to be disturbed and angry by what it says about women in the bible

[Kayugaduck]

I am making a concerted effort to read the bible (my dd has been given a good copy as a primary school leaver's present.) I can't believe what I'm reading. Starting from the beginning, Genesis. Talk of son after son being born, talk of women being punished for ever more by having pain in labour. I mean, come on! There is even the rape of Dinah.

I am horrified and shocked at what I'm reading and deeply disturbed.

Why is there no mention of the dinosaurs? It all sounds so cruel, farfetched and untrue. How are we supposed to believe in this?

I do feel spiritual however and am in awe of Life, nature etc but disagree that man should rule over all other lifeforms. Or that man should rule over his wife!

[FAQtothefuture]

lol - you're only at the start - wait until you get to the bit where the man is supposed to love his wife as much as God loves the church! It's not about "ruling".

[FAQtothefuture]

also - if you want to read the bible best to get some study notes to go with it - and not read from page 1 to the end -

[FAQtothefuture]

[Stretch]

FAQ!!!!

[Prosecco]

I think a lot of the Old Testament does seem far fetched and remember is reflective of a time. You may get more enjoymeny form the New Testament first.

[FAQtothefuture]

because it's not a frigging novel that's why - think of it more of an encyclopedia.............trust me you're going to get pretty bored by the time you get to Numbers...........

[Kayugaduck]

Why would this be suitable reading for dc? I feel it should have come with a warning label. The thing is I do want to celebrate the wonders of the world, life etc even a god but don't like what I'm reading one iota.

[cornsillk]

Is your dc really likely to read it cover to cover? Surely it's for her to refer to in R.E. lessons etc?

[flatcapandpearls]

I love the Old Testament personally.

[FAQtothefuture]

well that's because it was never written as a complete book to be read as a novel, and most people read it in little bits with a study guide so they have some idea how it relates to other parts of the bible.

[flatcapandpearls]

I read the Bible from cover to cover when I was about 14, I am not a normal person though.

[JoesMummy09]

You have to bear in mind that it is terribly old fashioned.

Why not try a some myths and legends from other cultures? Such as the Greeks or Japanese?

Unless you are a beliver, in which case I would suggest bible study and going for the "interpretive" as opposed to "literal" view.

[Kayugaduck]

I thought reading the bible would be comforting and a 'good' thing to do, but I've been left angry and horrified at what the poor slave women had to endure amongst other things.

[FAQtothefuture]

flatcap - I gave up at Numbers about the same age


oooo off topic- but I'm reading Psalm 23 at my Uncles funeral next week.......which translation should I go for??? I can't make up my mind

[FAQtothefuture]

poor slave woman had to endure a lot - even in non Christian things - right up until less than a century ago.......and in some places are still treated appallingly.........

[Kayugaduck]

Given the unbelievable power of the bible and religion in general I was hoping to glean something useful and insightful. May be I should try the Koran. How women end up walking tents in the name of religion instead of men being blinkered like carthorses beats me though.

[flatcapandpearls]

For any Old Testament reading I would choose the Jerusalem Bible as it keeps some of the beauty of the Hebrew.

[jemart]

"Why is there no mention of the dinosaurs?"

Um, I think the dinosaurs pre-date the writing of the old testament by quite alot so beyond a very vague mention of God creating beasts that walk on land they are unlikely to feature being as nobody would have ever seen one.

"It all sounds so cruel, farfetched and untrue. How are we supposed to believe in this?"

I don't think you are meant to take it all literally, some of it is historically accurate, some is myth and metaphor.

What FAQ said.

[FAQtothefuture]

do you really think that you're actually going to find any "historical" (whether you believes it's religious significance or not) writing that doesn't show woman as being oppressed and treated like shit??

Hello - it's not even been 100yrs since woman were allowed vote in our own "civilised" country!

[FAQtothefuture]

sorry "generally" treated like shit.

[Kayugaduck]

There needs to be a new bible from a womens' perspective starting with the power and awe of women being given the ability to reproduce and a new era whereby women are treated properly.

How dare men subjugate women in the name of religion. Why hasn't this been stopped by now?

[JoesMummy09]

Any patriarchal religion is going to be biasd towards the male. So women are relegated to the role of "other" and seen to be a threat.

With the bible it starts at the beginning - Eve tempts Adam.

I doubt you will find the Qu'ran supports the suppression of women, and certainly does not advocate wearing the Burka.

Hair covering (in most religions) is usually a cultural practice rather than a religious.

If you want to see women being better represented and being more emancipated then you will need to look in the texts of religions where women deities feature as much as male ones.

[FAQtothefuture]

just stop will you!

There's plenty of adoration of woman.

In the New Testament (in the bit that's famously quoting about women submitting to their husbands - again usually given a totally OTT interpretation). Man is told to love his wife like God loves the church........now that's a pretty big ask - and it's also a pretty clear indiciaton that he's supposed to be treating her nicely with respect and love- not like many men (and not just Christiasn, atheists, and other religious ones too) do.

Also lots of examples of Jesus talking to/healing woman - the ones who were generally seen as "outcasts" in their soceity (whether they were believers or not) he made it pretty clear that these women were not supposed to treated that way.

Then of course you've got the female prophets which I've already mentioned.

And the Song of Solomon the man is simply gushing with love for his woman.

There are lots of positive reference sin the bible about woman as well as the ones that would be culturally/historically correct

As for woman's mothering skills

"Can a mother forget the baby at her breast
and have no compassion on the child she has borne? "

And lets not forget that the church isn't called the friend or son or husband of Christ - but his Bride.