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7/28/2015

Gender Equality in Biblical Times

Women In The Bible That Held High Offices And Gender Equality 


Did women of the Biblical times hold high offices that were equal to man? 

Certainly that is a question posed by all women. In some religious denominations such as Roman Catholic, The Church of Later Day Saints and some Pentecostal Churches. So lets see if this is true according to the Bible itself and biblical history.

I often wonder how their church gets them to believe anything that the priest, minister, pastor says above all else. Surely it has to be some kind of brain-washing because they are taught to read their Bibles and adhere to their doctrine. They seem to gloss over any roles in the Bible that women played that equaled that of man. There were a few stories in the Bible itself of women who were equalled in the responsibility of preaching/teaching and prophesying. Jesus was a supporter for gender equality. He did have women disciples and one of their story is brought to life in this hub along with another that was in the Old Testament.

According to Laurence Gardner, in his book The Bloodline of the Holy Grail The Hidden Lineage of Jesus, he states: 
"The first criterion was that the New Testament Gospels must be written in the names of Jesus' own apostles. Matthew was, of course, an apostle, as was John - but Mark was not an apostle of Jesus as far as we know, neither was Luke; they were both colleagues of the later St. Paul. Thomas and Philip, on the other hand, were among the original twelve, and yet the Gospels in their names were excluded. Not only that but, along with various other texts, they was sentenced to be destroyed. And so, throughout the Mediterranean world, numerous unapproved books were buried and hidden in the 5th century.

Although many of these books were not rediscovered until the 20th century, they were used openly by the early Christians. Certain of them, including the Gospels mentioned, along with the Gospel of Truth, the Gospel of the Egyptians and others, were actually mentioned in the 2nd-century writings of early churchmen such as Clement of Alexandria, Irenaeus of Lyon and Origen of Alexandria.
So, why were these and other apostolic Gospels not selected? Because there was a second, far more important criterion to consider - the criterion by which, in truth, the Gospel selection was really made. It was, in fact, a wholly sexist regulation which precluded anything that upheld the status of women in Church or community society. Indeed, the Church's own Apostolic Constitutions were formulated on this basis. They state: "We do not permit our women to teach in the Church, only to pray and to hear those who teach. Our master, when he sent us the twelve, did nowhere send out a woman - for the head of the woman is the man, and it is not reasonable that the body should govern the head".
This was an outrageous statement with no apparent foundation, but it was for this very reason that dozens of Gospels were not selected, because they made it quite clear that there were many active women in the ministry of Jesus - women such as Mary Magdalene, Martha, Helena-Salome, Mary-Jacob Cleopas and Joanna. These were not only ministering disciples, but priestesses in their own right, running exemplary schools of worship in the Nazarene tradition.
The Church was so frightened of women that it implemented a rule of celibacy for its priests - a rule that became a law in 1138; a rule that persists today. But this rule has never been quite what it appears on the surface, for it was never sexual activity as such that bothered the Church. The more specific problem was priestly intimacy with women. Why? Because women become mothers, and the very nature of motherhood is a perpetuation of bloodlines. It was this that caused such concern - a taboo subject which, at all costs, had to be separated from the necessary image of Jesus.
We have all learned to go along with what we are taught about the Gospels "
Also in the Bible women were exalted and praised for their contribution to their families and society of that time. You can read that in Proverbs 31.

Pentecostal Beliefs

According to ALLSANDS the pentecostal church and it's beliefs and teachings is very rigid. One author describes the doctrine in this way. "They are fundamentalists with a narrow interpretation of the Bible. There is no room for smokers, drinkers, gamblers or worldly movies. These are vices that will keep you from Heaven and membership in the Church. Questionable pagan celebrations like Halloween are ignored. While "grace" is an essential element of most Christian doctrine, I find that Pentecostals, more than most, are legalistic and exclusive. They have the answers and all other churches are suspect in many areas. Behavior is closely scrutinized in the light of their own orthodoxy. If you're not willing to quit smoking or buying lottery tickets, I recommend leaving because you will never become one with them. "
Here is what Pentecostal Denominations believe in regards to women:
"Pentecostalism" espouses religion as a "romantic" philosophy, that the heart of man has reasons which his mind knows not of, and that man's feelings are the highest authority.
Pentecostalism believes and teaches that women may participate in leading in prayer, teaching, and preaching in public, and doing the work of an evangelist and teacher.
1. The Holy Spirit contrasted the duties of men from that of women in public prayer. (1 Tim 2:8-15).
2. Women are to learn in silence. (1 Cor 14:34). They are not to teach in any capacity over a man.
3. Women may teach younger women. (Titus 2:4). They may teach a man in private. (Acts 18:25).
a. Timothy was taught in private. Apollos was taught in private.
4. Women many not "teach" (deliver discourses). Women are forbidden to preach. (1 Cor. 14:34)

Roman Catholic Beliefs

In an article about Women's rights in the Roman Catholic Church these are the stipulations of what role a woman is in the church function and household.

