I have never felt comfortable with woman's role as a submissive, third rung partner in the ladder of marriage. God > Man > Woman. Simple Christian math.
I believe this to be against humankind's nature, a tool of weak men who are afraid that without spiritual bullying, they will have no power, love, or respect. With the powerful masochistic trifecta of Judaism-Christianity-Islam behind much of the world's history and current laws, it's no wonder that religious women must fight internally every day to be more "humble" "meek" and "kind", while religious men of the world wage horrific wars in the name of God and oil.
How different would modern society be if women were accepted from the beginning as equal partners and had a hand in developing the religious traditions and beliefs that we cling to today?
As I privately wrestle with these and more questions, I found that Rachel Held Evans has been waging a more public, applauded debate with many of the same questions! Equalitarian vs. Complimentarian, two different models for husbands, two different ways of viewing men and women's relationships. As an English major, I nerdily fell in love with the labeling, the word dissection, the context clues, and simple truth of Rachel's arguments.
I am blessed to be married to a man of quiet strength, a man who seeks for and listens to my opinion, who shares equally with me all aspects of our lives. Gender roles aren't a concern, our relationship and our family is our focus. We are equal, we are partners, and we are still and always in love.
I believe this to be against humankind's nature, a tool of weak men who are afraid that without spiritual bullying, they will have no power, love, or respect. With the powerful masochistic trifecta of Judaism-Christianity-Islam behind much of the world's history and current laws, it's no wonder that religious women must fight internally every day to be more "humble" "meek" and "kind", while religious men of the world wage horrific wars in the name of God and oil.
How different would modern society be if women were accepted from the beginning as equal partners and had a hand in developing the religious traditions and beliefs that we cling to today?
As I privately wrestle with these and more questions, I found that Rachel Held Evans has been waging a more public, applauded debate with many of the same questions! Equalitarian vs. Complimentarian, two different models for husbands, two different ways of viewing men and women's relationships. As an English major, I nerdily fell in love with the labeling, the word dissection, the context clues, and simple truth of Rachel's arguments.
I am blessed to be married to a man of quiet strength, a man who seeks for and listens to my opinion, who shares equally with me all aspects of our lives. Gender roles aren't a concern, our relationship and our family is our focus. We are equal, we are partners, and we are still and always in love.
