price and sleeps with her. Tamar gets pregnant from this whole episode. She puts back on her garments of widowhood and goes back home and about her business. When Judah goes back to find her to pay her and give her a sheep from his flock he could not find "the harlot". He wants his property back that he left in pledge. He began to ask, "Where is the harlot?" The sheep shearers replied that there was no harlot. According to the story, three months passes and Judah finds out that Tamar tricked him into sleeping with her and finds out she was pregnant. In verse 24 upon hearing what Tamar had done Judah orders her to be brought forth in order to be burned to death. He eventually relents and let's her have her babies and leaves her alone, but it got pretty tense for Tamar, his widowed daughter-in-law for he was going to kill her by burning her to death.
In this story several glaring truths come out. It is OK for Judah to sleep with a prostitute, but it is not OK to take matters into your own hands in you are a widow. For Tamar, it meant death. Secondly, Judah, as the head of the patriarchal tribe of sheep herders has the right to pronounce judgement and have Tamar killed in a violent death for tricking him. In the old testment the stories are told from the man's perspective and the tribal leader makes up his laws as he goes along. Women are worth less than the animals and have no more rights than a slave. The rights of women are irrelevant and not considered. They are invisible. Patriarchal societies, religions and church organizations always make women invisible and without value.
Eventually, in the story, when Tamar showed that Judah was the one who impregnated her by bringing him his ring, staff and bracelets, Judah relents and lets her live and bear his children. The Bible stories always end with the women having male offspring to carry on the family line. Female offspring were just as disregarded as their mother's. The pressure was always on a woman to have male babies. Tamar was lucky to have her life spared by the patriarch of the family who should have allowed her to remarry anyway. Females in the bible are just vessels to propagate your tribe. In male dominated societies women are excluded and disregarded. Patriarchy brings women universal violence and despair. All patriarchal religions sap female energy and all patriarchal religions hold to books authored by men and for men and hold to every view from a man's point of view. Women have suffered under Judaism, Islam and Chrisitanity long enough. Our creative vital force has been silenced for 4,000 years. Man made religion breaks the heart of all wise women everywhere simply seeking a right to exist.
Judah has sex with his daughter-in-law and then orders her to be burned to death. (verse 24)
This whole chapter is full of God killing people, but in this part of the story, Tamar, his daughter- in -law tricks Judah into sleeping with her so she can have children since she is his son's widow. Tamar followed Judah to where he was shearing sheep. She covered herself with a veil so Judah could not recognize her. Judah sees her and thinks that she is a prostitute because her face was covered. He proposes to pay her to have sex with him and asks how much it would cost to buy sex. She wanted his ring and his staff and bracelets as a pledge and she agrees to have sex for a baby lamb. Judah agrees to the price and sleeps with her. Tamar gets pregnant from this whole episode. She puts back on her garments of widowhood and goes back home and about her business. When Judah goes back to find her to pay her and give her a sheep from his flock he could not find "the harlot". He wants his property back that he left in pledge. He began to ask, "Where is the harlot?" The sheep shearers replied that there was no harlot. According to the story, three months passes and Judah finds out that Tamar tricked him into sleeping with her and finds out she was pregnant. In verse 24 upon hearing what Tamar had done Judah orders her to be brought forth in order to be burned to death. He eventually relents and let's her have her babies and leaves her alone, but it got pretty tense for Tamar, his widowed daughter-in-law for he was going to kill her by burning her to death.
In this story several glaring truths come out. It is OK for Judah to sleep with a prostitute, but it is not OK to take matters into your own hands in you are a widow. For Tamar, it meant death. Secondly, Judah, as the head of the patriarchal tribe of sheep herders has the right to pronounce judgement and have Tamar killed in a violent death for tricking him. In the old testment the stories are told from the man's perspective and the tribal leader makes up his laws as he goes along. Women are worth less than the animals and have no more rights than a slave. The rights of women are irrelevant and not considered. They are invisible. Patriarchal societies, religions and church organizations always make women invisible and without value.
Eventually, in the story, when Tamar showed that Judah was the one who impregnated her by bringing him his ring, staff and bracelets, Judah relents and lets her live and bear his children. The Bible stories always end with the women having male offspring to carry on the family line. Female offspring were just as disregarded as their mother's. The pressure was always on a woman to have male babies. Tamar was lucky to have her life spared by the patriarch of the family who should have allowed her to remarry anyway. Females in the bible are just vessels to propagate your tribe. In male dominated societies women are excluded and disregarded. Patriarchy brings women universal violence and despair. All patriarchal religions sap female energy and all patriarchal religions hold to books authored by men and for men and hold to every view from a man's point of view. Women have suffered under Judaism, Islam and Chrisitanity long enough. Our creative vital force has been silenced for 4,000 years. Man made religion breaks the heart of all wise women everywhere simply seeking a right to exist.
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