Orthodox Christians most likely rejected feminine descriptions of God due to the strict gender roles of the time. Orthodox women were expected to take on the subordinate role, and Gnostic beliefs contradicted these values. Gnostic holy books often referred to God as both feminine and masculine. The books also suggest that they prayed to both God the Father and the Divine Mother (pagels). This female genderization of God is the primary reason their books were excluded from the New Testament.
Ehrman tries to make the case that the Bible is not reliable because Paul contradicts himself in the role of women in the church, and thus concludes that one of the books is not actually written by Paul but is actually a scribal addition. If the Bible is inerrant and trustworthy, then if Paul did not write what he is said to have written, then how can we trust the rest of the Bible? This verse, 1 Corinthians 14:33, which talks about women keeping silent in church, “has led some scholars to surmise that the verses were not written by Paul but originated as a kind of marginal note added by a scribe, possibly under the influence of 1 Timothy
Smith drew many coincidences between Hutchinson’s role during the Antinomian controversy (the view that God's grace has freed the Christian from the need to observe established moral precepts) and powerful modern women today. The author defends her argument by vividly describing that no matter what Anne Hutchinson stated that she would be reprimanded not by what she said, but because of her gender. After reading this article one would conclude that her act of speaking were more of a crime than the words uttered. No matter how many times she would attempt to defend herself, she would not be heard unless she stated what the judges wanted her to say. During the period of the Protestant Reformation man were allowed to have a direct relationship with God and women could not.
People said her meetings were disorderly, but she said she was following God. Mostly because she was being more than a wife and mother and going above her place as a woman, the church banished her. The church leadership was getting upset because she had said that certain pastors were wrong and that people should live only
The Church has many restrictions to be part of its clergy. Being a female is one restriction. Many officials are close-minded and immature for saying, “That women talk too much, or that it is not becoming for them to wear the clerical tonsure” (Viewpoints). A few officials, “have now come to terms with the fact that women are capable of heading academic faculties, running major corporations, ruling their countries as prime minister or presidents” (Viewpoints). Women are just as capable as men in governing the Church.
Not just civil rights for women, or for immigrants, or for the elderly, but civil rights for our LGBT community. I was raised with a religious background, was raised not to question the Holy Bible, and to sit and listen and shut up as any woman should in the church. As a child this always bothered me… if God gave us free will to think our own, surely He would want us to question him? What is faith if you are merely blinded by things you are only told to be fact? Wouldn’t that faith be stronger if you were to research on your own?
There are people who live in a secular world, worlds that is non-religious, but who identify, in their hearts, with Christianity. They are a breed of people who are challenging the Church to become ecumenical in its thinking and if the Church will not get out into the community to help others this group will be found doing the work of the ‘Church’. Pastoral Carers and/or Ministers have challenging roles that must include these Christians who will most likely never come into their Churches. The inclusion of these people will exemplify the most powerful form of love that could ever exist, a love that is unconditional and a love that does not come with wrong motives. The traditions of man must give way to this new generation of worshippers, worshippers who are not frequenting the Church but are in the communities helping, reading ‘spiritual’ books to help them learn about being great people, and having a relationship with God.
The Baptist church was frequently criticized by other churches that were supported by public taxes. Church clergy were always insulted and many were whipped and abused because of their public beliefs (Baker). The churches characteristics greatly define who they are and make it a great divider from other religious denominations. The Baptist faith believes wholly in the idea that Baptisms are only for believers and should be left as a personal decision not something that is given to an infant. However, even though Baptists believe that the idea of getting baptized is important it is only looked upon as a symbolic
Christianity is faced with abortion because God doesn't make mistakes, but humans do. Other religions face the challenges of wanting to step out of their culture and seek the lord. Christians are also faced with many questions on how we know if God is real or not. Lastly, Christians would say that Christianity is not a religion, but a relationship and every non believer/belief believe that it is a religion. This movie takes the viewers through many challenges that young Christians face in society.
Looking back, these opinions of acceptance and guidance were not always evident in the early church; some believed it was best to judge and punish the unwed mothers for their sin. Those who chose to stay away from the church, however, are not impartial to being judged and criticized from the outside world. The situation of unwed motherhood continues to make an impact socially and economically across America. Difficult decisions lie in every direction that an unwed mother turns. While some choose to look toward Scripture and Godly guidance, others choose a more worldly approach.