1. Status of women inStatus of women in
ChristianityChristianity

2. IntroductionIntroduction
►Christianity is the world's biggestChristianity is the world's biggest
religion, with about 2.2 billionreligion, with about 2.2 billion
followers worldwide.followers worldwide.
►Christianity originally developed as aChristianity originally developed as a
part of Judaism.part of Judaism.
►Traces from Jesus of Nazareth.Traces from Jesus of Nazareth.
►Begins with Jesus Christ.Begins with Jesus Christ.

3. Origin of ChristianityOrigin of Christianity
► Christ is the son of God and God sent Christ toChrist is the son of God and God sent Christ to
earth to live as human live, suffer as human sufferearth to live as human live, suffer as human suffer
die for human kind’s salvation and gloriously risedie for human kind’s salvation and gloriously rise
again.again.
► Christians believe that there is only oneChristians believe that there is only one
God, but that this one God consists of 3God, but that this one God consists of 3
"persons""persons"
► God the FatherGod the Father
► God the SonGod the Son
► The Holy Spirit .The Holy Spirit .

4. ► Bible is not a single book but a collection of books.Bible is not a single book but a collection of books.
These books were composed over a period ofThese books were composed over a period of
many centuries in three languages: Hebrew,many centuries in three languages: Hebrew,
Aramaic and Greek.Aramaic and Greek.
► New Testament is shorter version of ChristianNew Testament is shorter version of Christian
Bible.Bible.
► No Bible was compiled during the life time ofNo Bible was compiled during the life time of
Jesus Christ.Jesus Christ.
► His duration of prophetic life was hardly of threeHis duration of prophetic life was hardly of three
years.years.

5. ► The new testament Gospels, Epistles, ApocalypseThe new testament Gospels, Epistles, Apocalypse
is a product of the church.is a product of the church.
► Followers Peter and Paul did a lot to establishFollowers Peter and Paul did a lot to establish
Christianity.Christianity.
► Peter was a follower of Jesus and Paul was a JewPeter was a follower of Jesus and Paul was a Jew
and anti-Christian. He became Christian in 33 A.and anti-Christian. He became Christian in 33 A.
D.D.
► The follower of peter was Mark who compiled aThe follower of peter was Mark who compiled a
Bible.Bible.
► Luke was follower of Paul also compiled a Bible.Luke was follower of Paul also compiled a Bible.

6. ►Mathew and John compiled Bibles.Mathew and John compiled Bibles.
►Bible consists of 66 books written inBible consists of 66 books written in
particular needs and difficulties.particular needs and difficulties.
► Christianity has founded four Gospels:Christianity has founded four Gospels:
John, Mark, Mathew and Luke.John, Mark, Mathew and Luke.

7. Creation of WomenCreation of Women
► For Adam there was not found a help mate forFor Adam there was not found a help mate for
him. And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fallhim. And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall
upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of hisupon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his
ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; andribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; and
the rib which the Lord God had taken from man,the rib which the Lord God had taken from man,
made him a woman,made him a woman,
and brought her to the man. And Adam said this isand brought her to the man. And Adam said this is
now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: shenow bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she
shall be called Woman, because she was takenshall be called Woman, because she was taken
out of Man. Therefore shall a man leave his fatherout of Man. Therefore shall a man leave his father
and his mother and shall cleave unto his wife: andand his mother and shall cleave unto his wife: and
they shall be one flesh.they shall be one flesh. Gen. 2:20-24Gen. 2:20-24

8. STATUS OF MOTHER INSTATUS OF MOTHER IN
CHRISTIANITYCHRISTIANITY
►""If anyone curses his father orIf anyone curses his father or
mother, he must be put to death"mother, he must be put to death"
(Lev. 20:9) and "A wise man brings(Lev. 20:9) and "A wise man brings
joy to his father but a foolish manjoy to his father but a foolish man
hates his mother" (Proverbs 15:20).hates his mother" (Proverbs 15:20).
Although honoring the father alone isAlthough honoring the father alone is
mentioned in some places, e.g. "Amentioned in some places, e.g. "A
wise man heeds his father'swise man heeds his father's
instruction"instruction"

