Hi Friend,

Of all the proofs that God exists creation itself is the most obvious.  If such evident truth is not universally accepted, then we should not expect less visible proofs to be recognized.

A case in point is the improvement in civilized culture since Christianity gained a foothold in the world.  In “Feminine Threads” a book by Dr. Diana Lynn Severance, the author makes an astute observation that ought to cause feminists to fall to their knees in worship of the God of the Bible.

“Wherever Christianity has gone,” writes Dr. Severance, “the condition and status of women has improved. In today’s world, wherever Christianity has flourished, men and women are both recognized as valued members of society; wherever Christianity has been largely rejected, women have few rights and can be treated as something less than a full person. The history of the treatment and position of women itself is a useful apologetic for the Christian faith.”

How right she is!  Christianity does not require a burka, nor has the Bible kept women from receiving an education or undermined the testimony from a female in a court of law.  Feminists take note!

Both men and women were cursed when Adam and Eve were cast out of the Garden of Eden.  But each faced unique circumstances.  “Unto the woman [God] said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee. (Gen. 3:16)

That final statement, “he shall rule over thee” is from a Hebrew word meaning “dominion.”  It suggests more than simply having authority. It may describe the 2nd class citizenship women endured until Christian ethics became part of civil law. One could reasonably conclude that it was not God’s intent from creation for women to live under dominion.

In fact, some scholars read this as a statement of consequence rather than a curse.  The curse was being cast out of the protected environment God had prepared for the first citizens.  To be removed from this place of safety meant that both man and woman would become vulnerable to a cruel world.  The consequence for the weaker sex, was a life of domination in a world where physical strength was more prevalent than reasoned companionship.

Ms. Severance points out that “Some of today’s ‘women’s issues’ might benefit from a historical perspective.”  For example, abortion and infanticide were commonplace throughout the ancient Roman Empire.  “When a child was born, it was shown to the father, and the father decided if the child should live or not. It was rare for a family to have more than one girl, for girl babies were the most frequently destroyed.”

If a couple did not want the child, it was often left alongside the road for wild beasts or birds to consume.   Even dear ole Plato advocated such a practice.  So much for Greek wisdom.

To the truly objective mind, the evidence of both God’s existence and His ethics, is clearly seen in the influence Christian teachings have had on the place of women in the world.  A Christian environment is the one place that women are 1st class citizens.

Until next time,

Jim O’Brien