Women in Christianity

GCSE Religious Studies (Philosophy & Ethics)

Religion and Equality

The Role of Women in Christianity

Women in Christian society

Throughout the ages, The Christian church has often been accused of being sexist. Biblical scriptures are often written in favour of men and even God is assumed by the Church as being male.

Many Christians take the Bible literally, following Biblical scriptures such as ‘God made man in his own image’ (Genesis 1:27). This particular teaching is often used to justify the differences of men and women in the Church.

Is the Bible sexist?

The Bible makes many references that would suggest that women have a status lower than that of men within Christianity. However the Bible was written in times which were very different to now and then, it was seen as the socially accepted roles of men and women.

According to the Bible, Paul said that:

“Women should remain silent in the Churches. They are not allowed to speak, but to be in submission as the law says, if they want to enquire about something, they should ask their husbands at home; for it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in the Church.”

(1 Corinthians 14:35-35)

The Bible also shows is that Jesus did criticize women, in this reference, it was about his mother:

“When the wine gave out, the mother of Jesus said to him, ‘they have no wine.’ And Jesus said to her, ...

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According to the Bible, Paul said that:

(1 Corinthians 14:35-35)

The Bible also shows is that Jesus did criticize women, in this reference, it was about his mother:

“When the wine gave out, the mother of Jesus said to him, ‘they have no wine.’ And Jesus said to her, ‘woman, what concern is that to you and me?’”

(John 2:3-4a)

However in Matthew, Jesus is shown to respect women for he treats them well.

Opinions

Some Christians feel that the differences in the roles of men and women are very distinct. Women should do the traditional roles of looking after the house and raising the children whilst the men work to earn money that the family needs to survive.

Many Christians oppose this opinion though. They believe that women should be equal to men. Genesis gives a clear picture to us that women are equal to men:

“So God created humankind in his image, in the image of God he created them, male and female.”

(Genesis 1:27)

Women Priests

The Christian Church has been very slow and reluctant to change their opinions on women. In some Anglican Churches in America and New Zealand have allowed female priests but the Church of England didn’t allow women to be priests until 1994.

Many people have been tolerant and welcomed the female priests, however many people left the Church of England and became members of the Roman Catholic Church.

Roman Catholic view

The Roman Catholic Church teaches that a priest represents Jesus and Jesus was a man and therefore women cannot be priests in the Roman Catholic Church. The Roman Catholic Church also justifies their opinion by reminding people that Jesus chose only men for his disciples.

“Then they returned to Jerusalem from the hill called the Mount of Olives, a Sabbath day's walk from the city. When they arrived, they went upstairs to the room where they were staying. Those present were Peter, John, James and Andrew; Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew; James son of Alpheus and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.”

(Acts 1:12-14)