9. Conti….Conti….
►"As Jesus was saying these things, a"As Jesus was saying these things, a
woman in the crowd called out,woman in the crowd called out,
'blessed is the mother who gave you'blessed is the mother who gave you
birth and nursed you.' He replied,birth and nursed you.' He replied,
'Blessed rather are those who hear'Blessed rather are those who hear
the word of God and obey it.”(Lukethe word of God and obey it.”(Luke
11:27-28)11:27-28)

10. Status of Girl ChildStatus of Girl Child
► "No wickedness comes anywhere near the"No wickedness comes anywhere near the
wickedness of a woman.....Sin began withwickedness of a woman.....Sin began with
a woman and thanks to her we all musta woman and thanks to her we all must
die" (Ecclesiasticus 25:19, 24)die" (Ecclesiasticus 25:19, 24)
► The Bible states that the period of theThe Bible states that the period of the
mother's ritual impurity is twice as long if amother's ritual impurity is twice as long if a
girl is born than if a boy is (Lev. 12:2-5).girl is born than if a boy is (Lev. 12:2-5).
The Catholic Bible states explicitly that:The Catholic Bible states explicitly that:
► "The birth of a daughter is a loss""The birth of a daughter is a loss"
(Ecclesiasticus 22:3)(Ecclesiasticus 22:3)

11. Conti….Conti….
► "At the birth of a boy, all are joyful...at"At the birth of a boy, all are joyful...at
the birth of a girl all are sorrowful", andthe birth of a girl all are sorrowful", and
"When a boy comes into the world, peace"When a boy comes into the world, peace
comes into the world... When a girlcomes into the world... When a girl
comes, nothing comes.comes, nothing comes.
► "Keep a headstrong daughter under firm"Keep a headstrong daughter under firm
control, or she will abuse any indulgencecontrol, or she will abuse any indulgence
she receives. Keep a strict watch on hershe receives. Keep a strict watch on her
shameless eye; do not be surprised ifshameless eye; do not be surprised if
she disgraces you" (Ecclesiasticusshe disgraces you" (Ecclesiasticus
26:10-11)26:10-11)

12. Conti…Conti…
►"For the man is not of the woman;"For the man is not of the woman;
but the woman of the man. Neitherbut the woman of the man. Neither
was the man created for the woman;was the man created for the woman;
but the woman for the man."but the woman for the man." (I(I
Corinthians 11:8-9)Corinthians 11:8-9)

13. Marital status of womenMarital status of women
►"Wives, submit yourselves unto your"Wives, submit yourselves unto your
own husbands, as unto the Lord. Forown husbands, as unto the Lord. For
the husband is the head of the wife,the husband is the head of the wife,
even as Christ is the head of theeven as Christ is the head of the
church: and he is the savior of thechurch: and he is the savior of the
body. Therefore as the church isbody. Therefore as the church is
subject unto Christ, so let the wivessubject unto Christ, so let the wives
are to their own husbands inare to their own husbands in
everything."(Ephesians 5:22-24)everything."(Ephesians 5:22-24)

14. Conti…Conti…
►"Let your women keep silence in the"Let your women keep silence in the
churches: for it is not permitted untochurches: for it is not permitted unto
them to speak; but they arethem to speak; but they are
commanded to be under obedience,commanded to be under obedience,
as also saith the law. And if they willas also saith the law. And if they will
learn any thing, let them ask theirlearn any thing, let them ask their
husbands at home: for it is a shamehusbands at home: for it is a shame
for women to speak in the church." (Ifor women to speak in the church." (I
Corinthians 14:34-35)Corinthians 14:34-35)