""As in all the churches of the saints, the women should keep silence in the churches. For they are not permitted to speak, but should be subordinate, as even the law says. If there is anything they desire to know, let them ask their husbands at home. For it is shameful for a woman to speak in church. . . . what I am writing to you is a command of the Lord." (1 Cor 14:33-35, 37)"
"Let a woman learn in silence with all submissiveness. I permit no woman to teach or to have authority over men; she is to keep silent." (1 Tim 2:11-12) 
"Wives, be submissive to your husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior." (Ephesians 5:22) 

Women are not to be in an political, police, or a soldier. They are not to teach adult men or have any kind of authority over a man weather it be in the home or in the workplace.The article goes on and on and the website even has tings such as how a woman is to dress.
You can also read about two Nun's stories about how they came away from being a NUN in the Catholic Church: Mary C. Hertel and Mary Ann Collins

The Church Of The Latter Day Saints - Mormons

In an article by Maxine Hanks, a former Mormon, PERSPECTIVE ON MORMON WOMEN, A Struggle to Reclaim Authority she states that the roles of women in the Church has changed. Here is some of what she wrote:
"Mormon women obtained authority early in the history of the church and then fought a losing battle to keep it. Their concerns were not taken seriously, so men's authority prevailed. Feminism emerged in the struggle, in the energy of women's rhetoric and work and in their resistance to male agendas. "
"During the first 20 years of Mormonism, from 1830 to 1850, women received authority for blessings, healing and prophecy; priesthood keys, powers and rituals; and missionary calls.
"In 1884, Eliza R. Snow, "prophetess" and president over all women and girls in the church, made it clear that the women's Relief Society, which she headed, was "designed to be a self-governing organization. "If difficulties arise," she wrote, ". . . the matter should be referred to (the) president and her counselors." Later, when men assumed governance over women, they usurped women's authority."

It seems to me that the Church went through some sort of metamorphosis when it came to women's roles. I am not sure if that was due to societal influence or not. It is obvious that the roles of women in the church have changed drastically though and the men seem to love that power and will not go back to the way it used to be. Women were equals to their husband in every way and now they are deemed different. Makes a person wonder what happened.

Deborah -Prophetess and Judge Over Israel

Deborah Prophetess
The book of Judges, Chapter 4and 5 tells the story of Deborah chosen by GOD to be the Judge and prophetess of Israel.
Verses 4 and 5 states who she is and her role as an equal to men of that time:
4And Deborah, a woman inspired, wife of Lapidoth, she is judging Israel at that time,
5and she is dwelling under the palm-tree of Deborah, between Ramah and Beth-El, in the hill-country of Ephraim, and the sons of Israel go up unto her for judgment.
Please read the whole chapter and not just these two verses. It completes that part of her story.
Deborah as the Judge of Israel counsels Barak and he defeated Sisera and
freed Israel from the tyranny of the Canaanite King Yavin. She was the only female to hold such a high office, equalling that of an man of Israel. The men were to unwilling to hold hat position. Since the laws of that time forbade women to be alone in a house with a man she would sit under a tree for those to come to her for judgment.


Deborah is but one of the 5 women prophetesses and many others that were of notable, mentioned in the Bible. There were many more. You can find the list of names and a short bio of each on the site Notable Women Of The Bible. She prophesied that if she went with Barak into battle that Sisera would be delivered into a woman's hands. And so Barak asked that she go with him and she did and the Canaanites were delivered into her hands. She would be considered the real leader of Israel....and so she was.

Her song of victory is the whole of Judges Chapter 5.
Her song is one of the greatest of ancient literature. in the Bible. What a great song it is.


