Well, I'm not Christan, nor am I a woman, but all the same I am here to answer. God does love everyone - just not equally.

They'll stick their fingers in their ears and cry "God loves me!" in answer to this question. You're aware of this, right?

I'm a Christian guy, but here's a few points that makes me believe that the Bible/God isn't against women: 1) In Genesis, it is both man and woman, together, which make up the image of God (Genesis 1:27) 2) The first witnesses to Jesus' resurrection were women, showing that Jesus/God thought they were trustworthy. 3) Paul, when dealing with marraige, says in 1 Corinthians 7:4ff "For the wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. Likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does" (ESV). This is a very radical thing to say in a society then which was patriarchal. The Bible doesn't say women are lesser than men, or that God loves men more. It says God loves them both equally, and that man and woman are equal, but at the same time different.

Yeah! it says so in that book somewhere after the part where woman are suppose to obey the man and do as the man says and the man can have many wives, but the wife must be true to her husband...etc.

Apparently the old ways of how God wanted things done wasn't working out quite right so Jesus came down and taught a new Salvation.

Because the Bible was written by MEN, not God.

God didn't write the Bible. Human men wrote it at a time when women were considered inferior and the property of men. Unfortunately, not much has changed attitude-wise in over 2,000 years. You can find your own ways to believe and love God without relying on a misogynistic and patriarchal document. If there is a God, I'm sure He loves you equally as much as He loves everything and everyone else.

I don't need to look into the Bible to know that God loves me. I look within myself and know.

Which specific examples are you thinking of? The instances that come to my mind are when MEN are persecuting- not God. The Bible relates many things, not all of which God approves of. The Bible does make it clear that sin is sin- it doesn't matter who does it. So, punishment should not rely on gender. As far as putting down women- Men are to be like Christ, the head of the church who laid down his life because of his love. And the woman is to be like the church, who loves her Lord and obeys in love. It's not a one-way road and never should be; women are often brought forward as the examples in Scripture!

