Amaranth

Hi everyone,

I’ve been following this particular conversation for a number of days now, and it’s really interesting to me. I’m not a Christian and haven’t been one in many years, although I still believe in the Christian God. I generally classify myself as Pagan and leave it at that, although in truth my personal theology is more Judeo-Christian than anything else. I have too many personal hang-ups with Christian doctrine to call myself one in good conscience…but I’m still studying, as it were.

Anyway, one of the reasons the egalitarian vs. complimentarian debate interests me is that one of the major issues I had with the Christian faith was the seemingly Biblical and God-approved subjugation of women. I was never okay with that, and I eventually I decided that the Bible just had to be wrong on that subject, Word of God or not. Because I honestly believed the complimentarian position was the only one, and because as a woman I found it morally reprehensible, I rejected the faith entirely. (It wasn’t the only reason, but it was a deciding factor). I couldn’t believe in a God who would set things up like that and expect me to be okay with it.

But one of the clearest messages I ever got from God was “I am not always who they say I am”, and that’s inspired me to keep an open mind and continue searching over the years. You don’t know how relieved I was to discover that the egalitarian position within Christianity exists, and that it is fully as Biblical and legitimate as the position that demands that men have authority over women. And as I’ve studied over the last week, I have become convinced that it is the more legitimate position, from a holistic perspective of Scripture and God’s character.

As the problem of misogyny was not the only issue that put me off to Christianity, it’s not the only thing that will draw me back. But I just wanted to say that, from the perspective of someone outside the faith, I admire and appreciate all the effort that Christians like you have put into examining this issue, and trying to glean the actual truth from your Scriptures (instead of assuming that the “plain-sense” reading, in English and with no cultural context, must be the correct one).

Thank you, all…I’ve very much enjoyed reading the arguments from both sides.