Dorcas/Tabitha Disciple of Christ

Tabitha a Disciple of Christ
In Acts 9, there is a story of a woman by the name of Tabitha or Dorcas as she would have been called in those days. She was raised from the dead by Peter. Here is the story of Tabitha. She was indeed a disciple of Christ with the other men and held in that office with Peter's help.
36And in Joppa there was a certain female disciple, by name Tabitha, (which interpreted, is called Dorcas,) this woman was full of good works and kind acts that she was doing;
37and it came to pass in those days she, having ailed, died, and having bathed her, they laid her in an upper chamber,
38and Lydda being nigh to Joppa, the disciples having heard that Peter is in that [place], sent two men unto him, calling on him not to delay to come through unto them.
39And Peter having risen, went with them, whom having come, they brought into the upper chamber, and all the widows stood by him weeping, and shewing coats and garments, as many as Dorcas was making while she was with them.
40And Peter having put them all forth without, having bowed the knees, did pray, and having turned unto the body said, `Tabitha, arise;' and she opened her eyes, and having seen Peter, she sat up,
41and having given her [his] hand, he lifted her up, and having called the saints and the widows, he presented her alive,

The Verse They Use in Error

This be the verse that they pull from the whole story: 1 Timothy 2 12-14 (italicized and underlined) to prove their point but if you read the whole chapter it is revealed that women are equal to the man. It even goes to say that women are saved through child-birth. I will not go into why some women cannot have children and if they are not saved or not. That is another subject matter altogether.
The whole chapter for your edification:
1 Timothy 2
1I exhort, then, first of all, there be made supplications, prayers, intercessions, thanksgivings, for all men:
2for kings, and all who are in authority, that a quiet and peaceable life we may lead in all piety and gravity,
3for this [is] right and acceptable before God our Saviour,
4who doth will all men to be saved, and to come to the full knowledge of the truth;
5for one [is] God, one also [is] mediator of God and of men, the man Christ Jesus,
6who did give himself a ransom for all -- the testimony in its own times --
7in regard to which I was set a preacher and apostle -- truth I say in Christ, I do not lie -- a teacher of nations, in faith and truth.
8I wish, therefore, that men pray in every place, lifting up kind hands, apart from anger and reasoning;
9in like manner also the women, in becoming apparel, with modesty and sobriety to adorn themselves, not in braided hair, or gold, or pearls, or garments of great price,
10but -- which becometh women professing godly piety -- through good works.
11Let a woman in quietness learn in all subjection,
12and a woman I do not suffer to teach, nor to rule a husband, but to be in quietness,
13for Adam was first formed, then Eve,
14and Adam was not deceived, but the woman, having been deceived, into transgression came,
15and she shall be saved through the child-bearing, if they remain in faith, and love, and sanctification, with sobriety.

A PARTING VERSE FROM PSALMS 68

10Thy company have dwelt in it, Thou preparest in Thy goodness for the poor, O God.
 11The Lord doth give the saying, The female proclaimers [are] a numerous host.
 12Kings of hosts flee utterly away, And a female inhabitant of the house apportioneth spoil.
 13Though ye do lie between two boundaries, Wings of a dove covered with silver, And her pinions with yellow gold.

7/25/2015

A Bit About Faith and How We Are To Use It




Finding Ourselves Through Our Faith
I have come to understand what FAITH and Sin is by reading the Bible myself. Oh I have studied other belief structures and systems as well and I also studied how they all came to be in our society and what their personal doctrines and dogmas are. When I read the story about moving mountains and how the tiniest of seeds become the biggest trees, I read those stories many times before I understood just what it all means and then compared those with what Jesus was talking about. What this tells me is that FAITH is not of any religion or belief systems. It has nothing to do with what religion (church) tells you that it is.

Jesus taught
Mathew 8:25-27
and his disciples having come to him, awoke him, saying, `Sir, save us; we are perishing.' And he saith to them, `Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith?' Then having risen, he rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm; and the men wondered, saying, `What kind -- is this, that even the wind and the sea do obey him?'
~~~~~~~~
And also Mark 4: 39-41
And having waked up, he rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, `Peace, be stilled;' and the wind did lull, and there was a great calm: and he said to them, `Why are ye so fearful? how have ye not faith?' and they feared a great fear, and said one to another, `Who, then, is this, that even the wind and the sea do obey him?'
~~~~~~~~~~~
Mathew 9: 22
22And Jesus having turned about, and having seen her, said, `Be of good courage, daughter, thy faith hath saved thee,' and the woman was saved from that hour.
~~~~~~~~~
Mathew 17: 19-21
19Then the disciples having come to Jesus by himself, said, `Wherefore were we not able to cast him out?' And Jesus said to them, `Through your want of faith; for verily I say to you, if ye may have faith as a grain of mustard, ye shall say to this mount, Remove hence to yonder place, and it shall remove, and nothing shall be impossible to you, and this kind doth not go forth except in prayer and fasting.'
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Luke 17: 17-21
17And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine? There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger. And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole. And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.
~~~~~
Nowhere does Jesus say that all the Faith is in God. He says the it is WITHIN you. We are expected to do things and to have Faith in Ourselves.
Jesus states that We are Gods, because we are again expected to have Faith as we go about in this world. He also says that it is the same as above and the same as below. There is no difference there. We create, or destroy, our reality or circumstances with the Faith WITHIN ourselves. It is expected of each and everyone of us. Sin is the absence of Faith. When we have the correct Self-Esteem then we can do great and powerful things and create whatever it is that we put our minds too.


