Tuesday, September 07, 2010

And Christians Say Islam is Anti-Women?

As Islamophobia continues to run rampant in the USA and all types of anti-Islam statements flow from the mouths of Christianists, it is necessary to remember precisely what type of poisonous anti-female thread exists throughout Christianity's history. The Old Testament combined with statements of Christian leaders and thinkers over the centuries confirm that Christianity has just as many dark and frightening threads as Islam. Bob Felton at Civil Commotion has assembled some quotes that drive home the fact that the Christianists should not be throwing stones at Muslims since Christianity itself as practiced is a glass house itself. The statements also make it clear that Christianity has a long history of despising women and subjugating them. Here are some highlights from Bob's post on the subject:
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Lest good Pious folk smugly indulge some Islam-bashing, a few words from a few of Christianity’s most influential thinkers:

Clement of Alexandria: “Every woman should be filled with shame by the thought that she is a woman.”

Tertullian: “Woman is a temple built over a sewer, the gateway to the devil. Woman, you are the devil’s doorway. You led astray one whom the devil would not dare attack directly. It was your fault that the Son of God had to die; you should always go in mourning and rags.”

Ambrose: “Adam was deceived by Eve, not Eve by Adam… it is right that he whom that woman induced to sin should assume the role of guide lest he fall again through feminine instability.”

Augustine: “Woman was merely man’s helpmate, a function which pertains to her alone. She is not the image of God but as far as man is concerned, he is by himself the image of God.”

Pope Gregory I: “Woman is slow in understanding and her unstable and naive mind renders her by way of natural weakness to the necessity of a strong hand in her husband. Her ‘use’ is two fold; [carnal] sex and motherhood.”

Thomas Aquinas: “[Woman] was made only to assist with procreation.”

John Knox: “Woman was made for only one reason, to serve and obey man.”

John Wesley: “Wife: Be content to be insignificant. What loss would it be to God or man had you never been born.”

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Not exactly a proud heritage, but one that more Christians need to remember. This mindset still runs strongly through the Roman Catholic hierarchy and many conservative Protestant denominations. It's but one of the very ugly aspects of what self-professed Christians have done to Christ's Gospel message. Here's local buffoon, Pat Robertson's thoughts on women:
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"I know this is painful for the ladies to hear, but if you get married, you have accepted the headship of a man, your husband. Christ is the head of the household and the husband is the head of the wife, and that's the way it is, period." –Pat Robertson
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"(T)he feminist agenda is not about equal rights for women. It is about a socialist, anti-family political movement that encourages women to leave their husbands, kill their children, practice witchcraft, destroy capitalism and become lesbians." –Pat Robertson

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