Q: Bronwen, I notice that twice in Genesis 3, God addresses Adam about the broken commandment, but doesn’t mention it to Eve. This seems to imply that God doesn’t hold her accountable as the leader, but instead holds Adam responsible as the spiritual leader. Looking forward, just as Eve was not trusted with the responsibility… Continue reading Q&A: Do Genesis 3 and Ephesians 5 make men spiritual leaders? (Part 1)
Category: leadership in the home
Q&A: Is a Feminist Reading of the Bible Possible?
This question was asked in an online group I am a member of, by a person who describes herself as a “healthy sceptic” about religion. This is a somewhat expanded and edited version of my answer to her question in that forum. Q: Bronwen, after reading the Bible (King James version) please explain how it… Continue reading Q&A: Is a Feminist Reading of the Bible Possible?
Q&A: Do egalitarians use convoluted arguments to interpret the Bible?
Q: Bronwen, when I try to explain my egalitarian views to my Christian friends, some of them say we are just turning clear and simple biblical texts into something unnecessarily convoluted. Is there any truth to this, and how do I respond to this objection to my views on the equality of men and women… Continue reading Q&A: Do egalitarians use convoluted arguments to interpret the Bible?
Q&A: Are Husbands to Lead Their Wives?
Q: Bronwen, my friend says that husbands are created by God to be leaders of their wives and families. When I asked for her biblical evidence of this belief, she said 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1. These passages do seem to say quite clearly that men are to manage their families (which is the same as… Continue reading Q&A: Are Husbands to Lead Their Wives?
Q&A: Gender Roles in Marriage, Part 2
In the previous post of this Q&A on gender roles in marriage, we began looking at whether specific gender roles are God’s design for Christian marriages – roles in which, specifically, the husband is to take responsibility for leadership and the wife is to help and to submit. Firstly, we started in Genesis, and found… Continue reading Q&A: Gender Roles in Marriage, Part 2
Q&A: Gender Roles in Marriage, Part 1
Q: Bronwen, I’ve always been taught that there are specific gender roles in a Christian marriage, and that means the husband is intended to have the leadership role and the wife’s role is to help and to submit. But that feels so unnatural to my husband and I. His personality is quiet and gentle and… Continue reading Q&A: Gender Roles in Marriage, Part 1
My Story – Why Biblical Equality Matters to Me
Did God not love me, just because I was female? I couldn’t study. I couldn’t think straight. I was distressed, overset with a spiritual crisis that rocked me to the core. I had been, by nature, a well-behaved and compliant child who didn’t really experience the rebellion thing as a teenager. Heck, my “rebellion” was… Continue reading My Story – Why Biblical Equality Matters to Me
4 Reasons Why the Archbishop of Sydney is Wrong About Gender
It’s not often that the statements of church leaders are considered even remotely newsworthy in Australia, where the general attitude to religion varies mostly from indifference to contempt. Sydney Anglicans have made a habit of making the news in the past 12 months for issues relating to gender roles – a series of news stories… Continue reading 4 Reasons Why the Archbishop of Sydney is Wrong About Gender
Taming Dragons
“Remember, a dragon will always, always go for the kill,” instructs Gobber the Belch in the movie How to Train Your Dragon. Young Hiccup hears this statement, and suddenly a lightbulb comes on. Only a day or so before, Hiccup had cut loose the young dragon – later named Toothless – which was tangled… Continue reading Taming Dragons
Salad Servers, Spanners and the Truth (or: 4 Common “Biblical” Untruths)
“I found your spanner, Mum!” “Huh? What are you talking about?” Heck, I don’t own a spanner. And there certainly shouldn’t be one in the kitchen today. “Look!” My 7 year old son proudly displays the pictured Tupperware salad server. With a touch of amusement, I explain what it is. “No, it’s a spanner!” “Salad… Continue reading Salad Servers, Spanners and the Truth (or: 4 Common “Biblical” Untruths)
God's Design - Perth 