The Book of Ruth's Integral Role in Christian Women History and Theology

To be entirely honest, I’m really tired for some reason and thus too lazy to get quotes. So instead, I will paraphrase. Ruth grows up with her orthodox Jewish family, and her father specifically abuses her and molests her, which is pretty screwed up. He’s also a racist and hates black people, which probably gave Ruth an inclination to trust them, if only to spite her

Firstly, Ruth is a mature woman who can make decisions on her own. Ruth tries to get an abortion, “I think Ruth is thinking bout getting rid of that child”. Ruth is an independent mature lady, she makes a decision to get an abortion which was unlikely for Ruth to other family members. Ruth’s family has been struggling with money and relationship with each other, bringing

     Ruth has an intriguing personality. She is very loving towards her family. She will do all in her power to improve the lifestyle of her family. When it appears that the deal for the house in Clybourne Park will fall through, she promises to dedicate all of her time to make the investment work. “Lena-I’ll work… I’ll work 20 hours a day in all the kitchens

Ruth’s Jewish background, her conversion to Christianity, and James’ childhood influence James’ confusion with his identity. Ruth was born Jewish and lived her life experiencing multiple situations of discrimination growing up. Jews and Blacks were hated upon during that period and by her marrying a black man, it attracted even more discrimination towards her. James experienced discrimination when he was younger because he was black. James knows nothing about Ruth’s past because she had kept it a secret from him and his siblings since they were young. Ruth had taught them a mindset that is set to focus only on education and religion, not focusing on anything else so they couldn’t question other ideas Ruth did not want them to see. When Ruth was living in New York with her husband Andrew McBride, Ruth found out that her mother

Thus, the rescue and adoption of Moses is a women's rebellion, staged in a feminine

to scatter your enemy, to drive him before you,to see his cities reduced to ashes, to see those who love him shrouded in tears,and to gather into your bosom his wives and daughters." Genghis Khan, much like the Hebrew Bible during certain points, regards women as objects. However, to write the Hebrew Bible off as fully misogynistic would not do the ancient texts justice. From Genesis to Judges 2, the Hebrew Bible objectifies women, uses them as scapegoats, but during certain points rises them to the level of highly admired Prophets and warriors. This essay attempts to explore the various undertones of femininity depicted throughout the Hebrew Bible.

Ruth and James had different experiences when they attended school. Back in the days, when Ruth attended school in Suffolk, there was a split between “white folks’ school and a black folks’ school and a Jewish school,” (McBride 79). The school Ruth attended was not actually a real school, but instead a synagogue, where they did not get a good education compared to what other students were learning in school. In contrast, James “was the only black kid,” (McBride 89), attending in his classroom and he would get called many names because he was the only black kid.

In the Hebrew Bible, the Book of Genesis and the Greek play Medea, by Euripides, contain female characters that can be seen as complex and have significance and meaning in the text. There are many interpretations involving the female characters, some characters may be portrayed as weak and irrational or strong-willed and wise. I will argue that, women are portrayed in the Hebrew Bible and Medea as irrational and senseless, in order for the men to be portrayed as superior and for women to be seen as inferior. This idea of the female characters being irrational and senseless can be seen in Genesis 4, Genesis 18, Genesis 29, and throughout the Medea play.

Another factor that influences my interpretation of Ruth, is economics. Nadar’s interpretation of Ruth is that she is a survivor and a positive role model for underprivileged women and widowers. I do not disagree that she is a survivor, but I do believe Ruth was exploited by working the land and becoming the reproductive means for Boaz and Naomi’s economic profit. Yee talks about Ruth’s desperate act of trying to have sex with Boaz as a way to lock him down for economic security. She states “Whether or not Ruth and Boaz had sex that fateful night should not distract us from the economic urgency that compelled Ruth the foreigner to go to the threshing floor in the first place,” (20). Yee and I completely agree with Katherine Sakenfeld when she states “No woman should have to do something so socially unacceptable in Israelite culture… in order to put food on her family’s table for the longer term. This is not a slightly adventurous tryst. It is a desperate act by a desperate person,”

He unveils how they have been shrouded in a society that teaches them to accept their life as property. This is what zinn tries to communicate in chapter six. Women throughout the 1700s, 1800s and 1900s fought for many rights and privileges. Zinn tells of how women were taking massive part in the anti-slavery movement. France Wright of 1824, Lucy Stone of 1847 and Angelina Grimke of 1838 perhaps the silent protest at the world anti-slavery society convention in 1840. Unequal wages were fought for as well in hundred if not thousands of strikes. The women also fought against the church too. Anne Hutchinson was one of the most known people who expressed the need to interpret the Bible for the reader's self-overall many women fought valiantly for their rights, but some submitted to the social views. It was common teaching to have males as property owner, and women to be property. A very popular book was read in 1700s advice to daughter it convey the idea that woman should accept their position as a child giver, housekeeper, and overall property, for many women getting married was life’s purpose, and that was all they looked forward too. Julia Sprull put it the husband took any income that might be hers he collected wages earned by her labor. Naturally, it followed that the process of the joint labor of husbands and wife belong to the husband. Women had no rights to tell their husband not to have their hard earn money because the father of the family was in charge of everything and by everything meant that woman had to obey and even submit to their

Ruth is especially attentive to how she views herself, including aspects that are evident and those that are implicit and unclear but forming. Several components of Ruth’s self-concepts emerge from her autobiography. In her own words, Ruth identifies herself as the “good wife” and the “good mother” that her husband expects from her. Thus,

The line “Then Naomi, bereaved of her two sons as well as of her husband, got ready to return to her own country…” shows that once Naomi had no more family ties to Moab, and the famine in Judah had ended, she had motive to return to her own country, where she did have family. The importance of family ties, now in reference to ones created through marriage, can be seen when one daughter-in-law, Ruth, refuses to return to her own land and wishes to go with Naomi to Judah. At first, both daughters-in-law wanted to stay when Naomi spoke of returning to her home country. “They wept aloud and said, ‘No, we shall return you to your people.’” However, in the end Orpah returned home, remaining with her family of birth and Ruth stayed, remaining with her family of marriage. Another reference to the importance of family ties appears when the man Boaz, who is kin to Naomi, is speaking to Ruth, saying “You are proving yourself more devoted to the family than ever by not running after any young man, whether rich or poor.” Family can be assessed as being central to life in the Book of Ruth, as loyalty to family is mentioned several

of God in the story of Ruth, as well as in modern society, is eliminated.

Unfortunately, when Elimelech and his two sons died, Naomi, Ruth and Orpah, her sister-in-law, were alone and without economic support, so Naomi suggested that her daughters-in-laws return to their family homes. Again, Ruth illustrated her good-nature by choosing to stay and take care of Naomi in her old age. Ruth demonstrated agreeableness showing compassion and graciousness from that time until she married Boaz and bore a child, making her the ancestral lineage to

In ancient Israelite culture, a woman’s entire life, from her societal standing to her source of income, rested entirely upon her husband’s shoulders. In the beginning of the book of Ruth, even though there is a great famine in the land, Naomi is still taken care of because she has the security of her husband and sons. However, when her husband and sons pass away, she is left with absolutely nothing because as a woman, she is viewed as essentially a second-class citizen at best. After the death the death of her husband and sons, Naomi turned to the only family she had left, her two widowed daughter-in-laws. She tried to convince both of them to follow her to Bethlehem. One of them refused, but Ruth decided to follow Naomi.