In contemporary times we appreciate women in many walks of life - from professional and specialised disciplines to their roles and contributions in the development of society. Women have made meaningful inputs in Medicine, Law, Humanities, Economics and Politics, among very many other concerns.

I quite understand the fact that in religious circles, there's a sense of uneasiness about the question of the true value or worth of women in spiritual significance. From my understanding of some of the teachings on this subject in both faiths (Christianity and Islam), women make good mothers and are necessary to raise families. My concern in inviting contributions from bloggers of both faiths is to enquire what else they think should be added to the list. With particular focus on their tenets, it might help to discuss what the faiths hold as the value and worth of women in religious significance; as well as what the ladies and guys in the house want to see in their partners.

Thank you.

Hi, I must thank you first of all for seeking the comments of nairalnders on the your present state of confusion.

However I must have to correct something before I go ahead.There's no uneasiness concerning the state or benefits of women in religious circles(christian).What rather is being done is that the religious circle s are rather trying to preserve the authenticity of women and in so doing get women to play well the field which they were made to play.Have not come to discover that no matter the height of achievement nature cannot be swapped.

Now to your question,I will say that women are been appreciated more in christian religioun than in Islam.The signs are evident in every christian gathering around.The problem rather is that when women are allowed to come together to contribute their quota to the spiritual,moral,financial etc of the church and family.What is obtainable is that they rather than doing that start victimising themselves and taking on masculine tendercies which I believe is the reall intension of Deut 22:5

Hi Mlks-baby,

In response to your question (A Christian perspective).

My I start by stating that I unreservedly believe that women are of equal worth, value and significance in the sight of God. However, I also believe that God in His infinite wisdom has designed Man (Male & female) with gender specific roles and areas of influence in mind.

I believe this is borne out by creation order (contained within the biblical narrative & instruction), genetic makeup, behavioral traits and inclination and historical experience.

Ancillary to this I believe that it is important to
1. Delineate between the different spheres
2. Take a scriptural view in assigning merit/value to the different spheres.

For simplicity lets call the basic spheres are home, church and work (commerce & government).

I hold to the view that the home (and not the church) is God’s basic building block. Neither do I believe that church authority supersedes or has a mandate to usurp that established in the home. The home is to be headed by the husband. This order is to be carried over into the church, albeit on a slightly larger scale and with the functions (offices) of elders and deacons open to suitably qualified males. (no unscriptural “sole Pastor” leadership in my thinking). Indeed, a home even comprising of just a husband and wife is in a sense “church”.

With a husbands agreement a married woman should be free to aspire to any level of
achievement, be that academic, commercial or governmental as long as the pursuit it no way compromises God’s will and purposes.

As too the relative value of the spheres, I believe the home, the church and then work are the relative order of importance. Pursuit of agreed marital goals, family needs, fostering spousal harmony and raising godly children is always more important than a high-flying career (or endless church based activity), for both men and women. However, as I believe men should have prime responsibility for providing and women for caring, it’s a sacrifice that women may have to suffer more. Obviously there is room for agreement and manuvoure within these parameters.

Personally, while I am not yet married, I hope to be, and understand that “our” experience will be unique to us. Yet I am firmly convinced that with shared faith and beliefs, mutual love and understanding, a shared dependence on God and trust in His Word, all will be well (even is wifey earns more than me!).

May I close by saying that it was Christianity that emancipated women, not women’s lib, not feminism, nor any other civil rights movement. At a time in history when women were considered little more than chattel, God through the Apostle Paul commanded men to “love” their wives.

While I am not ignorant of the fact, that in the name of "Christianity" women have been oppressed (and in some places still are) by men men for centuries, I don't believe a swing to the opposite extreme is the answer. Gender equality is a misguided man-made concept. As for gender neutrality, that’s both inane and perverse,  the less said about that the better.

A reversion to biblically prescribed mores in the relationships between men and women would solve a lot of the ills that affect society. Restore harmony between the sexes and believe it or not really empower women.


