Essay about The Role Of Women In Christianity

Women played a diverse role during early Christianity. At some points during history they were celebrated for assisting in the spread of the religion and at other times they were silenced by society and their male counterparts. Disciples of both sexes traveled with Jesus to Galilee but it was the women followers that provided financial assistance along the way. Although many of his female followers left their homes and chores behind this was a right that Jesus felt women should have. In the book of Luke Jesus says of Mary sister of Martha, “Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her” (New International Version, Luke 10:42). Clearly Jesus felt that what women contributed to the spread of the Gospel was significant enough to

"Suddenly Jesus met them and said, `Greetings!' And they came to him, took hold of his feet, and worshiped him." (Matthew 28:9)# Near the end of each of the four Christian gospels, it is women who first discovered that the body of Jesus was missing and who were the first to report seeing him after his death. Certainly then, this is a major indication of the high involvement of women in early Christianity. With such high status undoubtedly must have come power, influence, and important positions in the early Church. But by approximately 750 C.E women had lost these major roles in the Church, and the power and influence they once had. This essay will examine the decline of women's roles

When one thinks about the leaders of early Christianity, an orthodox vision of Jesus’ male apostles and disciples fills their head. While there is no doubt these men were important, their influential women counterparts are often overlooked and underrated. For years, historians were perplexed at the rapid spread of early Christianity, until they considered women. Women had a major role in the rise and spread of early Christianity because they were not only numerous, but also influential in leadership positions and converting others.

 The role of the women in My Antonia as the showcased laborers and workers in the new community does not, certainly, alleviate the questions of patriarchal influence offered in the discussions of gender. Certainly, the fact that Ántonia is deprived of the education she longs for and yet cannot have, because it is she who is responsible for her family's success--"'School is all right for little boys. I help make this land one good farm'" (94)--cannot be seen as entirely good, if we agree that "the value of education is among the greatest of all human values" (Woolf 45); and in spite of her protests to the contrary, the bitter recognition of exclusion brings Ántonia to tears. However, recognizing the

The role of women in the in society has—even from ancient times—been limited by men for various reasons. In fact, as early as the first century A.D., women were considered their husband's property and were by no means their equals. Women during this time had very little protection or rights under the law. Unfortunately, the Christian church is no exception. One of the main founders of the Christian church, the apostle Paul, outlines teachings that come under modern criticism. Some call Paul patriarchal and misogynist. Others call Paul an advocate of women leaders and women ministers in the church. This paper will examine the different claims outlined in Rosemary Ruether’s paper, “St. Paul, Friend or Enemy of Women?”

Israel, as the woman in Revelation 12, gives birth to the Messiah as Satan waits to destroy Him, but God protects the child-Messiah and raptures the Church, while protecting the remnant of Israel in the wilderness for 1,260 days during the Great Tribulation. Under the terms of the old covenant, Israel exists as a woman married to God, “For thy Maker is thine husband; the Lord of hosts is his name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; The God of the whole earth shall he be called” (Isaiah 54:5-6). Jeremiah describes a similar relationship between Israel and God, “Turn, O backsliding children, saith the Lord; for I am married unto you” (Jeremiah 3:14). Hosea 2:16 uses the word “Ishi” which means “my husband” to depict the relationship

Following the years of Jesus’ crucifixion and the origins of Christian religion what surprised me the most was the story of Apostle Paul and the brief discussion in the video of the woman’s role in early Christianity. Following Jesus death in 51C.E. Paul’s arrival in the Greek city Corinth brought the message of salvation to not only Jews however gentiles as well. With the presence of pilgrims for centuries in Corinth, the message of a Jewish messiah may have been peculiar to the citizens. Specifically Paul preached about the death and resurrection of Jesus and the salvation that comes with being a follower. In reference to Jesus death, Matthew 27:59-60 states,” 59 Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth,60 and placed it in his own new tomb that he had cut out of the rock”. He rolled a big stone in front of the entrance to the tomb and went away”. Also I appreciated learning that even though Paul’s message may have come across to some as strange, gentiles seen light in the salvation and rituals that comes with Christianity. Professor Pagle said, “Gentiles were attracted to the claims of salvation, baptism, rituals and the communities.”

Women play many roles in the Catholic Church, but only very few of them have sanctioned titles. Only men can be ordained in the Catholic Church, and not even becoming a nun gets you the benefit of the Holy Orders. The reason why women cannot become priests in the Catholic Church goes back to when the sacrament of Holy Orders began, and because Christ created the sacrament, the pope, council, or bishops can alter it. The Eastern Orthodox Catholics have the same beliefs and also don’t ordain women. The reason for doing this has nothing to do with who is more worthy or suitable for the Holy Orders, it is simply how the Catholic Church works. The same thing happens with the ban of non-Catholics receiving Holy Communion, it has nothing to do with

gender, or race, and many Christians did not believe in killing. The apologies demonstrated the fallacy of pagan religions and Christianity.

Feminist Speech When you think of the bible what characters come to mind? Jesus. Obviously but who else? Judas? Mathias?

As I thought about all the topics we have read and studied in this class there was one topic that I really did enjoy and changed the way I thought about the topic and gave me a whole new perspective on how I look at religion now. I chose the topic of feminism and Christianity and how the authority of the women gender role in religion has been a struggle for many years. I think Lynn Japinga did a very good job in writing about this topic in her book, “Feminism and Christianity: An Essential Guide”. Japinga includes in her book the use of the male dominated language in the Bible, the blame for the original sin, and the lack of women gender clerical role authority within the religion world.

The feminist voices need to be heard and their cries need to be taken into consideration. In much of the world, women have been viewed as socially lower than men. Although I don’t have a full understanding the fullness of what life is like for women, I can see how many churches have lead behind male dominate leadership models. These models provide a testimony for the feminist point of contention. I would agree that Jesus offers an opportunity for all of humanity to be restored to fullness with God, so if feminist feel less than full they need to be heard. The following are three of the most important features of feminist Christology. First, their embodiment has been label something negative in many Christina traditions. Often women are associated

Christianity had large and broad effects on those who chose to follow it. For example, a wife was a husband’s property, and a wife ranked in between a free man and, a slave (“The Impact of Christianity”). When Jesus and Christianity came around, women did not have to remarry within two years of her husband’s death, and women were granted equality amongst men (“The Impact of Christianity). Christianity also gave the lower social classes, including women and children, something to worship and believe in, without being oppressed by the higher classes or those with more power (“The Impact of Christianity”). Christianity has not reinforced social hierarchy through the dominance of men over women and the oppression of the lower classes.

Despite all the exceptional services and great humanitarian works, the Catholic Church is still one of the most dominant and unshakable patriarchies with doctrines that don’t support equality in the ordainment of priests. The question of women ordination in the Christian churches is a very controversial topic that mostly divides the church into oppositions. In the Roman Catholic churches, women are not allowed to be priests because of male religious dominance that doesn’t allow women in leadership positions. On the other hand, most women are nowadays ordained in most Protestant churches. For instance, in the 19th century,

For them, this text is very definite as follows: “For a man ought not to have his head veiled, since he is the image and reflection of God; but woman is the reflection of man. Indeed, man was not made from woman, but woman from man. Neither was man created for the sake of woman, but woman for the sake of man. For this reason a woman ought to have a symbol of authority on her head, because of the angels” (11:7-10). So, they hastily make a conclusion that women should not be the head of men by taking a role of a leader in the church but be subordinate to