Welcome to Gaia! ::

One word: Deborah. 3nodding

She took on a role that was thought of as a man's job. god used her to do it, anyway. Our gender doesn't matter. If God gave us the neccesary gifts for ministry, who are we to say no? And who is anyone else to challenge that?

I don't think gender roles are as encouraged in the Bible as people seem to think.

If it's God's Will So Be it!

Well, it's sexism in this case, but eh...same dif.

And I still don't buy into that whole 'women think differently then men' bit. That's only if we're raised as such and we can't think for or selves enough to break out of it. Or we simply prefer it. I defy a lot of those stereotypes. I'm a lot more aggressive and generally masculine than a lot of guys I know. If I can do it, so can any woman, if she wishes. Or if God has wired her that way.

I have mostly guy friends for a reason sweatdrop

Ixor makes a good point- Deborah was awesome! There are actually quite a few rocking women, especially in the book of Judges that kick the guys butts. Samson's downfall was a woman, and there are several other instances of women killing men and just being awesome.

And I mean... where in the Bible does it say that women can't be a religious leader? (I mean... does it? I honestly don't know which is why I ask.)

@shiruka: While I don't really support the questioning of God, I do think we have to question our beliefs and what we know. The Bible is so open to interpretation- we have to question. Otherwise we're blind followers, and that's no fun. And random: I know quite a few women who are ordained pastors. The head of religious life here is, as well as the church down the street.

@Aenik: But why is it God's will? Or rather- why do you think it's God's will?

Samson isn't necessarily the best example of a man's potential either- he was kind of a manwhore.

There are quite a few instances of women rocking though, particuallrly in judges. In one, a woman dropped a rock on a guys head and he had his servant stab him because he didn't want to say he was killed by a woman. There's another where a woman basically stabs a dude.

I agree though, the Bible isn't as demeaning to woman as a lot of people think. Part of it was just the culture of the time. And also I too I think is we see what we expect to see- and that male dominance in the Bible.

There were Many Great Woman in the Bible.
But Men seem to Guard their Wives.
Wich Means that Women Are Important,
Get the Cycle?

"Woman was not brought forth from man's head that he may lord over her, from his hand that he may strike her, nor from his foot that he may crush her. Woman was brought forth from man's side that he may protect and cherish her."

Or something like that. I don't remember the EXACT words, but it's the general idea. There are so many ways women are suited to ministry. Females -- or males, for that matter -- may have an easier time talking to a woman about their issues. Women typically have better intuition, and are more willing to listen rather than act when listening is all that is asked for. Sometimes, they're emotionally stronger than a man, or can empathize better. If a woman feels God's calling, why not let her do it? There have been many female prophets. And now, just like way back when, a woman's word carries less weight than a man's in a male-dominated world. But that doesn't mean that she's not heard.