Women in Religion

Deji Owolabi

WHO 1012-005

The Role of Women in Christianity

Throughout history, the role of women in the most hallowed institutions of any culture’s society has the greatly undermined; leaving many to think that men are the sole drivers of society while women are just in the background along for the ride. This uninhibited display of male dominance is seen areas of society where males are without doubt the minority. Among these areas of society are the cleric bodies of the three judo-religions. However, the purpose of this paper is to discuss the role of women in Christianity. In order to properly assess the role of women in Christianity, one must look at the Jewish tradition, for Christianity dovetailed from the Jewish religion.

Historian Monique Alexander submits that when one examines how the Jewish tradition treated its women, one can state that women were relatively liberated by the advent of Christianity. Alexander writes that the situation of Jewish women during the time of Jesus(the Christian savior) was much like present day women of Islam under Sharia law. Men were encouraged by law to not speak to women unless it was necessary. The reason for this lies in the following quote Alexander takes from a Jewish text, “He who speaks too much with woman invites evil.” Women were also regarded as property under ancient Jewish law, for once a girl reached the age of twelve she was passed on from the authority of her father to her husband without her consent.

During religious gatherings, women were not prohibited from entering the temple, for they were allowed to light the Sabbath candles and handle the Sabbath bread. However, they were not allowed to receive any blessings from the rabbi or high priest, for blessings were strictly reserved for the men whether they were Jewish or not.

The creation of Christianity provided a different forum for women. For example, women were allowed to serve in the early Church hierarchy in some capacity of power. Women...