I've always wondered as a female reading Paul's epistles and defining roles of elders and pastors for males while the older women teach the younger women, how much of those ideals were revelations from Christ, intended to be followed through the ages, versus cultural norms of that time. Paul does mention women and their roles, and well as the names of women who assisted his ministry. Scot, any thoughts on this from your scholarly studies of Biblical times? If men are to be the leaders at home, why wouldn't God expect them to be the leaders amd teachers of other men at church? While it's easy to "flex" to our cultural norms and standards of today, I hesitate to do so for fear of undermining what Scripture teaches on this topic. However, I def see wisdom in having women involved in church leadership at some significant level, if only to lend more insight into topics of safety, security, domestic and sexual abuse of women in the church community, as well as providing for women and children's ministries. I'm sure this is a hot button subject, so I understand if you don't wish to go on the record, but I've always been curious what a Biblical scholar in tune with the culture of the time of the apostles would say.
Jill, Thanks for this. Your challenge is an important one, and that's why I laid out The Blue Parakeet as I did: reading the Bible as story with a long look (one third of the book or so) at how story reading can look at what Paul says about women.
"And if you want to read an exceptionally clear analysis of a narcissistic system, this one by Kat [Wilkins] is it," you write, Dr. McKnight. But how is it "exceptionally clear" when there's no description of narcissistic women? Why no reference to "narcissist" using a feminine pronoun? Why not use "s/he" or "him and/or her" when describing the so-called "narcissist" if one wants to be "clear?" I believe that there are monsters that walk among us, but they come in both genders, don't they? Beowulf fought Grendel AND Grendel's more monstrous mother, did he not? Of course, I'm assuming that "Beowulf" was a man, but I could be wrong about that.
Karly McBride and others have written about the pain endured and the negative impact of women, particularly mothers, who are narcissistic. In my own practice I am weekly working with women who have suffered such negative impact.
Thank you, Pamela. My personal theory based on my reading of the Bible is that we are all "narcissists" to one degree or another and only Christ Jesus can save us from both ourselves and from one another. This isn't to deny the reality of narcissism or the horrible pain inflicted by narcissists. It just explains it and describes the real healing from it, at least to me it does.
I particularly liked your comments on civility. I am deeply troubled by the name calling.
Thank you I honestly do appreciate your Saturday Meanderings.
I've always wondered as a female reading Paul's epistles and defining roles of elders and pastors for males while the older women teach the younger women, how much of those ideals were revelations from Christ, intended to be followed through the ages, versus cultural norms of that time. Paul does mention women and their roles, and well as the names of women who assisted his ministry. Scot, any thoughts on this from your scholarly studies of Biblical times? If men are to be the leaders at home, why wouldn't God expect them to be the leaders amd teachers of other men at church? While it's easy to "flex" to our cultural norms and standards of today, I hesitate to do so for fear of undermining what Scripture teaches on this topic. However, I def see wisdom in having women involved in church leadership at some significant level, if only to lend more insight into topics of safety, security, domestic and sexual abuse of women in the church community, as well as providing for women and children's ministries. I'm sure this is a hot button subject, so I understand if you don't wish to go on the record, but I've always been curious what a Biblical scholar in tune with the culture of the time of the apostles would say.
Jill, Thanks for this. Your challenge is an important one, and that's why I laid out The Blue Parakeet as I did: reading the Bible as story with a long look (one third of the book or so) at how story reading can look at what Paul says about women.
"And if you want to read an exceptionally clear analysis of a narcissistic system, this one by Kat [Wilkins] is it," you write, Dr. McKnight. But how is it "exceptionally clear" when there's no description of narcissistic women? Why no reference to "narcissist" using a feminine pronoun? Why not use "s/he" or "him and/or her" when describing the so-called "narcissist" if one wants to be "clear?" I believe that there are monsters that walk among us, but they come in both genders, don't they? Beowulf fought Grendel AND Grendel's more monstrous mother, did he not? Of course, I'm assuming that "Beowulf" was a man, but I could be wrong about that.
Karly McBride and others have written about the pain endured and the negative impact of women, particularly mothers, who are narcissistic. In my own practice I am weekly working with women who have suffered such negative impact.
Thank you, Pamela. My personal theory based on my reading of the Bible is that we are all "narcissists" to one degree or another and only Christ Jesus can save us from both ourselves and from one another. This isn't to deny the reality of narcissism or the horrible pain inflicted by narcissists. It just explains it and describes the real healing from it, at least to me it does.