as a christian woman i consider it an honor to be part of the organization that represents God's interests here on earth. i am proud of my role assigned to me by my creator. it was never his purpose that women be mistreated and trampled on by men. the bible does not demean or belittle women as some might think. it is the fault of humans that misinterpret what the bible says in regards to women. what is needed is careful consideration of what the bible really teaches on the matter. so then how do the the holy scriptures view women? one recent book on he subject states: "a current preconceived idea is that the bible has belittled women." some people claim that in both its hebrew and greek parts, the bible is hard on women. is this true? to be fair, it is appropriate first to examine how women were treated in bible times among peoples who did not worship Jehovah. in some ancient civilations that practiced mother-goddess worship, women were honored as symbols of fertility. they appear to have been held in high esteem in babylonia and egypt. but elsewhere they fared less well. in ancient assyria a man could put away his wife at will and even kill her if she was unfaithful. outside the home, she had to wear a veil. in greece and rome, only rich women, many of whom were courtesans, or high class prostitutes, had access to education and enjoyed a certain amount of freedom. hence, it is refreshing to read in the new international dictionary of new testament theology* "in contrast with the rest of the oriental religious world, she is recognized as person and as a man's partner." this is well stated in the concluding book of the hebrew scriptures, where Jehovah's prophet describes a man's wife as his "partner," adding: "with the wife of your youth may no one deal treacherously." malachi 2: 14,15. created as man's counterpart according to the bible. Jehovah created adam "out of dust form the ground" and settled him in the garden of eden, to cultivate it. God brought the wild beasts of the field and the flying creatures to adam so that he could study them and give them names. during whatever time it took for adam to do this, he was alone. for the assignments he had received from Jehovah thus far, he was perfect, complete, lacking nothing. he had "no helper as a compliment of him." genesis 2:7,15,19,20. however, after, some time had passed, Jehovah declared that it was "not good for the man to continue by himself." and he proceeded to provide adam with a companion to share with him in the tasks that lay ahead. he anesthitized adam, extracted one of his ribs, and built it into a woman, 'bone of adam's bones and flesh of his flesh now adam would have a "helper," a "compliment," or a counterpart. "further, God blessed them and God said to them: "be fruitful and become many and fill the earth and subdue it, and have in subjection the fish of the sea and the flying creatures of the heavens and every living creature that is moving upon the earth." genesis 1:25,28; 2:18, 21-23. notice that this assignment was given to "them," to both man and woman. their collaboration would not be limited to filling the earth. it would also include the subduing of the earth and the exercising of proper dominion over all the lower creatures. it would require intellectual and spiritual qualities, and both the man and the woman had the necessary potential for developing these in harmony with God's will. woman's logical role of course, subduing the earth would also take physical strength. i his infinite wisdom, Jehovah created adam first, then eve. the was created "out of man," for the sake of the man, "and apparently with less physical strenght than man. (itimothy2:13; 1corinthians 11:8,9; compare 1peter3:7). this is a fact of life that many feminists, and some other women too, seem to have difficulty accepting. they would certainly be happier if they tried to understand why Jehovah arranged things this way, thus accepting their God-given role. persons who complain about God's arrrangements might be compared to a nightingale that sulks in its nest because it is not as strong as a sea gull, instead of flying to a high branch and singing in gratitude for the unique gifts God has given it. before eve was created, adam, doubtless gained much experience in living. during this time, Jehovah gave him certain instructions. adam was to transmit these to his wife, thus acting as God's spokesman. logically, he should have taken the lead in all matters concerning worship and godly activities that they were to carry out with a view to accomplishing their assignment. when children were born, he would be the head of the famlly. but this would not be to the detriment of his wife. rather, it would be to her advantge becuse she would have someone to back her up when she wielded her own God-given authority over her children. according to the divine order of things, adam was answerable to Jehovah. eve was under the headship of adam, any children would be under the direction of their parents, and the animals were in subjection to humankind. man and woman had their respective roles, and each could live a happy and productive life. thus, 'all things could take place decently and according to order.'-1corinthians 11:3;14:33,40. sin distorted woman's role naturally, the invasion of sin and imperfection into the original paradise marred this orderly arrangement of things. (romans 7:14-20) it brought hardship for the rebellious man and his disobedient wife. (genesis 3:16-19) since then many selfish men have abused rightful headship, bringing much suffering to women throughout the ages. forseeing this particular consequence of sin, Jehovah said to eve: "your craving will be for your husband, and he will; dominate you." (genesis 3:16) this abusive domineering has not been the proper exercise of headship. it has reflected man's sinful condition and also women's imperfection, for sometimes women have suffered because they have attempted to usurp their husband's authority. but to the extent that the bible principles have been adhered to, many women have found fulfillment and happiness. this was so even in patriarcahl times. speaking of that period in her book "the bible in feminine gender", author laure aynard writes: "what is particularly outstanding in all these accounts is the important role played by women, their prestige in the eyes of the patriarchs, their bold inititative, and the climate of freedom in which they lived." women under the law of moses according to Jehovah's laws given through moses, wives were to be "cherished." (deuteronomy 13:6) the dignity of wives was to be respected in sexual matters, and no woman was to be sexually abused. (leviticus 18: 8-19) men and women were equal before the law if they were found guilty of adultery, incest, or bestiality. (leviticus 18:6,23; 20: 10-12)the fifth commandment required that equal honor be given to the father and mother.-exodus 20:12. above all, the law provided women with full opportunity to develop their spirituality. they benefitted from reading of the law. (joshua 8:35; nehemiah 8:2,3) they were required to observe religious festivals. (deuteronomy 12:12,18; 16:11,14)they shared in the weekly sabbath and could take the nazrite vow. (exodus 20:8; numbers 6:2) they had a personal relationship with Jehovah and prayed to him individually.-1samuel 1:10. commenting on hebrew women, catholic bible scholar roland de vaux writes: "all the hard work at home certainly fell to her; she looked after the flocks, worked in the fields, cooked the food, did the spinning, and so on. all this apparent drudgery, however, far from lowering her status, earned her consideration...and those rare passages which give us a glimpse into the intimacy of family life show that an israelite wife was loved and listened to by her husband, and treated by him as an equal....and there is no doubt that this was the normal picture. it was a faithful reflection of the teaching enshrined in genesis, where God is said to have created woman as a helpmate for man, to whom he was to cling. (genesis 2:18,24); and the last chapter of proverbs sings the praises of a good housewife, blessed by her children, and the pride of her husband (proverbs 31:10-31)." (ancient israel-its life and institutions) unquestionably, when the law was followed in israel, women were not treated badly. outstanding women the hebrew scriptures contain many examples of women who were outstanding servants of Jehovah God. sarah provides a fine illustration of how godly woman can be at once submissive to her husband and helpful to him in making decisions. (genesis 21:9-13; 1peter 3:5,6) rahab's case is noteworthy. it gives the lie to the accusation that Jehovah is racially prejudiced and hard on women. rahab was a non-israelite prostitute. not only did Jehovah accept her as a worshipper but because of her great faith, backed up by works including a change of life-style, he declared her righteous. in adition, he rewarded her with the single privilege of becoming ancestress of the messiah.-matthew 1:1,5; hebrews 11:31; james 2:25. illustrating that Jehovah does not require a wife to be blindly submissive to her husband is the case of abigail. her husband was a wealthy man, with large flocks of sheep and goats. but he was "harsh and bad in his practices." abigail refused to follow her husband in his bad course. showing discretion, good sense, humility, and quick-mindedness, she prevented a situation that could have been disastrous for her household, and she was richly blessed by Jehovah.-1samuel 25:2-42. a few women were even prophetesses. such was the case with deborah, during the time of the judges. (judges, chapters 4 and 5) huldah was a prophetess in judah, shortly before the destruction of jerusalem. (2kings 22:14-20) the case of miriam is worthy of note. although she is spoken as a prophetess, sent by Jehovah, apparently this privilge went to her head at one point. she failed to recognize the authority of her younger brother moses to lead israel, and she was punished for it, though she apparently repented and was restored.-exodus 15:20,21; numbers 12:1-15; micah 6:4. women under judaism as we have seen, the law of moses protected women's rights and, when followed, allowed womenfolk to lead a satisfying life. but as time went by, particularly after the destruction of jerusalem in 607 b.c.e., there developed the religion of judaism, based more on oral traditions than on the written law of Jehovah. from the fourth century b.c.e on, judaism absorbed much greek philosophy. by and large the greek philosophies paid little attention to the rights of women, so there occurred a corresponding drop in the status of women within judaism. form the third century b.c.e., women began to be separated from men in the jewish synagogues and were discouraged from reading the torah (law of moses). the encyclopaedia judaica acknowledges: "as a result few women were learned." education was principally for boys. in his book jerusalem in the time of jesus, j. jeremias writes: "on the whole, the position of women in religious legislation is best expressed in this constantly repeated formula: "women, slaves, and children...we may add to all this that there were plenty of disdainful opinions expressed on women...we have therefore the impression that judaism in jesus time also had a very low impression of women." there is so much more to say in defense of what the bible really says in regards to the treatment of women. so far i have just written of the role of women in the hebrew scriptures. the greek scriptures go on to instruct men to respect women and assign them an honorable role in society. no where in the bible does it ever condone or encourage man to abuse of a woman. for more information go to www.watchtower.org

