The Shortcomings Of Feminism And Christianity By Lynn Japinga

1400 Words3 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Women's studies introduction to the women's bible essay

Introduction
Feminism and Christianity by Lynn Japinga is a Christian feminist perspective on the shortcomings and necessary critiques that the Christian faith contains. The author focuses on how the bible is written by men and that it primarily addresses men as the leaders and followers religiously. Prominently, the book repeatedly addresses the Bibles purpose compared to its origin. The book is meant to be the word of God for Christians to follow. It also happens that it was written by males which is half the population, and that human interpretation of Gods word is not infallible nor may be fully possible. Japinga extrapolates more on feminist theology as it stands and moving forward.
Examination
The key ideas of feminist theology seem to always revolve around the interpretation of the bible and whether it can be interpreted in a way inclusive enough that women will still remain with the faith. One of the main points is the wording of the bible. Throughout the bible, Japinga makes note of the masculine oriented language used when describing God as well as the word of God being specifically written to address men. Japinga lists three points regarding the purpose of feminist theology; the negative impacts of Christian traditions on women in the church, the …show more content…

Two weeks a month a woman was considered unclean and unable to partake in certain religious ceremonies. This part of a woman’s physicality is overlooked when the men need woman for child bearing and the immense role they play in creating life, which is referenced similar to what God does with humanity. Woman not being allowed to achieve higher religious statuses has not allowed another perspective on the scripture as well as it has permanently kept women second to men within the religion, even is the society around the religion has changed to include women

Show More
Related

  • Feminist Criticism In Judith Plaskow's The Coming Of Lilith

    2111 Words  | 5 Pages

    Judith Plaskow, a Jewish feminist, searches for ways to incorporate her mostly male-based and male-interpreted faith with her feminist’s ideals in her book of essays, The Coming of Lilith. Her essay covers a wide variety of topics concerning contemporary Judaism and its possibility for flexibility, especially concerning unfair gender roles. Plaskow also discusses how religious traditions can perpetuate a hatred of the “other” religions and how that negatively affects both parties. Judith Plaskow challenges her religious tradition and contemporary culture that is a product of all religions by using sources of Jewish ethics such as the Torah and the Talmud to back up her feminist criticism.

    Read More

  • The Year of Living Biblically, by A. J. Jacobs

    825 Words  | 2 Pages

    Although the purpose of the Bible is to teach us the right way to live with its numerous rules, the book “The Year of Living Biblically” by A.J. Jacobs, exposes the less publicized rules and how contradictory some of them can be. The main propose of the author of this book is not to criticize or make fun of religion in his quest to “follow the Bible as literally as possible”, but to demonstrate that he enjoys the learning experience. A.J. Jacobs suggests that people claim to be religious when in fact, they only take the rules and ideas they want, this is the reason why I think gender inequality continues to penetrate society today.

    Read More

  • Depatriarchalizing in Biblical Interpretation

    2087 Words  | 5 Pages

    In the opening paragraph of her article "Depatriarchalizing in Biblical Interpretation," Phyllis Trible says that the task she has set before herself, that of relating the words of Hebrew Scripture to the ideology of the Women's Liberation Movement, is considered by many to be "impossible and ill-advised." (Trible, "Depatriarchalizing," 30) Some would suggest, she supposes, that "[t]he two phenomena have nothing to say to each other." (Ibid.) She then quotes Kate Millet expressing one of the more radical views of feminism: that much of the body of scripture in question was written with the express intent of turning the female gender into scapegoats for the ills of the world.

    Read More

  • Women, Church God Analysis

    1021 Words  | 3 Pages

    Rosado starts out in his first chapter saying that one cannot question women related to the church unless one has a correct understanding of how one perceives God. The Bible clearly shows that in order to know God one must get to know Jesus Christ, because He shows humanity God’s true and loving character. In addition, Rosado points out that the way one was raised ultimately affects one’s picture of God. In addition, the judgments and experiences of present-day Christians are based on the culture of today, which affects their interpretation of Bible passages.

    Read More

  • Comparing Feminism in Frankenstein and Dracula

    638 Words  | 2 Pages

    Throughout the texts we have read in English thus far have been feminist issues. Such issues range from how the author published the book to direct, open statements concerning feminist matters. The different ways to present feminist issues is even directly spoken of in one of the essays we read and discussed. The less obvious of these feminist critiques is found buried within the texts, however, and must be read carefully to understand their full meaning- or to even see them.

    Read More

  • Overview Of Women In The Red Tent By Anita Diamant

    1480 Words  | 3 Pages

    Women in the biblical bible represent a transitioning and evolutionary turn for women in the future. Biblical women have open doors of opportunities that allow women to become more independent, confidents and sophisticated. History has shown how women first were seen as a typical care taker or protector compared to a “provider,” which was more associated with men. However, over the century, there has been a chain broken and opportunities released that allowed women to become more like men to a certain degree. There has been a change in status, roles, and education. Biblical women have allowed women in the twenty-first century the chance to obtain a higher status role such as, a provider for their family. Therefore, allowing women to stand up for their rights and what they believe in using sexual techniques. Such as, manipulating men, using their body as a weapon and the power of “sisterhood” to get what they want.

    Read More

  • Biblical Gender Interpretations

    1396 Words  | 3 Pages

    The bible has been the center of many debates and has been used correctly and incorrectly. My objective in this paper is to illuminate the many flaws in the century-old yet ever present interpretation of the bible that suggests women are lesser than men. I will also commend and explain the use of the bible during the civil rights movement.

