Misogyny and Insults to Women in the Bible (New Testament)

Misogyny and Insults to Women in the Bible (New Testament)

In a previous post, I talked about misogyny in the old testament of the Christian bible.  That is kind of like shooting fish in a barrel.  A lot of times I will here, yes, but what matters is the new testament.

Nevermind the fact that it is supposedly the same god in both parts of the Christian bible.  After all, people say, things were different back then.  That was just the way things were.  If god was the same, why didn’t he tell them it was wrong?  He could convince people to cut off part of their penises, but you don’t think that he could have convinced them women were worthy of respect?

Anyway, here’s some examples of misogyny in the new testament.

• Men can divorce their wives if they are unfaithful, but of course women are not allowed the same. (Matthew 5:32, 19:9)
• Men are told to abandon their wives and children to follow Jesus. (Matthew 19:29, Mark 10:29, Luke 18:29)
• Men make the decisions regarding the religion of the entire household. (Acts 16:31)
• Paul really didn’t have a lot of good things to say about women.  They have a natural “use” by man. (Romans 1:27) They were the old ball and chain. (1 Cor 7:27)  And don’t forget, man is the head of women, and women were created for the use of man. (1 Cor 11:3-9)
• In fact, the Christian bible says that women should shut up in church and not even try to ask questions. They are commanded to be obedient just as in the old testament law. (1 Cor 14:34-35)
• Paul makes it clear that wives should do what their husbands say. (Colossians 3:18) Whoever forged Ephesians in the name of Paul (seriously, Paul didn’t write it, do some research), repeated it.  Husbands are the head of the household and can tell wives to do whatever and they should obey. (Ephesians 5:22-24)
• Women should not dress up, and should stay silent, because even the smartest women isn’t allowed to teach to the most ignorant man.  Why, because men were here first (why does that matter?) and it was a woman who was deceived in the garden of eden (I know a lot of men who have done stupid stuff, why is Eve special?)  But don’t worry!  Go be silent and have babies, that’s how women can redeem themselves. (1 Timothy 2:9-15)

There’s more, but I’ll stop myself there.  Even in the new testament women are second class citizens.  Like most things, you can find bible verses which point in the other direction (Gal 3:28), but not too many.

Let me be clear, I think that if a grown woman wants to subject themselves to the will of a man in the name of their religion, then she should be able to.  Just like if someone wants to shave their head or only wear purple.  Whatever.  But what I don’t like, and what I see all the time, is how women are taught from childhood that they are second class citizens.  They don’t realize that they are just as valuable a human being as anyone else.  I’ve seen women settle for men who treat them poorly, and who don’t respect them as equals. And they think that is how it should be.

As I said before, if you had a grandparent who was this sexist you would think they were behind the times and find them embarrassing.  Why would you stay with a religion that thinks you are a second-class human?

Misogyny and Insults to Women in the Bible (Old Testament)

Misogyny and Insults to Women in the Bible (Old Testament)

From the very beginning the Christian bible has a dim view of women.  They are created to be a helper for man, but just end up causing mankind to be kicked out of the Garden of Eden.  There is a long history of oppression of women by Christians, though of course some sects and individual Christians have been a great help to women.  But my claim is that the Christian bible is itself full of things that teach that women are second class citizens.  This should not be a shock to anyone, but I fear that it is.

Here’s just a hint of some of the awful stuff in the old testament.  Trust me, there is way more than you probably think.  I challenge you to read the old testament and come out thinking that the god described thinks men and women should be treated equally.

• Men can have more than wife starting in Genesis 4:19, but women of course don’t have more than one husband.  If having lots of wives isn’t enough for a man, he can always get some concubines to go with it.  Of course women who sleep around are horrible, though. (Genesis 38:24)
• Even the ten commandments list a neighbor’s wife as his possession alongside his donkey.
• There are even instructions on how to sell your daughter. (Exodus 21:7-8)
• Women are treated as property. Lot was willing to trade his two daughters so save the angels that showed up in town. Same story with a Levite’s concubine later in Judges.
• Jacob works for years to earn Rachel like buying a house or car.
• Think your wife is cheating on you? Take her to the priest and make her drink poison to find out. (Numbers 5)
• In war the men could take the women prisoners and rape them (Deut 21)

This is just the tip of the iceberg.  I challenge you to read more for yourself.

You would think that a person that thinks women are property or second class citizens is backwards and awful. Why would you worship a god that is that way?