God bless

ps
~ Daughters are subject to daddy’s authority until such time as they marry. At her
   husbands behest, a wife may refer to her new spouse as “Daddee”
~ The successful applicants for the vacant “wife” position will be required to supply
    own chain and sink.  And remember, there’s only one pastor in my house, me!
~ Presumably, I shall henceforth be known as “TV01 no mates” on this forum.

@denobleman,

It wasn't my present state of confusion, but you're welcome to contribute anyhow - much appreciated.

However, I don't think that what anybody does with Deut. 22:5 actually sets the tone for the value of women in Christianity. More often than not, it is not women who "victimize themselves" but some of their incompetent husbands who turn out to be wife-beaters at home and put up a smiling face in public. Their are wonderful men out their who make wholesome fathers, husbands, lovers and confidants. Yet, on the whole, what place do men think women should hold in public life, private and domestic environments, and then religious quarters? Is there any scriptural reason for men maltreating their women at all?

@TV01,

I see some of your points with respect to the Christian perspective. Interesting.

The role and value of women in Christianity is just immense.  While it may be impossible to share all my thoughts with you on this forum, I will try as much as possible to show from the Bible, how women have always played and continue to play important roles in God's agenda.

Enter Genesis:  In order not to be too technical and therefore defeat the purpose of this write-up, I will not so much dinstiguish between the 'Female', and the 'Woman' as revealed in the Book of Genesis.  Instead, both terms will be used interchangeably in the hope of simplicity.

The male Adam was created in the garden as a type of Him that was to come - Jesus Christ.  After a look into the future however, God made this proclamation about His man: "It is not in line with divine revelation that the man should be alone, I will make him an helper suitable for him" (paraphrase).  The only reason why God made this statement  is because Adam on his own typified the man Jesus, and God knew that the man Jesus would become the Christ.  In order for Adam to fully represent the Christ, he must have a 'body' which the woman represents.  So we see in this instance, that not only was the woman created for the man, she was actually created to be God's helper to point to His Christ.

A study of the word Help MEET used in that 18th verse of Genesis chapter 2, suggests someone who is actually there to protect you.  That same word is used of God in at least 11 places in the Book of Pslams (check out pslams 20:2, 33:20, 70:5 & 146:5 to name a few).  I guess this explains why Adam just fell flat as soon as Eve was beguiled by the Devil.  His defence was gone, and he just gave in easily to the devil even though the New Testament says he was not deceived.

A further study of Genesis also saw God proclaiming that the only way He can crush the devil's head is only through the seed of the WOMAN.  This shows also that without the woman, there won't be salvation.   Evidence exists all over scripture to back up these claims and I believe we should have these in perspective when trying to discuss the value of the woman in Christianity.

Thank goodness that someone brought it up at last. In light of contemporary happenings, people have used various machinery to deprive women of their true significance in society. Such machinery have included religion, economic and social policies, as well as the unspoken superiority of some women over other women.

Religiously speaking, I'm persuaded that Christianity gives women the ultimate value by recognising their worth in creation, their indespensable roles in the family, an appraisal of their honoured place in society, and their immense contributions in furthering the interests of God's Kingdom.

Equal in Creation.

In both the OT and NT, men are admonished to respect and love women by first recognizing their esteemed place in creation. I'm persuaded more and more that the woman was created equal to the man (although not bestowed with equal roles and functions). When God presented the woman He had created from man's ribs, Adam cried: "This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man!" The equality in creation shared between the man and the woman is strengthened in Adam's recognition of the woman being bone of his bones and flesh of his flesh; and this equality is reiterated by God seeing them as one: "Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh." (Gen. 2:18-24). I believe that the equality between the man and the woman is further established in Gen. 5:2 when God called them by the same name after He created them: "Male and female created he them; and blessed them, and called their name Adam, in the day when they were created."

