Expert: Vincent M. Wales - 3/1/2009

Question
Hello! It's me, Erin again(smiles). I tried to ask another follow-up but it wouldn't let me. I also tried to give you a rating and to nominate you for volunteer of the month, but it said you do not accept ratings.

I had a question/comment about how people can interpret things that are written in the bible very differently. Like I had THE most frustrating conversation with a female acquaintance about the bible and how it views women. I told her I felt the bible was very sexist, and she asked me to give her an example. I gave her several examples, but she refuted EVERY single one of them, saying I was "reading it wrong". I understand that different people can see things differently, but wouldn't you say a lot of it is very straightforward? Like christians try to put a spin on the word "submit". Like submit doesn't mean that you are a doormat, that a man still has to treat his wife with respect, that it takes inner confidence and strength to be submissive, that we all have to submit to someone(i.e. our boss) at some time, so it's not always a bad thing etc etc But if you look up the word in the dictionary, it's pretty clear cut and straightforward.

My favorite is the passage that says if a woman gives birth to a boy she is "unclean" for a shorter period of time then if she gives birth to a girl(don't remember the exact time period). When I pointed this out to her, she said it was to give the woman time to heal. Yet, why not just say that? Instead of using the word "unclean"? And correct me if I'm wrong, but whether a woman is carrying a male or female fetus she still has to endure nine months of pregnancy and childbirth. The process is the same right? So why would the "healing" times differ?

My parents are both catholic, but my aunt and uncle are Jehovas Witness. They both are reading the same bible, yet if their child was to get into a car accident and need a blood transfusion they would rather let her die! They think it is god's will, and pointed out to me where it actually prohibits accepting blood products. Yet my parents don't believe that, and the catholic church doesn't teach that. so it just tells me that they are picking and choosing, and discarding what is inconvenient to them. And they must KNOW that certain things are wrong(like teaching women are inferior to men) because otherwise they wouldn't try to sugar coat it.

It all starts with Adam and Eve. How can anyone read that story and NOT see the hostility the bible has for women? According to this story god created woman as a sort of afterthought, so that she could be a "companion" and "helper" to Adam. Not as a human being in her own right, with her own feelings, needs, desires, hopes, dreams etc He also created Adam FIRST. And of course, it was eve who ate the apple and then tempted adam to do the same. Also, christians often talk about how pregnancy is so miraculous and children are a "gift from god" particularly when they are railing against birth control and abortion. Yet god himself specifically stated that childbirth was a PUNISHMENT. I don't know if this is true or not?? but I read that some christians are against giving women pain medication during childbirth, and they use the adam and eve story as a reference. It actually DOES state that child birth is supposed to be painful!

Thank you for recommending your book to me. I am going to order it. It looks like something that would be of interest to me. I always love reading and learning about this subject. Gives me lots of ammunition to use in my debates! LOL

It's great discussing these things with someone of like mind. Often times they might point out things I never thought of, or present a different way of looking at things. So thanks a lot! Have a good day.

Erin

Answer
First... thanks for pointing out the ratings thing.  I changed the setting.  I didn't even realize it was set that way, because I get ratings all the time.  But I answer questions on two other topics, as well, and apparently, forgot to change the settings on this one.  

I do agree with you (shocking) about the interpretations often being pretty clear cut.  And the examples you give are all valid, especially the sexist stuff.  This is pure rationalization on the part of people who simply refuse to accept that their religion has negative aspects.

Another recommendation to you...  My old website, The Atheist Attic:  http://up.to/atheistattic

I think you'll enjoy it.  There are a couple hundred essays of mine there.  One called "Christian Women" addresses your topic.  And one called "Cognitive Dissonance" might explain better the "rationalization" I mentioned.

And feel free to email me privately through either of the sites.  :)