Male domination

[Menotu]

While the New Testament seems to allow more freedom to women, at least in the interaction Jesus is said to have had (ignoring the whole 'Jesus was married' idea), the bible, overall, is very male dominated. There are modern spins on it being taught in some churches, but by in large, it seems like Christianity is (and certainly has been taught) that men are the head of the household, bread winner, etc.

Some churches don't allow women to be leaders in the same way men are allowed to be leaders. The bible doesn't seem to be too 'woke'.

Even God is a 'he' and not a 'she' or 'it' (at least in modern editions of the bible).
Why is that?
Is it justified?
Should women be allowed a more 'leadership' roles in their churches/religion, or should status quo remain?
Any why?

[PinSeeker]

It is a short donkey ride from Paul's telling women to be quiet in Church and to submit to their men and the electrifying passage in the Koran where one is told that if wives are disobedient and won't listen to their husband, they must be beaten.

Actually, it's a very long journey, by car or even your favorite airline. Paul, in 1 Corinthians 14:34-35 (the passage you're referring to), is talking specifically about orderly worship of God. The effect of that, in saying women should "remain silent," Paul is saying that women are not to preach or teach men. To think he means that women should not speak at all, ever, when they are in the church is just totally, abjectly ignorant. Not to say, "you're ignorant," but it is what it is.

Further, if you're going to compare apples to apples regarding the Bible and Koran, then you should compare what the Bible says about women in marriage to what the Koran says about women in marriage. In the Koran, you're right, it advocates wife-beating; we can leave that there. In the Bible, however, it's a night and day difference:

• 1. Women are to submit to their husbands, but this is a far cry from utter subjugation or oppression of any kind. It is a response to what we see in Genesis 3, where we come to understand that the natural inclination of wives is to strive against their husbands, that their desires are naturally contrary to them. Therefore, Paul is exhorting women not to sin against their husbands.
  
  2. In the very same breath (the next verse), Paul exhorts men to love their wives, not beat them or abuse or oppress them in any way -- and to lay down their very lives for their wives, as Christ did for the church.
  
  3. Just before this passage where Paul exhorts both wives and husbands (vv. 22-33), he addresses all -- both men and women equally -- to be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, So, before God, men and women are on equal footing; one is not superior to the other, as in the Koran.

In short, again, the Bible and the Koran -- Paul and Muhammed -- teach very much opposite things about women. Regarding the treatment of women in particular, I think unconditional love and self-sacrifice (the Bible) is much to be preferred over absolute subjugation and oppression of women (the Koran).

I agree Paul uses no whip-words but what is his advice should women ignore him?

In light of what I've written here, I would advise against it. No, but quite the opposite.

Oppression is oppression, whatever language it is written in.

I agree. But there is no oppression of women exhorted or advocated in either the Hebrew of the Old Testament or the Greek of the New Testament. In the Arabic of the Koran, though, it's a much different story.

Grace and peace to you, marco.