Does the Old Testament contain one of the oldest examples of an appeal for women’s rights? The story of the daughters of Zelophehad in Numbers 27 is one that you may never have noticed. It’s a fair guess that you never learned about it in kids’ church, haven’t been to a Bible study where this text… Continue reading Securing Their Future: the Daughters of Zelophehad
Category: Old Testament
Q&A: Do Genesis 3 and Ephesians 5 make men spiritual leaders? (Part 1)
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)
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: 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
“Enwhitenment”: The Bible’s Surprising Take on Men & Women
Is the Bible any sort of a place to find relevant and useful ideas on gender issues? And what does this question have to do with an ad for photocopier paper? (Those are two sentences you never expected to find in the one paragraph!) In this post, I provide an overview of the treatment of women throughout… Continue reading “Enwhitenment”: The Bible’s Surprising Take on Men & Women
Hagar and the ‘God Who Sees Me’ (Part 1)
This is part 1 of a 2 post series. Pregnancy – you might desperately long for it, or recoil from it. It might evoke unbelievable joy or the depths of despair. It’s a fair call to say this is one situation that almost never creates a wholly neutral emotional response. There are many reasons why a… Continue reading Hagar and the ‘God Who Sees Me’ (Part 1)
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
Review: The Lion Bible for Children (Part 1)
Introducing a new series, “Children’s Bibles and Bible Story Books,” in which we will be looking a how women are represented in these books. We don’t arrive at adulthood as a clean slate, without preconceived ideas about gender. Throughout childhood and adolescence, many factors subtly or overtly contribute to building our concept of gender by… Continue reading Review: The Lion Bible for Children (Part 1)
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 