hrm. well, first of all... God designed it that way for a reason. the system is corrupt because human beings are corrupt. there's nothing wrong wtih patriarchy - someone has to be in charge. that does not make women any less equal than men - we all stand before God as sinners in need of saving Grace and the punishment has always been the same. it is human beings that apply double standards to women vs. men as far as conduct - God expects the same conduct out of all of us, regardless of what gender we are. as for the system - God created men and women with separate but complimentary natures. two halves of the same whole, so to speak. a yin and a yang. when in harmony with God and ourselves, a husband and wife meld to fill in and complement one another's weaknesses. it's a beautiful thing to behold really.. if unity and perfection in relationship are something to be attained in this life, the healthy Christian marraige would be the likeliest place to find it. according to ephesians, women are to submit to their husband's leadership (except in the case of sin) but men have a much more difficult task: to love their wives as Christ loves the Church (and gave Himself up for her). that level of self-sacrifical love is painful, difficult, and requires the man to sacrifice himself, his desires, his dreams for the sake of his wife and family. husbands are also called to live with their wives in *understanding* which requires them to be communicative and sensitive. now - how oppressive can someone be if they're laying down all of themselves and seeking pure understanding of a woman? not very, really. that doesn't mean he gives in to all of her whims and desires as she has them - no, but he leads her with the love of Christ and that level of love is worth submitting to, becuase it will never lead her wrong. and it also does not mean that she cannot call him on sin and when he's stepped out of bounds. submission is not subservience.. the way my own marriage works out is more or less a 49 to 51 on making choices, but we've never had to have a 'tie-breaker'. generally when all choices are out on the table one makes more sense than the others and that's what we choose. and consider things from God's perspective: He placed with women the responsibility for bearing and raising children - what greater honor is there than to be bestowed with that responsibility? the care of the most innocent among us - with so much incredible influence over them in their formative years... to me, that shows God placed great faith, trust, and honor into women rather than dishonor. feminists get their panties all in a bunch over God placing men in the leadership role of the home, but really - women are lucky. we're the ones who have the greatest influence for good or ill over our children and that's an immense honor and responsibility. if anything, God has raised women above men in that respect and given us more power over coming generations. the putdown of women is chiefly an invention of men. sin, greed, lust for both sex and power have kept women where they are. however - women are often just as bad as men and many, if given the opportunity would turn our world into a matriarchal based society where women are the bosses.