15. PolygamyPolygamy
►""He (Solomon) had seven hundredHe (Solomon) had seven hundred
wives of royal birth and threewives of royal birth and three
hundred concubines..." (1 Kingshundred concubines..." (1 Kings
11:3) 11:3)
►"And Lamech took unto him two"And Lamech took unto him two
wives: the name of the one waswives: the name of the one was
Adam, and the name of the otherAdam, and the name of the other
Zillah." (Genesis 4:19) Zillah." (Genesis 4:19)

16. Divorce and widowhoodDivorce and widowhood
►"..."...Anyone who divorces his wife andAnyone who divorces his wife and
marries another woman commitsmarries another woman commits
adultery against her. And if sheadultery against her. And if she
divorces her husband and marriesdivorces her husband and marries
another man, she commits adultery." another man, she commits adultery."
(Mark 10:11-12)(Mark 10:11-12)
►"If she go not as thou wildest have"If she go not as thou wildest have
her, cut her off from thy flesh, andher, cut her off from thy flesh, and
give her a bill of divorce, and let hergive her a bill of divorce, and let her
go."go."

17. Conti…Conti…
►Christianity abhors divorceChristianity abhors divorce
altogether. The New Testamentaltogether. The New Testament
unequivocally advocates theunequivocally advocates the
indissolubility of marriage. It isindissolubility of marriage. It is
attributed to Jesus to have said,attributed to Jesus to have said, "But"But
I tell you that anyone who divorcesI tell you that anyone who divorces
his wife, except for maritalhis wife, except for marital
unfaithfulness, causes her to becomeunfaithfulness, causes her to become
adulteress, and anyone who marriesadulteress, and anyone who marries
the divorced woman commitsthe divorced woman commits
adultery" (Matthew 5:32)adultery" (Matthew 5:32)

18. Dressing ModestyDressing Modesty
► ""Now I want you to realize that theNow I want you to realize that the
head of every man is Christ, and thehead of every man is Christ, and the
head of the woman is man, and thehead of the woman is man, and the
head of Christ is God. Every man whohead of Christ is God. Every man who
prays or prophesies with his headprays or prophesies with his head
covered dishonors his head. And everycovered dishonors his head. And every
woman who prays or prophesies withwoman who prays or prophesies with
her head uncovered dishonors herher head uncovered dishonors her
head...If a woman does not cover herhead...If a woman does not cover her
head, she should have her hair cut off;head, she should have her hair cut off;
and if it is a disgrace for a woman toand if it is a disgrace for a woman to
have her hair cut or shaved off, shehave her hair cut or shaved off, she
should cover her head" should cover her head"

19. Conti…Conti…
►I also want women to dressI also want women to dress
modestly, with decency andmodestly, with decency and
propriety, not with braided hairpropriety, not with braided hair
or gold or pearls or expensiveor gold or pearls or expensive
clothes, but with good deeds,clothes, but with good deeds,
appropriate for women whoappropriate for women who
profess to worship God" 1profess to worship God" 1
Timothy 2:9-Timothy 2:9-

20. Right to InheritanceRight to Inheritance
► "The continuous and unbroken tradition"The continuous and unbroken tradition
since the Biblical days gives the femalesince the Biblical days gives the female
members of the household, wife andmembers of the household, wife and
daughters, no right of succession to thedaughters, no right of succession to the
family estate. In the more primitive schemefamily estate. In the more primitive scheme
of succession, the female members of theof succession, the female members of the
family were considered part of the estatefamily were considered part of the estate
and as remote from the legal personality ofand as remote from the legal personality of
an heir as the slave. Whereas by Mosaican heir as the slave. Whereas by Mosaic
enactment the daughters were admitted toenactment the daughters were admitted to
succession in the event of no male issuesuccession in the event of no male issue
remained, the wife was not recognized asremained, the wife was not recognized as
heir even in such conditions."heir even in such conditions."

21. ►Thank youThank you