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So the discrimination against women continues. I got online this morning and read this post over at Scot McKnight's blog Jesus Creed regarding the removal of a female seminary professor by a new administration because she was female. Read the news brief here. Since reading it, I have been seriously pissed off all day. It was one of those last straw moments - how much more of this crap are we as women willing to take?
Now Scot McKnight poses some good questions on his blog regarding if one is inclined to ban women from teaching where do we draw the line? Can men read books by women? What about in high schools or non-theology classes? While I think those questions point out some of the absurdity of the stance that views women as lesser creations, there are guys commenting there who really think they should be considered if we are to be biblical. Since when does the excuse "being biblical" make it okay to be a sexist immoral jerk? And when women there complain about how hurtful situations like this are to women in general, men there accuse us of overreacting and getting away with it just because we are women. I feel like I'm being treated like I'm a puppy dog - "that's a good girl, settle down now, there's no need to get excited, you don't count anyway, your opinion is worthless to me...". So if we are hurt or offended we aren't allowed to do anything about it because then we are overreacting or claiming to be victims. That's a great way to guarantee the continuing spread of injustice.
I am sick of having to fight this battle. I am sick of having to actually defend the equality of women. I am sick that there are people who are so wrapped up in hated and fear that they do things like this to women. I am sick that the debate of whether women are capable of doing XY or Z or if we are inferior to men actually still happens. And I am sick that the only place that it is still happening is in the church.
So yes, this is an opinionated rant. I had to share here because my toddler wasn't really interested in the long monologue she had to hear about the stupidity of men who think they are better than women just because they have a penis... But I had to say it. The news needs to go out, because the more people who know the more people there are to stop the evil from spreading.
Labels: Emerging Women, Gender Issues
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At 1/22/2007 02:58:00 PM,
JulieSo are you saying that its all pointless, no one should ever do anything? And yes it is "the justice" that suits me best, but I tend to think that it goes beyond that. I'm sure slaveholders and men who sell young girls for sex are fighting for their own preferences to win the day. Are we not to fight to help those who are hurting? Even if it means hurting (financially or their pride) those who are doing the oppressing? I cannot stop being personal because everything is personal - I was taught to love my neighbor as myself and when my neighbor hurts so do I. So what is your point? Do nothing, be cynical and don't care? Because I don't see those as options.
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There are some people in the church who are never going to understand. That does not make them right or does it make any easier. But trying to change their minds is like shouting at the wind. A lot of effort for no result. What we can is quarentine their effect. We can share with others that value is not based in our sexual identity. Calling is not based on chromosomes and it is God who call people according his purpose not our prejudices. I know it is tiresome, but I offer Gal. 6:9.
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Julie
I don't have time right now to completely read the post on Jesus Creed, but hope to get to it eventually. Ruth Tucker was one of Rob's profs and he's still in touch with her (he's read a lot of her books, e-mails her etc.) She has a blog too. I can get you more info. if you're interested. This was really controversial and it seems like different things are being said--hard to figure out the truth of what really happened. -
Julie,
I share in your frustration!! Ever since I read this over on Wade Burleson's blog on Saturday, I've been irritated about it. Then Scot picks it up, and my spark fanned into a flame again.
Being a woman, it's frustrating on that level. But, as a lesbian, what's doubly frustrating is that people keep saying, "okay, so it's wrong for them to exclude a woman, but if they don't stop there, next thing they'll be hiring homosexuals!" as if we're the WORST possible thing.
I have no idea what your ideas about gay people are, but what I'm pointing out here is that, yes, women are being discriminated against, but a gay woman is doubly vilified in their eyes!! And I'm here to say, what does being a woman or being gay have to do with teaching Hebrew?!?
I can understand (while not agreeing) that a seminary which sees homosexuality as a sin would not want a homosexual teaching...because they don't believe you can be gay and a Christian. I believe otherwise.
