This issue is rampant in Islam and Hinduism. Among Hindus, the women are gaining their inner strength and voice simply because of their greater economic control of the household as well as greater participation in bringing income to the house, of late.
There are some excellent writers who have held mirror to the priests and preachers on this matter.
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Democracy needs defending - SOS Hillary Clinton, Sept 8, 2010 Democracy is more than just elections - SOS Hillary Clinton, Oct 28, 2010
Excellent article. I know many Southern Baptist women and women of other denominations who subscribe to the more literal translations of the verses mentioned in the article, particularly the one about "submit yourselves to your husbands...." Some so-called Christian counselors within large churches that offer marriage counseling, financial counseling and other "Bible based counseling" apply the literal translations, and encourage the wife to look to her husband as the decision maker, obeying his directives in all things.
Many women have internalized the message that they are inferior to men to such a great degree that it never even occurs to them that this idea has been instilled in them. It just seems the natural order of things, to them.
We have a lot of educating to do.
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It was we, the people; not we, the white male citizens; nor yet we, the male citizens; but we, the whole people, who formed the Union.... Men, their rights and nothing more; women, their rights and nothing less. ~Susan B. Anthony
LOL, St. Paul was the worst about this, but he was mostly talking about some uneducated women that were interrupting the church services. Luke and Jesus Himself hung out with women all the time.
In Genisis, in one of the earliest chapters, it says God made us "both male and female". Jimmuh Carter is an egregrious example of someone who thinks Christianity is so anti-woman, then he turns around and panders to Islam.
Funny how much focus is always on what the bible says women should and should not do but, hardly any is paid to the sections as to men's responsibilities to women, children, families and the church. Let's scrutinize that instead for a while.