    Read More

  • IRP 1

    646 Words  | 2 Pages

    I have always found the role of women in religion to be a fascinating and diverse subject, varying from community to community. Sometimes, the role of a woman in society is so closely linked to her religious role, that the two are indistinguishable. For example, why is it that some women are expected to upkeep the home and children without question? How are such gender roles assigned? Are these gender roles created by religion and upheld by culture or created by culture and upheld by religion? Where do such social expectations stem from? What does the daily life of a woman in religious groups that hold such expectations look like? And given these questions, is it possible for such roles to evolve? Has social change within gender roles occurred in the context of religion? In order to find the answers to these questions and questions like them, one must seek further insight of religion itself and the social context within which it exists.

    Read More

  • How far can you be a Feminist Biblical Scholar and Remain a Faithful Christian?

    2039 Words  | 5 Pages

    The number of feminist scholars critically assessing Biblical narrative has risen since the second feminist movement of the 1970s (Scholz 2014). A common theme of their scholarship has been to what extent the Bible may be seen to favour men. Some feminist scholars may not be able to legitimately assess the Bible and remain faithful to it because of such outdated views on women in a time when women’s equality is encouraged. I will firstly discuss the difficulties of being a feminist scholar and a Christian or Jew with particular reference to belonging to men, being of less value in society, and finally with a focus on key issues arising from Genesis 2 and 3 whereby gender roles and woman’s blame for the Fall of Man have been central to feminist interpretations. I will then assess ways in which such difficulties may be overcome with a different interpretation, beginning with refuting claims concerning the Creation story. This will be followed by analysing how the Bible is read and the value of historical context when doing so. By discussing these aspects, I will reach a conclusion as to how far you can be both a feminist scholar and a faithful Christian or Jew.

    Read More

  • Women In Elizabeth Johnson's Quest For The Living God

    1000 Words  | 2 Pages

    Women were treated as second class citizens. They were willfully ignored by members of the Christianity and Despite the patriarchal society from the biblical days, God is taught as being just as much a Mother as God is a Father (102). The willful ignorance of religious scholars of the time just show that they were making a conscious effort of trying to keep women from retaining any power that they had. This relegation of religious roles in an effort to keep Men in power is a poor example of how Christianity is a religion which promotes for the love and care of all people, no matter their status. The interpretation of God from these times clash severely with my notions of what is now considered to be an all-loving entity.

    Read More

  • Gender Inequality In Religion

    463 Words  | 1 Pages

    To explain, through the Gospel of Jesus, Jesus is depicted as the Holy Son, incarnation of God -His Father, and the one who served as the salvation for humanity. The vocabulary and metaphors that is used to describe Jesus sets a patriarchy as is bears "unique characteristics" to males, hence "casting women and men as polar opposite." In addition, the the Gospel of Jesus sets gender binaries. The vocabulary used to describe Jesus, insinuate men hold a closer identity with Christ. As a result, the gendered vocabulary and metaphors used to describe Jesus, and the speech used to describe God exclusively male has without a doubt marginalized women granting men the role that carries greater dominance, power and

    Read More

  • Women's Inferior Status in The Bible

    1023 Words  | 3 Pages

    ... a merely a reflection of Hebrew society of the time (Stanton). Jesus Christ, being a reformer, should have improved the status of women with his message of love and acceptance. However, there is no denying that the stigma is carried with women into the present day. Women’s position in society can be greatly attributed to their depiction in religious text. Holy word is still a factor in making women more susceptible, more culpable, and more sinful an impure than men. Even as women move up in the social order, religion is timeless and ever bearing on the struggle women fight for sexual equality.

    Read More

  • The Importance Of Equal Rights For Women In Society

    1459 Words  | 3 Pages

    Today, women share the same equal rights and opportunities as men; nevertheless, that has not invariably been the case. Before the Jazz Age era, gender discrimination between men and women in society was considerably popular. Women were seen as inferior to men. Their jobs were to care for the home, children, and other domesticated duties while men were able to work, get an education, and become doctors or lawyers. Many women like Susan B. Anthony, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Ida B. Wells, Sojourner Truth, Zora Hurston, to mention a few, seen the unfairness in women's rights and fought for equal rights for women through different movements, efforts, protests, and even marches to abolish women’s rights. As a consequence, women now pursue not only higher education and higher paid jobs/ businesses, but their rights. One of the world’s most controversial issues among churches of today is the role of a woman. Many people are confused about the duty of a woman and how she is supposed to serve God because of history. History taught us to never deny someone of gender, race, or even diversity since he or she has human rights. However, this issue should not be viewed as men versus women because this is not a political issue; instead, it should be viewed as the structural of a church. Women should not be priests, pastors, or even rabbis for God condone women for being priests, pastors, and rabbis as well as proscribed.

    Read More

  • The Role of Women in Religion

    2068 Words  | 5 Pages

    Initially, Old Testament describes women as the corrupter of man. However, through interpreting the action of Jesus Christ, we see that he holds women in equal roles as men, to include mention of female apostles. The New Testament does not promote equality but does mention the acts of Jesus. Finally, the Qur'an places women in a subservient role allowing men to keep their under control, by any means. Interpretations of the Gods word under the disguise of organized religion are the product of the gender discrimination of the time and continue to paint women as lesser creatures in the eyes of God.

    Read More

  • Essay On The Feminist Movement

    1136 Words  | 3 Pages

    The attempt for feminist movement dates back to the early 1800’s, where women were not considered equal to that of a man in religious contributions. If women did not belonged to a rich class, they had no privileges or the will to think freely. Around the 19th century religion gained some popularity amongst the general women population. The goal for the religious feminists was to change how their roles were perceived in the church life. Their aim was to create an image that would shape their role in the church and hope the outcome would positively influence their quality of life at home. This motivation for change created two feminist camps, egalitarians and complementarianism. Egalitarians were feminist camps, focused on equality. The Democratics Socialist Perspective belief was ...

    Read More

More about The Shortcomings Of Feminism And Christianity By Lynn Japinga

Open Document