Good point. I guess women will have to work harder to figure it out as always.

Man wrote the bible

That's not entirely true men and women have been and will be judged accordingly, with God the person of man does not matter and women are not kept down, the church of Jesus christ has many women who are in prophetic offices, who are filled with the same holy spirit that the Lord gives to men, As a christian you should submit to your husband as you and your husband must both submit to the lord and know that God loves men and women with PERFECT equality

You ain't readin' da same Bible I is, Boy! I just posted this Q myself: The Problem with feminism is that it does not distinguish between "sameness" and "Equality" ... who would agree that women can be equal in importance, etc. with men, but are actually quite different and play reciprocal roles to better perform as a team?? God made Man and wife to become "one flesh" ... thereafter, to move "as one": "Wherefore [when they marry] they are no more twain, but one flesh" Men and woman were directly made for each other ... and they were deliberately made to work as one, play as one, laugh as one, sleep as one, and BE as one. Life was not made for individualists - where women and men's "rights" are to be competed for. They are built for facilitation of one another and reciprocation in roles. The best teams are those who play out roles, and do not fight for the same roles. Women are equally important, but they certainly are DIFFERENT.

I would like to answer the question, but I need some Scpriptural reference starting points. Where has God persecuted a woman? I think persecuted and punishment are two different things.

Simply put, the bible was written by men at a time when women were looked upon as less than in their society.

God did not persecute women MAN did.

Jesus saved a prostitute girl from getting stoned, He loves us all equally, he took the punishment from God for OUR sins by dying on the cross, he loves you and I really mean that. ask him. Peace.

I'm seeing alot of speculation here over who penned the words in the Bible. What I see less of is evidence that there are many who actually read it. The Bible, in itself, is not patriarchal. Judaism and then Christianity, the two religions derived from the Bible represented great protection for women at a time when the heathen treated women as mere property, and they still do. The Bible teaches that "might" does not make "right". If you happen to be one less "mighty", then those words are of great importance. Now if you grate at the idea of male headship, which is promoted in the Bible, then you obviously are perfectly alright with female headship, are you not? Mind if I call you Matriarchal? Before you clip off some hasty answer concerning headship, telling us that it should be 50/50, remember this: 50/50 is a complete farce. One or the other (husband or wife, man or woman) is going to have the final say at least 51 percent of the time, so you have to make peace with the idea of some gender based leadership hierarchy. The math tells you so.

I ask myself the same thing...and I ain't no Christian woman!

Ummmm...do you have any actual examples of this?

I would also love to see which passages you are referring to. God created both man and woman in his image. He loves us equally and sent His only Son to die for all of our sins. Jesus lifted women up and challenged the men to do the same. MAN may have persecuted and punished women more than men in the times of the bible, but not God.

It seems that you are at odds with YOUR god. If I was you, I would trash it, no guilt, no remorse.

You are ready and ripe to read "god is not great" by Christopher Hitchens.

Why do you think that the Bible demeans women. Here is one example that some women refer to as demeaning. But is it really? “YOU husbands, continue dwelling [with your wives] according to knowledge,” wrote the apostle Peter, “assigning them honor as to a weaker vessel, the feminine one.” (1 Peter 3:7) Does this Scriptural reference to a woman as “a weaker vessel” belittle women in any way? Let us see what the inspired writer originally intended to convey. The Greek noun rendered “honor” means “price, value, . . . respect.” Thus, a Christian husband is to treat his wife with tenderness, showing her due consideration as a delicate, precious vessel. This is not demeaning at all. As an example, consider the Tiffany lotus lamp. This exquisitely fine lamp can indeed be considered delicate. Does the lamp’s fragile nature diminish its value? Far from it! In 1997 the original Tiffany lotus lamp sold at an auction for 2.8 million dollars! Its delicate makeup served to enhance its value, not diminish it. Likewise, assigning a woman honor as to a weaker vessel does not devalue or demean her. Dwelling with his wife “according to knowledge” means that a husband takes into account her strengths and limitations, likes and dislikes, outlook and feelings. A caring husband recognizes and respects personality differences between him and his wife. He shows due consideration for her “in order for [his] prayers not to be hindered.” (1 Peter 3:7) A husband who fails to respect his wife’s feminine virtues endangers his own relationship with God. Clearly, God’s Word does not belittle women. Rather, it dignifies and honors them. To be more specific I need examples. VEW