In the NT, the apostles recognised this equality in creation even when trying to distinguish their roles and functions in the home, church and society. Thus, in laying down God's mind on the question of authority, the apostle Paul also made reference to the equality in creation shared between them: "For the man is not of the woman; but the woman of the man. Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man." (1 Cor. 11:8-9). Perhaps some would disagree, but that sounds more like expressing equality in creation - as if to say that neither the man nor the woman stands alone in creation, but that both need and complement each other, as in fact verse 11 shows: "Nevertheless neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord."

All the apostles seem to have taught this equality shared between both as far as creation is concerned. That's why I reason that in James, our being cautioned about the use of our tongues takes into consideration that: ". . . no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men who are made in God's likeness." (Jam. 3:8-9). 'Men made in God's likeness' is a generic term that includes both men and women; and thus, as far as both were created in His likeness, one is not inferior to the other in creation.

What this all point to is that when we start recognizing the value of a woman as created in the likeness of God in just the same way that man has been created, then most of us will be better able to appreciate the woman in very practical terms, and not see them less than their worth.

More later.

However, I don't think that what anybody does with Deut. 22:5 actually sets the tone for the value of women in Christianity. More often than not, it is not women who "victimize themselves" but some of their incompetent husbands who turn out to be wife-beaters at home and put up a smiling face in public. Their are wonderful men out their who make wholesome fathers, husbands, lovers and confidants. Yet, on the whole, what place do men think women should hold in public life, private and domestic environments, and then religious quarters? Is there any scriptural reason for men maltreating their women at all?

It all depends on the mind that you are looking at it and how you interprete that version of the bible,however I'll be glad to bring it to your notice that version is not just talking of women wearing trousers and men wearing skirts as many men of God translate it even from the pulpit.I will not be able to expand the full interpretation here but one is vital that is women and men remaining uniquely whom they were made to be by God irrespective of their achivements.Afterall in the bible days,there are notabl women who not only achieved heights more than men of their time but were able to change the cause of history for the old Isrealites namely:Deborah,Judith,Esther and what will say of these two who the bible stated as ancestors of our Lord and Master Jesus Christ namely:Rahab(a prostitute from Jericho) and Ruth(a Moabite).Starting with Deborah who was a warrior to Ruth they recognised their role as a women separate from the achievement they make and they never complained of not being allowed to take the place of men in the Sahendrin or in the Synagouge.
The Men of those days appreciated them much,take for example the welcome they gave to Deborah after She and her Warriors cam back from battle,the liberty given to Judith when she asked to go into the Assyrian Camp and the welcome given her when she came back with Holoferness' head.the list can go on and on to infinity.
On the issue of wife victimisation.One thing is very important there and that's the way most marriages are convoked these days,no time for the couples to get to know each other via courtship[i](some holier than thou groups are against this even in the catholic church but the approves it)[/i] coupled with the problem most women have of not knowing that even a man is to be "petted" and is so doing be able to manage his temperament.they rather will brand their husband HOT TEMPERED who needs some some exorcism.
I will rest my case here.I am quite that the few who have contributed to this thread are men and almost saying the same thing that I said earlier.However I look forward to a female contributor.

Hello all,

Continuing from where I left off, after having looked at women and men as being Equal in Creation, let me spend a few moments on the next:

The Indespensable Roles of Women in the Family.

There are few men who can live without a woman in their lives; but every man would have to acknowledge that a woman played a key role in their existence. Thus, the first man, Adam, honoured his wife by calling/naming her on two occasions with appellations of endearment. "She shall be called Woman," he said, "because she was taken out of Man." (Gen. 2:23). Fascinating! This should set a precedence for men - honour the woman you're connected to; because there's no other like her! Then, "Adam called his wife's name Eve." Why so? "Because she was the mother of all living." (Gen. 3:20). I could say that the first was about her equality in creation; and the second was about her indespensable role in the family. This has deeply affected my relations in my family with the two most indespensable women in my life - my mother and my wife! Of course, I'm not equal to or above my mother; and my wife has been ever so precious to me since the day I saw the place God gave her according to His Word!

