Status of women in Status of women in ChristianityChristianity

IntroductionIntroduction

►Christianity is the world's biggest Christianity is the world's biggest religion, with about 2.2 billion religion, with about 2.2 billion followers worldwide.followers worldwide.

►Christianity originally developed Christianity originally developed as a part of Judaism. as a part of Judaism.

►Traces from Jesus of Nazareth.Traces from Jesus of Nazareth.►Begins with Jesus Christ.Begins with Jesus Christ.

Origin of ChristianityOrigin of Christianity

► Christ is the son of God and God sent Christ Christ is the son of God and God sent Christ to earth to live as human live, suffer as to earth to live as human live, suffer as human suffer die for human kind’s salvation human suffer die for human kind’s salvation and gloriously rise again.and gloriously rise again.

► Christians believe that there is only one Christians believe that there is only one God, but that this one God consists of 3 God, but that this one God consists of 3 "persons" "persons"

►God the Father God the Father ►God the Son God the Son ► The Holy Spirit .The Holy Spirit .

► Bible is not a single book but a collection of Bible is not a single book but a collection of books. These books were composed over a books. These books were composed over a period of many centuries in three period of many centuries in three languages: Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek.languages: Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek.

►New Testament is shorter version of New Testament is shorter version of Christian Bible.Christian Bible.

►No Bible was compiled during the life time of No Bible was compiled during the life time of Jesus Christ.Jesus Christ.

►His duration of prophetic life was hardly of His duration of prophetic life was hardly of three years.three years.

► The new testament Gospels, Epistles, The new testament Gospels, Epistles, Apocalypse is a product of the church.Apocalypse is a product of the church.

► Followers Peter and Paul did a lot to establish Followers Peter and Paul did a lot to establish Christianity.Christianity.

► Peter was a follower of Jesus and Paul was a Peter was a follower of Jesus and Paul was a Jew and anti-Christian. He became Christian in Jew and anti-Christian. He became Christian in 33 A. D.33 A. D.

► The follower of peter was Mark who compiled a The follower of peter was Mark who compiled a Bible. Bible.

► Luke was follower of Paul also compiled a Bible.Luke was follower of Paul also compiled a Bible.

►Mathew and John compiled Bibles.Mathew and John compiled Bibles.►Bible consists of 66 books written in Bible consists of 66 books written in

particular needs and difficulties.particular needs and difficulties.► Christianity has founded four Gospels: Christianity has founded four Gospels:

John, Mark, Mathew and Luke.John, Mark, Mathew and Luke.

Creation of WomenCreation of Women► For Adam there was not found a help mate for For Adam there was not found a help mate for

him. And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to him. And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; and the rib which the Lord God had thereof; and the rib which the Lord God had taken from man, made him a woman, taken from man, made him a woman, and brought her to the man. And Adam said this and brought her to the man. And Adam said this is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. Therefore shall a man leave taken out of Man. Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother and shall cleave unto his father and his mother and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh. his wife: and they shall be one flesh. Gen. Gen. 2:20-242:20-24

STATUS OF MOTHER IN STATUS OF MOTHER IN CHRISTIANITYCHRISTIANITY

►""If anyone curses his father or If anyone curses his father or mother, he must be put to death" mother, he must be put to death" (Lev. 20:9) and "A wise man brings (Lev. 20:9) and "A wise man brings joy to his father but a foolish man joy to his father but a foolish man hates his mother" (Proverbs hates his mother" (Proverbs 15:20). Although honoring the 15:20). Although honoring the father alone is mentioned in some father alone is mentioned in some places, e.g. "A wise man heeds his places, e.g. "A wise man heeds his father's instruction"father's instruction"

Conti….Conti….

►"As Jesus was saying these things, "As Jesus was saying these things, a woman in the crowd called out, a woman in the crowd called out, 'blessed is the mother who gave 'blessed is the mother who gave you birth and nursed you.' He you birth and nursed you.' He replied, 'Blessed rather are those replied, 'Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and who hear the word of God and obey it.”(Luke 11:27-28)obey it.”(Luke 11:27-28)

Status of Girl ChildStatus of Girl Child

► "No wickedness comes anywhere near "No wickedness comes anywhere near the wickedness of a woman.....Sin began the wickedness of a woman.....Sin began with a woman and thanks to her we all with a woman and thanks to her we all must die" (Ecclesiasticus 25:19, 24)must die" (Ecclesiasticus 25:19, 24)

► The Bible states that the period of the The Bible states that the period of the mother's ritual impurity is twice as long mother's ritual impurity is twice as long if a girl is born than if a boy is (Lev. if a girl is born than if a boy is (Lev. 12:2-5). The Catholic Bible states 12:2-5). The Catholic Bible states explicitly that: explicitly that:

► "The birth of a daughter is a loss" "The birth of a daughter is a loss" (Ecclesiasticus 22:3)(Ecclesiasticus 22:3)

Conti….Conti….► "At the birth of a boy, all are "At the birth of a boy, all are

joyful...at the birth of a girl all are joyful...at the birth of a girl all are sorrowful", and "When a boy comes sorrowful", and "When a boy comes into the world, peace comes into the into the world, peace comes into the world... When a girl comes, nothing world... When a girl comes, nothing comes.comes.