The Straight and Narrow Path
Everything in Moderation. The Eye of the Needle and the narrow path is the path to ourselves and it is never an easy one. We need help from others and that is where we learn how great or little the things that we can accomplish. So we come together in groups and assemblies to gather us in and spread the good works of others and to lift them up. If we sin, we don't go to hell, we experience fear and some even promote it to bring a false sense of self-esteem and it turns into arrogance. This is what too much Faith does and that is a sin too.
Go help someone with Low Self Esteem. Give them High Hopes. Jesus did this many times by just saying simply go and sin no more. It was his way of forgiving us and we are to do the same. This is how we learn to have compassion towards one another and to Love One Another. We are expected to lift our neighbors up, not put them down. This is where the lyrics to the song come in. Just what makes that ant think that he can move that rubber tree plant (lyrics below). We give him a bit of self esteeem and a push to give him FAITH in himself. Just the way that Jesus told the disciples that they could move that mountain. If you believe then you can do wonderous things. If you don't believe you will do nothing and you will be in a hell within yourself.

Peace Be Within You


Just What Makes You Think
Next time you're found with your chin on the ground
There's a lot to be learned so look around
Just what makes that little ol' ant
Think he'll move that rubber tree plant
Anyone knows an ant, can't
Move a rubber tree plant
But he's got high hopes... he's got high hopes
He's got high apple pie in the sky hopes
So any time you're getting low
'Stead of letting go,
Just remember that ant.
Oops there goes another rubber tree
Oops there goes another rubber tree
Oops there goes another rubber tree plant.
When troubles call and your back's to the wall
There's a lot to be learned, that wall could fall.
Once there was a silly ol' ram,
Thought he'd punch a hole in a dam;
No one could make that ram, scram,
He kept buttin' that dam
But he's got high hopes... he's got high hopes
He's got high apple pie in the sky hopes
So any time you're feeling bad
'Stead of feeling sad
Just remember that ram.
Oops there goes a billion kilowatt
Oops there goes a billion kilowatt
Oops there goes a billion kilowatt dam!
Next time you're found with your chin on the ground
There's a lot to be learned so look around
Just what makes that little ol' ant
Think he'll move that rubber tree plant
Anyone knows an ant, can't
Move a rubber tree plant
So keep your high hopes, keep your high hopes.
Keep your high apple pie in the sky hopes.
A problem's just a toy balloon
They'll be bursting soon
They're just bound to go POP!
Oops there goes another problem ker...
Oops there goes another problem ker...
Oops there goes another problem kerplop.

Kerplop!

7/20/2015

Are You A Christian or Churchian?


I took this off of Hubpages.  I did not bring the comments here because mot of them were very nasty.

I came out of the church and am not of that crowd anymore.  I read that Bible by myself and I also learned about other beliefs and also, the most important part, what other books that were ommitted from the Bible said.  I did learn about Jesus's history, his heritage and also that he did not exist, but the writing that are in the Bible are also the same thoughts that others who came before him said.

Here is my post that I had on Hubpages....

Teaching Out of the Bible, Really?

The beginning of the world and Adam and Eve and the creations stories, in the bible was stolen. Did you know that?

The stories of a virgin giving birth to a holy child are in many cultures and not just Christianity.  Did you know that?

When you steal and then tell everyone that you are right and they are wrong and they are demonic...that goes against the very Ten Commandments...IN THE BIBLE. One is thou shalt not steal and the other is thou shalt not bear false witness.  Personally, I may not like your innards, but that does not mean that I cannot like you as a person.  That also goes to say that if I do not like your innards that I cannot like you period.  That is what some hard-core Christians are saying and trying to make others believe.  That is total nonsense.

Those Ten Commandments are very similar to the commandments or laws in Egypt in those days.  Who had them first….Moses or the Pharaohs?  Does it really matter?

Adversary is what Satan is supposed to be and the meaning of that is not evil at all. Did you know that?

What is evil? 

It is simply something that we do not know of or is unknown to us. Is not that the reason Jesus told us to know thy enemy? At the very moment that you go against the Ten Commandments you go against the scriptures. Did you not know this?