There are a lot of things we ought to be thankful for when trying to understand the value of a woman in God's Word. Which one of us would have been born without a woman? Not only is she called 'mother', but she's the one we all run to when dad's not there! Often, even in contemporary times, the state of affairs in a home is attributed to the inputs of women: if it turns out good or bad, people want to either thank or blame a woman for it. In a society where men do their thing and see themselves as 'bread-winners' who are too 'busy' chasing the bucks, she has to be home, look after his interests, provide the welcome that greets him on arrival, and ensure a good meal after the day's work.

But are these menial, mundane tasks? No. How many times do people take time to see her pains? Or, her struggles with the kids that the men just won't be bothered with? Beyond merely seeing her as 'the necessary player in the bedroom', I think women should be given their rightful esteem, value and honour in the family everyday of their lives, and not just on a special day we call Mother's Day!

A few examples are given of wise women who preserved their families in the Bible. Ruth was one such woman, who having endured the pain of widowhood, not only struggled to find another husband in due course; but also found such an honourable husband that was the kinsman-redeemer, Boaz! As such, her mother-in-law (Naomi) by her previous husband was not left destiture and hapless, but through Ruth she was so blessed that the community honoured and showered praises on her. Guess what? Ruth happens to be mentioned in the geneology of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.

In a desperate moment, another woman (Abigail) wisely prevented the untimely death of her husband (Nabal) by seeking to calm the infuriation of David whose men had been maltreated by Abigail's husband. Read the account in 1 Samuel 25, and that's one narative I often applaud and that helps me to be more thankful for the graciousness and wisdom my wife has patiently displayed to preserve her family (even though I'm not related to Nabal!).

Several other examples are available that would swell this page. Suffice to say, that a woman is more valued and honoured by God's word than some of us have taken the time to discover. When the men think that women could be dispensed with and treated just about anyhow, they should realise that God has set a woman in the family with tremendous power to hinder a man's prayer! No, I'm not making this up, for that is just what God's Word shows us:

1 Pet. 3:7 - 'Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.'

I'm happy to discover the honour God places on women in His Word, and as we take time to look into the matter there'll be so much more blessings to follow.

women in islam are seen as a thing to satisfy the mans lust.Mohammed was all about sex and how to make up scripts that would favour up his licentious acts.He's very cunning.CHristianity is complete.Teaches us to love our wifes just as christ loved the church and died for it.The Koran even specifies beating of the woman in the book of Sura.

wow
some ppl can really talk

Guys,,

same egocentric responses from Christians.
What about all the women engineers,doctors,lawyers. Just because some nations have strict islamic laws does it make women gagged. How come Usa hasn't produced awoman leader, same as Russia. Even half of cabinet members in most part of the world. Why are women not occupying the Exalted posts in the vatican.

nyabinghi:

Guys,,

same egocentric responses from Christians.
What about all the women engineers,doctors,lawyers. Just because some nations have strict islamic laws does it make women gagged. How come Usa hasn't produced awoman leader, same as Russia. Even half of cabinet members in most part of the world. Why are women not occupying the Exalted posts in the vatican.

Instead of saying egocentric, perhaps you wanted to apply the word chauvinstic right? Nothing in the post all above denotes being egocentric or more palpably chauvinstic to me.

Do you read about world politics at all? Did you bother to watch the debate of Hilary and Obama? For the first time, USA might have a female president!

What of Liberia? You make mention of the vatican? At least we have female religious leaders, who have made a statement in the world. I can seem to think of any female Islamic leader, who can speak with authority. If am wrong please set me right. We have had female leaders in the Bible, and books were writtten about them even in the bible.

Even your Islamic females who come here to contribute are being urged to keep silent and move to other threads and ignore the questions posed, by your muslim brothers!

Once again before you develop the cold feet syndrome, ruminate on these things and talk something sensible next time.

Whatever the religion, they all try to suppress women.

But then again, religion tries to manipulate and suppress us all both male and females. That is what religions were invented for 

Valuing a person according to religious supersticions is backward and bigoted to say the least.