All of the Abrahamic religions are patriarchal. They include Christianity, Islam, Judaism, and their many derivatives. Remember the "Promise Keepers"? http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/globalconnections/mideast/themes/religion/index.html http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abrahamic_religions#Patriarchs ======================

No, actually the Bible contradicts clearly the idea that God loves women less. During the time of Jesus a Pharisee invited Jesus over to have dinner. A prostitute in the town heard and came with a jar of perfume. She wept and washed His feet in the perfume. The Pharisee was amazed and asked Jesus how could He let her do that. But Jesus explained that her sins were forgives because of her faith. Even of her former life Jesus didn't brush her away but forgave her and accepted her, while no one else did. 36Now one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, so he went to the Pharisee's house and reclined at the table. 37When a woman who had lived a sinful life in that town learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee's house, she brought an alabaster jar of perfume, 38and as she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them. 39When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, "If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is—that she is a sinner." 40Jesus answered him, "Simon, I have something to tell you." "Tell me, teacher," he said. 41"Two men owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. 42Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he canceled the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?" 43Simon replied, "I suppose the one who had the bigger debt canceled." "You have judged correctly," Jesus said. 44Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 45You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. 46You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. 47Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little." 48Then Jesus said to her, "Your sins are forgiven." 49The other guests began to say among themselves, "Who is this who even forgives sins?" 50Jesus said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace." -Luke 7:36-50

Don't blame God. Blame man. Jesus love the hoes! if you look at the history of the church fathers, you will find a misogynist group that shaped the religion to reflect their own twisted feelings towards women.

What on earth are you talking about? In the Torah the only crime that one sex is penalized for and the other isn't even mentioned is homosexuality, and it's the male homosexuals who are condemned. I can only assume you're refering to the OT law on adultery, in which case you've got it all wrong. Adultery was a crime for both male and female, and it was the death penalty for both of them. What you have to understand is that adultery in the ancient world was a matter of estate fraud. Marriage was fundamentally a contract in which the husband agreed to make the wife and her children his heirs, and the woman agreed that the children would be his. Adultery was a breach of that contract, but one that could only be committed by the wife AND her lover against the husband and their children: by committing adultery both parties were risking producing a false heir, and likewise calling the legitimacy of the woman's other children in that marriage into question. On the other side of the equation, the husband was forbidden to abandon his wife and children and leave them destitute - including being forbidden to demote them/cut their portions even if he did take on a second wife or mistress. Husbands were also forbidden to engage in infanticide for any reason, but especially as method for "family planning". The only crime where a woman is singled out is the law forbidding priests' daughters to prostitute themselves -- as was done in contemporary pagan cultures throughout the Near East. Priest's sons didn't prostitute themselves, so there was no point in prohibiting it. As fo the New Testament, there are no laws at all, and the prohibitions of adultery and sexual immorality fall equally on both men and women. Finally, one is not "persecuted" for a crime. The words are "prosecuted" and "punished." If it's a crime, it should be punished. That's not persecution.

What crimes specifically are you talking about? Infidelity? While I don't understand how you got the idea that men and women aren't equally punished for the same crime, I do think the Christian religion puts women down. It's in the foundations of the Bible. In Genesis, it says that women will experience increased pain in child-bearing, and "your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you." I think the latter scripture has helped to shape unequal romantic relationships between men and women. Why do women always work harder in relationships than men do, and do their best to please their male partners, only to be ignored or cheated on? In answer to your question, I couldn't believe that God loved me based on the evidence of the Bible. So I decided not to follow organized religion anymore.

Eve was the cause of Adam to sin and God handles things the way he sees fit.

Thanks to everybody who answered- 1. Good point on the wording of the question in itself, points in the bible where women are typically persecuted/punished (either/or) are in fact done by MEN, not GOD. (This is obvious to even us non-christians, the question is just badly worded on my part). So to clarify, I don't understand how the bible is considered (in some ways) holy word, when so much of it seems to be clearly focused on patriarchy and putting down women. 2. I sincerely appreciate every person that states that god loves both men and women.

I dont understand how you could come to that assumption about the bible. God's word is filled with verses that talk about women whom God favored. God talks about how he made women for men because the woman makes the man better. She is just as important to God as the man.

God has never persecuted women! What the bible speaks about is mostly just documented Jewish law which existed during that time. When Christ stopped the prostitute from getting stoned to death by saying let he who is without sin cast the first stone! It is a historical document that was written about what was going on during that period.