Democratic Underground - Ah, but it already has been revised, and by someone I greatly admire.

Reply #23: Ah, but it already has been revised, and by someone I greatly admire. [View All]

beam me up scottie

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Sat Aug-12-06 04:47 PM
Response to Original message

23. Ah, but it already has been revised, and by someone I greatly admire.

Edited on Sat Aug-12-06 05:02 PM by beam me up scottie

I'm referring, of course, to The Woman's Bible by Elizabeth Cady Stanton and the "Revising Committee", which, according to the Internet Sacred Text Archive, is "one of the first attempts by women to evaluate the Judeo-Christian legacy and its impact on women through history. Stanton concluded that 'the Bible in its teachings degrades Women from Genesis to Revelation'.

An excerpt from Chapter I, Comments on Genesis:

As to woman's subjection, on which both the canon and the civil law delight to dwell, it is important to note that equal dominion is given to woman over every living thing, but not one word is said giving man dominion over woman.

From Chapter II:

As the account of the creation in the first chapter is in harmony with science, common sense, and the experience of mankind in natural laws, the inquiry naturally arises, why should there be two contradictory accounts in the same book, of the same event? It is fair to infer that the second version, which is found in some form in the different religions of all nations, is a mere allegory, symbolizing some mysterious conception of a highly imaginative editor.

The first account dignifies woman as an important factor in the creation, equal in power and glory with man. The second makes her a mere afterthought. The world in good running order without her. The only reason for her advent being the solitude of man.

There is something sublime in bringing order out of chaos; light out of darkness; giving each planet its place in the solar system; oceans and lands their limits; wholly inconsistent with a petty surgical operation, to find material for the mother of the, race. It is on this allegory that all the enemies of women rest, their battering rams, to prove her. inferiority. Accepting the view that man was prior in the creation, some Scriptural writers say that as the woman was of the man, therefore, her position should be one of subjection. Grant it, then as the historical fact is reversed in our day, and the man is now of the woman, shall his place be one of subjection?

Needless to say her comments didn't exactly make her wildly popular with fundamentalist christians at the time.

Elizabeth Cady Stanton was an extremely courageous and intelligent woman.

The full text of The Woman's Bible can be found http://www.sacred-texts.com/wmn/wb/index.htm">here.

About.com has much more information about Stanton, along with links to her articles, speeches, biographies and letters http://womenshistory.about.com/library/bio/blstanton.htm">here.

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Reply #23: Ah, but it already has been revised, and by someone I greatly admire. [View All]