We should value all human beings and life in general equally. Religion just creates hate and repression for millions.

Time to see the light people and break free from the religious shackles in which they try to imprison us. 

@nyabinghi,

nyabinghi:

same egocentric responses from Christians.
What about all the women engineers,doctors,lawyers. Just because some nations have strict islamic laws does it make women gagged. How come Usa hasn't produced awoman leader, same as Russia. Even half of cabinet members in most part of the world.

First of all, when the USA comes to the Muslim mind, the first thing they think of is that it must be a "Christian" nation, just like Saudi Arabia is a Muslim country. However, the USA is a democratic country; and not one that you could compare with Islamic nations ruled by the Sharia; or ruled by the Hudood Law in Pakistan. Even Russia is not a "Christian" country; so your argument is more a noise than an effort to make any sense.

As for women leaders, you might have been arguing for women Presidents of countries. Yet, that does not produce any substance in your arguments against Christianity. Meanwhile, if English spares your reading skill and you're not confused about the meaning of 'leader', then please note that the same USA has produced thousands of such women leaders in many walks of life:

1) Madeline Albright - First woman to become the United States Secretary of State

http://secretary.state.gov/www/albright/albright.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madeleine_Albright


2) Newsweeks Feature Article on 12 Women Leaders:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9712114/site/newsweek/page/3/


3) Women in charge of San Francisco's Security Team:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9712126/site/newsweek/

Not to mention business leaders, political leaders, medical research experts, etc. In the USA, women have the freedom to pursue careers that will better their lives; and many of them thrive on the challenges that inspire them from their predecessors. Can you say the same for the Muslim countries of Pakistan and Afghanistan?

nyabinghi:

Why are women not occupying the Exalted posts in the vatican.

In Catholic tradition, women do not occupy such "Exalted" post in the Vatican. However, if they were to occupy such, even Catholics themselves no that no woman would come close to the honour Catholics accord Mary the mother of Jesus.

However, when you argue like this, do you care to look behind you and check if any woman has been allowed to occupy the "Exalted" positions in Islam? I heard sometime ago about a rumoured woman Imam (which up until now I have not been able to ascertain) - can you please share about such exalted positions in Islam occupied by women when you steam settles?

@nyabinghi,

why you let bari_kade and co to take on you like small pickin? You no sabi do Google search before posting your "facts"?? 

Telly B:

@nyabinghi,

why you let bari_kade and co to take on your like small pickin? You no sabi do Google search before posting your "facts"??

Symptoms of cold feet disease

We need a medical doctor here! Preferably a female doctor! Someone call 911!!!!!

mrpataki:

Symptoms of cold feet disease

We need a medical doctor here! Preferably a female doctor! Someone call 911!!!!!

Not yet. We need to ascertain first if the female doctor is halal or haram!

. . . . . . . . .

Oya nyabinghi,
The dice has been casted. Which is your choice

mrpataki:

. . . . . . . . .

Oya nyabinghi,
The dice has been casted. Which is your choice

Depends again on one more measure: what parts of his cold feet are accessible for the haram/halal doctor to touch during the. . . em. . . diagnosis!

islam UNLIKE CHRISTAINITY does not av any value or rgards 4 women.Woman does not av a say in islam,she is GIVEN OUT FORCEFULLY 4 MARRIGE AT A VERY TENDER AGE,she is NOT EQUAL 2 HER HUSBAND AT HOME,she DOES NOT AV A SAY IN HER MATRIMONIAL HOME,islam PERMITS HER 2 BE BEATEN BY HER HUSBAND,the husband can[b] MARRY UP TO 4 WIVES/DIVORCE AND REMARRY ANODA WOMAN[/b],she must cover all HER BODY AND SUFFOCATE IN THE PROCESS{no matter how hot the weather is}She has no RIGHT MAKE A DECISION ON HER OWN,she is BEATEN or STONED to DEATH wen RAPED,all these are not tolerated in christainity which HAS A LOT OF VALUES FOR WOMEN be it christain or wotever.