Who said that to look at God would kill a man? 
Did they really mean literally or did they mean that in another sense?

If you read the bible it also tells you that not everything is written in it. Did you know that?

What does it mean to you when Jesus states very clearly that the Kingdom of God is within you?

What is all in God's kingdom?

.....Satan, Jesus, me, you and heaven and hell are all in his kingdom. When you deviate from that and tell everyone that the kingdom is outside of you---then you are going against scripture and teaching out of the bible.  This is what I am being accused of but take a look in the mirror at just what you are doing.

Who taught you how to read that bible so that it says that anything not in it is false or a lie? Why are they using scare-tactics when it clearly states that not everything is in there? Why is the word of Jesus taken so lightly over the rest of the bible when it was he who is the Christian leader...or was/is he?
Why is it that women are omitted from leadership in the church when Jesus himself was in love with a High Priestess? If you say that he wasn't then you have been lied too.

Who do you trust and have faith in? 

According to Jesus you trust yourself and have faith in yourself because if you do not have faith and trust in yourself then you are a non-believer. Build their self-esteem up, not tear it down.  That is what a Minister, Pastor, Rabi, Priest is supposed to do.  That is the reason that Jesus came and why everyone is not a sinner.  In that Bible it does state that and if you do not believe that then you are teaching out of the Bible.


When you come away from the church, that Jesus spoke against.  (Yes he did) he also told us not to do the traditions and all the fluff that church teaches us, you will see things differently. I never said Jesus's teachings were false. The Old Testament was about a certain peoples, not everyone. I am not a Jew, nor a Levite and science and medical research has come far from that. Jesus even said in that bible that we would do greater things than he could ever do. Why do you not believe this and that we have come so far with regards to life situations and health and yet stay in the centuries before Jesus? That boggles the mind.

You failed to answer my question: Who said the bible was the word of God? 
Did a man say it? 
A Man did say it. Who was the man and why would he say that? 
What about women? 
Why cannot they say it?

About the scripture stuff, I do not even go there anymore because it is futile. It eventually proves nothing and just makes people mad and frustrated.

You really think that I believe that there is a flaw to everything in the Bible???? What is your reasoning behind that?

What was the reasoning behind making the bible? Was it really to tell others about God or was there some other motive? Who chose those few clergy that put the letters and stories together from a million stories and letter....some that are still being found? Why did they stop when they did and tell us that anything added or taken away would make it all void?

I am not telling you that the bible is false and irrelevant, just saying that there is lots of history that went into the making of that book and that you should know that and make an informed judgment of it and not believe things blindly. We are not supposed to be robots; else God would have made us so. 

Some have asked me if and why I am trying to take away from their church. I am not doing so. Some have even tried to tell me that I am converting and well that is lame because we are not to convert anyone to anything. Jesus and God are inside of us and we cannot ever leave them and they cannot ever leave us. There are scripture in that bible that says so but I am not going to go there. You know how to read the bible and I am pretty sure that if you look them up you will find them yourself. You are pretty smart.

EGO tells you that you are all powerful and that you control everyone and the world, when Jesus states that The Kingdom Of God is Within you and has mentioned 4 times in that bible that WE ARE GODS. We are, but the first instance is that we cannot be gods. That is the EGO talking.
When you realize the you are GOD and that you make your world with your thoughts and actions and other things, then you sit back and the words come out as Oh My God, what have I done and What am I about to do and what is coming my way from what I have thought a minute ago or a day ago.

That is when you understand what Jesus says about being careful with your thoughts.

So you see this is not about religion or church, but about self and how we treat others and what we get back. Jesus was not a "Christian", God does NOT have a religion, but as we are God we know everything that we do and the outcomes of them...if we pay attention. Everyone already knows all of this because Jesus stated the he put the laws (if we chose to pay attention to them) in our hearts and minds. Those who do not pay attention do have a hell on earth. Believe me with that.  Those are the ones who end up in jail in one way or another.

You see all this and you will most likely push it away because of what man has told you. I can tell you with conviction that I love you and everyone else on the planet because we are all here to learn about ourselves and how WE relate to others that are also here to learn how they relate to others and then there is all those ripples in the pond and that is life. When you change your thoughts and your actions and reactions, everything changes. Be Aware of your thoughts is what Jesus says.


Sorry for the sermon, I guess that is why I was called to be a Reverend that I never really wanted to be in the first place. Oh there is an overseer of sorts but that has no bearing on what we are to learn and how we are to learn it. They only set things up for us and then test us on what we have learned when we go home.

© Debra K. Allen a.k.a Lady Guinevere