► "Keep a headstrong daughter under "Keep a headstrong daughter under firm control, or she will abuse any firm control, or she will abuse any indulgence she receives. Keep a strict indulgence she receives. Keep a strict watch on her shameless eye; do not watch on her shameless eye; do not be surprised if she disgraces you" be surprised if she disgraces you" (Ecclesiasticus 26:10-11)(Ecclesiasticus 26:10-11)

Conti…Conti…

►"For the man is not of the woman; "For the man is not of the woman; but the woman of the man. but the woman of the man. Neither was the man created for Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the the woman; but the woman for the man."man." ((I Corinthians 11:8-9))

Marital status of womenMarital status of women

►"Wives, submit yourselves unto "Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the savior of the church: and he is the savior of the body. Therefore as the church of the body. Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the is subject unto Christ, so let the wives are to their own husbands in wives are to their own husbands in everything."(everything."(Ephesians 5:22-24))

Conti…Conti…

►"Let your women keep silence in "Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law. And if they as also saith the law. And if they will learn any thing, let them ask will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the shame for women to speak in the church." (church." (I Corinthians 14:34-35))

PolygamyPolygamy

►""He (Solomon) had seven hundred He (Solomon) had seven hundred wives of royal birth and three wives of royal birth and three hundred concubines..."  (1 Kings hundred concubines..."  (1 Kings 11:3)  11:3) 

►"And Lamech took unto him two "And Lamech took unto him two wives: the name of the one was wives: the name of the one was Adam, and the name of the other Adam, and the name of the other Zillah."  (Genesis 4:19) Zillah."  (Genesis 4:19) 

Divorce and widowhoodDivorce and widowhood ►"..."...Anyone who divorces his wife Anyone who divorces his wife

and marries another woman and marries another woman commits adultery against her. And commits adultery against her. And if she divorces her husband and if she divorces her husband and marries another man, she commits marries another man, she commits adultery."  (Mark 10:11-12)adultery."  (Mark 10:11-12)

►"If she go not as thou wildest have "If she go not as thou wildest have her, cut her off from thy flesh, and her, cut her off from thy flesh, and give her a bill of divorce, and let give her a bill of divorce, and let her go."her go."

Conti…Conti…

►Christianity abhors divorce Christianity abhors divorce altogether. The New Testament altogether. The New Testament unequivocally advocates the unequivocally advocates the indissolubility of marriage. It is indissolubility of marriage. It is attributed to Jesus to have said, attributed to Jesus to have said, "But "But I tell you that anyone who divorces I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, causes her to unfaithfulness, causes her to become adulteress, and anyone who become adulteress, and anyone who marries the divorced woman marries the divorced woman commits adultery" (Matthew 5:32)commits adultery" (Matthew 5:32)

Dressing ModestyDressing Modesty ► ""Now I want you to realize that the Now I want you to realize that the

head of every man is Christ, and the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is man, and the head of the woman is man, and the head of Christ is God. Every man who head of Christ is God. Every man who prays or prophesies with his head prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head. And every covered dishonors his head. And every woman who prays or prophesies with woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her her head uncovered dishonors her head...If a woman does not cover her head...If a woman does not cover her head, she should have her hair cut off; head, she should have her hair cut off; and if it is a disgrace for a woman to and if it is a disgrace for a woman to have her hair cut or shaved off, she have her hair cut or shaved off, she should cover her head"  should cover her head" 

Conti…Conti…

►I also want women to dress I also want women to dress modestly, with decency and modestly, with decency and propriety, not with braided propriety, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or hair or gold or pearls or expensive clothes, but with expensive clothes, but with good deeds, appropriate for good deeds, appropriate for women who profess to women who profess to worship God"  1 Timothy 2:9-worship God"  1 Timothy 2:9-

Right to InheritanceRight to Inheritance ► "The continuous and unbroken tradition "The continuous and unbroken tradition

since the Biblical days gives the female since the Biblical days gives the female members of the household, wife and members of the household, wife and daughters, no right of succession to the daughters, no right of succession to the family estate. In the more primitive scheme family estate. In the more primitive scheme of succession, the female members of the of succession, the female members of the family were considered part of the estate family were considered part of the estate and as remote from the legal personality of and as remote from the legal personality of an heir as the slave. Whereas by Mosaic an heir as the slave. Whereas by Mosaic enactment the daughters were admitted to enactment the daughters were admitted to succession in the event of no male issue succession in the event of no male issue remained, the wife was not recognized as remained, the wife was not recognized as heir even in such conditions."heir even in such conditions."

►Thank youThank you