http://www.baylor.edu/content/services/document.php/98766.pdf
1) What are the beliefs that are associated with Complementarians and what are the beliefs that are associated with Egalitarians?
2) Does the information provided in this article directly correlate with your Religious beliefs? If not, what have you been taught and how does it differ?
3) Would this article be significantly different if it were to focus on men in ministry opposed to women? Why or why not?
4) How can the three books within the article that support evangelical viewpoints be compared and contrasted? Do they all center around the idea of "distribution of power" between men and women?
5) After reading the article, as well as the ideas and theologies based around the three books discussed within the article, have you created a better understanding of the material to build a consensus between Complementarians and Egalitarians?
**Update Post Presentation**
I greatly appreciate everyone who participated in my presentation and although there were many views and standpoints expressed in my presentation, I appreciate everyone giving their opinion respectfully and intuitively! Our class discussion assisted in creating a better understanding for everyone when confusion transpired in regards to Complementarians, Egalitarians, and the idea of equality. The topic of Religion leaves many open ended questions and concerns because we all have our own views, beliefs, and values. During the discussion, students provided their own personal opinions and while some were quite similar, our Religious beliefs created barriers in some ways that we were able to get through together. The ideas and views of Complementarians and Egalitarians were categorized as "abusive" by many students because in one way or another, there was degradation. Some could argue this to be true while others could and were able to dispute it. One major idea that was brought up during my presentation was the idea that since the beginning of time, the Bible has had a significant amount of male dominant figures opposed to female dominant figures. This has held true since the beginning of time, therefore with these beliefs being so set in stone, it is impossible for any one person's view or opinion to change these ideologies. Another major factor that was discussed in regards to the roles of Complementarians and Egalitarians was cultural views. Cultural views, beliefs, and values play as big of a role in a person's life as Religious views, beliefs, and values do. Therefore, a barrier is created when we strive to depict which view, Complementarian or Egalitarian, is more realistic, equal, and holds the most power in a relationship. The class discussion led to many unanswered questions in regards to why Jesus' apostles were strictly male and not one was female. Therefore, we assume that this may be when male dominance was enacted. The Christian Research Journal published an article called "A Woman's Place: The Evangelical Debate Over the Role of Women in the Church" which says, "Egalitarians believe the most compelling explanation of Jesus' failure to call women to be among the twelve apostles had to do with decorum, because the potential for scandal was too great. Complementarians point out that Jesus simply did not select a single female apostle"(2009). This statement alone is why we are left with so many unanswered questions, thoughts, and assumptions. After gaining knowledge on the Religious views and beliefs of Complementarians and Egalitarians hopefully you can better answer these questions:
1) In your household, relationship, workplace, or Religious community, which of these views have you seen enacted more and why do you think that may be?
2) The class agreed that both the Complementarian and Egalitarian view can be portrayed as "abusive." Do you agree or disagree? Why?
3) Are there any similar views that can be compared and contrasted to these Catholic and Christian Religious views within your own community, lifestyle, or Religion?
4) Would you agree or disagree that cultural views, roles, and assumptions can tie into these ideologies? Why or why not?
Ehlke, Ronald C. (2009). "A Woman's Place: The Evangelical Debate Over the Role of Women in the Church." Christian Research Journal, Vol. 22, Issue 4. Retrieved from http://www.equip.org/article/a-womans-place/.
The beliefs associated with Complementarians view men and women as equal but not interchangeable. Furthermore, they believe men and women to have different roles, which complement each other, and believe that they are created equally in God’s image. Males and females are complementary to one another, and with that roles cannot be interchangeable. If we choose to analyze this belief, we can begin to question whether or not it actually promotes equality between men and women. For instance, by saying that roles cannot be interchangeable, we are only assuming that men and women can only take on roles seemingly associated with their gender, regardless of if they want to do something different. This to me is restricting people’s freedoms as a human, and creates a gendered reality. The beliefs associated with Egalitarians stem from viewing men and women as equals in God’s eyes, but also are equally capable of taking on non-gender specific roles. They also believe that one dominant figure leads to abuse of some sort. When looking at how this article would be different if it were to focus on men in ministry opposed to women, we can argue that the issues and concerns addressed would be significantly different. This is mainly because when we look at article VI on “The Church”, it states, “while both men and women are gifted for service in the church, the office of pastor is limited to men as qualified by Scripture” (p 77), which goes to show that men have not faced these types of limitations that women have faced in certain leadership roles. Regardless of whether coming from an egalitarian or complementarian view on whether certain leadership roles of off limits to women, it is still an evident factor when looking at Christianity. Coming from a Catholic background while growing up, every Church service I attended only had pastors who were male. I never once attended a service with a female pastor. In addition to the male dominance seen in Christianity, we can look at how Jesus is a male, and how he has been seen as our savior, by sacrificing his body for his people. Most of the prominent leaders and figures seen as heroic and brave in the Bible are males, while most female figures are seen only in instances about reproduction and tending to males. Where we see equality in Christianity, from my experiences, both males and females were able to read scriptures from the bible as well as helping the father during Church services. After reading the article, as well as the ideas and theologies based around the three books discussed within the article, it has indefinitely created a better understanding of the material to build a consensus between complementarians and egalitarians. When it comes to building a consesnsus between complementarian views and egalitarian views, they must choose to ‘acknowledge and listen carefully’ to one another beyond the fact that no progression is possible. The opposing viewpoints must understand where one another is coming from, and choose to respect each other as well. No belief system is better than the other, and through these beliefs we can bridge the gap between one another and can ‘help us see the loving and respectful relationships between women and men in the Church that God intends’.