Anyway, this witch hunt is ridiculous. And like you, I wonder, what do I do? Do I rant? rail? organize? write letters? blog? post? all of the above? or do I do nothing? As one poster said, it's just shouting into the wind. And I do believe that, because when the "oppressors" believe they are acting on the WORD OF GOD, then there's no changing them.
It's similar to dealing with my dad, with whom I'm diametrically opposed on almost everything. I've learned that you do indeed have to pick your battles and use your energy for things you can actually change. Of course, picking which are which is a personal decision. :)
So keep your fire burning, but don't let the "bad guys" steal your energy and passion. Direct it toward something where you can actually make a difference.
Peace to you. -
At 1/29/2007 11:52:00 PM,
ComissndHello there
Look, this is not about the inequality of women. Were this to happen in a secular school then there would be a real problem. SWBTS, however is a Christian seminary. What this means is that it is governed by priciples as they appear in Scripture. For example, within the church "But I do not allow a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man..." This was written in a letter from a man who was taught by Jesus, to a man who was ordering the churches in Ephesus in the early to mid 60's A.D. Theology is what is taught in churches. It would be hypocritical for a Christian institution to read that sentence in the second letter to Timothy and then place a woman in a teaching and authoratative role within the School of Theology. It has to do with the belief that God's specified orderings are higher and of more value than man's sensitivities.
I have read that people are drawing extreme knee-jerk conclusions at the the application of this passage. Ignorance will do that to the best of us. The school and Paige Patterson are NOT saying that women cannot teach. Again, we go back to the Biblical ordering of the church. Women are not to teach or have authority over men within the realm of the Christian church in matters pertaining to theology. The fact that the school does NOT have a problem with women teaching can be easily proven by simply going to their website and looking a the faculty. It includes women - even women who teach theology - within the Women's Studies program, one of whom is Dr. Patterson's own wife.
As a bit of furthur information for those who have not spent time reading the Bible, women are not regulated to a second class. They are highly esteemed and even the dimmist of readers can see this if they are not so worked up and over by their preconcieved notions and biases. See Proverbs 31 - Matthew 26:13 - and the references by the same author of Timothy to Chloe, Eunice, Pricilla, ect...
I hope that this has been recieved and perhaps helped ease some of the more troubled minds. There is much more depth to this issue of course and a good solid expositon of the containing books of the Bible can bring furthur clarification. May God bless you.
Chris -
At 1/30/2007 09:32:00 AM,
JulieChris
Thank you for your comment. But I must say that your assumptions about me and others here are incorrect. I have studied the Bible and theology and am very committed to it. This isn't an issue of ignorance. I once held the position you hold - that is until I truly began to examine the Bible and was force to change my interpretation. It is all about one's interpretation and the lenses one sees the scripture through. So yes, this is about inequality of women. It is about coming to the bible with that opinion and reading and forming a theology based on how you read a few select verses filtered through that opinion. (and yes, I do the same, but with the filter of the equality of women in place). Both are "biblical". I chose to side with the concept of love and the idea that women are made in God's image in my interpretation. -
At 3/07/2007 11:04:00 AM,
Portrait of PeterMay I make a brief comment - and that is to show my support for your blogg, and equally your replies, to those who have left comments.
One can enter into a blinkered theological argument (as clearly seen by some of those who have left comments).
When in reality a little commonsense - should have been the "Thought for the Day", reinstatement of the Seminary Professor.
Thank you for a stimulating blogg.
On a humour-note, your toddler was probably relieved to be at such a tender age - at the time of your reading the emotive article.
Look forward to your viewing more in the future and remain focused.
Good Luck and with every good wishes.z
Hi honey,
Not only women but everybody is being discriminated. What justice is there in our world? None. What justice do you want; the one that suites you best? All we can do about it is stop doing it ourselves (the discrimination as well as the injustice)...only to find out that that is impossible, unless we stop being personal altogether in our thinking & feeling. Can you do that?