ReplyDeleteFallon,
DeleteThe fact alone that the question arises of whether or not these ideologies actually promote equality between men and women is why there are so many open ended questions and thoughts about Complementarians and Egalitarians. Male and female dominance has always been a topic of discussion in relationships, families, and in the Church. I attended Catholic school for nine years and just like you have experienced, every pastor, priest, bishop, and pope in the Catholic Religion is a male. As you stated during my presentation, many of the dominant biblical figures are male. There is not one male apostle in the Bible and there are only a limited amount of female biblical figures besides Jesus' mother, Mary. Therefore, these roles and ideas that the male figure holds power and dominance have been set in stone since the beginning of time and why that is, we may never know. Although you and I practice the same Religion and have similar beliefs, not everyone does. We are all entitled to our own opinions, views, values, and beliefs but the only way to bridge this gap is through respect, attentiveness, and understanding. We may even be able to create a better understanding of these ideologies through the opposing view points of one another.
Hi Andrea,
ReplyDeleteThank you for your presentation. I think you did a great job explaining these ideologies that seem to be new to most us. I would have to agree that these ideologies are connected to our cultural views, roles and assumptions. I believe that religion is what drove people and gave them these views to hold onto and throughout time they have been adopted by many generations. Your view on a certain matter typically comes from what you know and how you've been raised by your family regarding the religion your family follows. If you grew up witnessing a complementarian relationship in your household, you'd think that that lifestyle is normal to adopt. Although, sometimes witnessing one view may lead you to want the opposite, which is egalitarian. I believe a mix of both views would be a healthy lifestyle to embrace because each partner would be seen as equal and take on the responsibilities they want to do instead of having to do. Sometimes it just works out when a mother takes control of the children's activities and the father mows the lawn, but it doesn't HAVE to be like that.
April,
DeleteAlthough society has enforced that we must follow the same beliefs as those who have raised us, ultimately, we are entitled to our own values, beliefs, and opinions. Many of the students in our class expressed that they do not follow the same Religious beliefs as their parents, while others do not follow any Religion at all. Some may think that this is frowned upon while others find it to be completely acceptable within their household and lifestyle. A mix of both lifestyles may create the "ideal" family structure and it may ultimately limit the power and dominance of one partner over the other. Although many families do follow the traditional family structure, it doesn't necessarily mean that we all have to abide by that structure. We all strive for a healthy lifestyle, relationship, and to be the absolute best role models that we can be for the family that we may have one day. Therefore, it is a blessing that we are able to choose what lifestyle we want to choose and the ways in which we want to promote equality.
Hi! First, I would say that I really enjoyed your presentation. I was born and raised in Japan, which does not have many people who do not believe in God. Majority of people are Buddhists, like my father. My father believes that our ancestors are protecting us. That is one of the reasons we are always praying for ancestors to show our appreciation to them. At the time that I came into the U.S., I was really surprised that so many people pray for their God and believe in the God. In Japan, because so many people actually do not follow what the Buddhist bible says, many companies do not allow people to say something that they cannot do due to their beliefs. However, in the U.S., since there are so many religions mixed in one society, people are have flexible thoughts and ideas. I think that is very good aspect of the society. I hope Japanese society will be like that.
ReplyDeleteYoshiko,
DeleteIt is amazing to learn about all of the different Religions there are in the world and what beliefs, values, and customs come along with those Religions. As well as what those people within that Religious group must follow. When we compare Christian and Catholic Religion to Buddhist Religion, as your dad follows, it seems as though there are many more significant contrasts than comparisons. I remember you saying that both of your parents follow different Religions and you have chosen to be your own person and believe in what you want to believe. I admire you a lot for being comfortable and secure enough in your view points in regards to Religion that you don't feel as though you have to follow the beliefs that your parents do. Although there are many different Religions that one can follow in the U.S., there are still many expectations that a person must live up to. Therefore, even though Religious practices in the U.S. flourish, they are not as always flexible, understanding, and accepting as you would hope and think!