Jimmy Carter just wrote an amazing article in the Guardian called The words of God do not justify cruelty to women.
In it he spells out why he had to sever his relations with the Southern Baptists over, in his opinion, their penchant for using the Bible as a tool of discrimination and sexism against women.
I have been a practicing Christian all my life and a deacon and Bible teacher for many years. My faith is a source of strength and comfort to me, as religious beliefs are to hundreds of millions of people around the world.
So my decision to sever my ties with the Southern Baptist Convention, after six decades, was painful and difficult. It was, however, an unavoidable decision when the convention’s leaders, quoting a few carefully selected Bible verses and claiming that Eve was created second to Adam and was responsible for original sin, ordained that women must be “subservient” to their husbands and prohibited from serving as deacons, pastors or chaplains in the military service. This was in conflict with my belief – confirmed in the holy scriptures – that we are all equal in the eyes of God.
He goes on to rail against the use of God and holy scriptures in general, across many faiths, to justify abuses against women.
The male interpretations of religious texts and the way they interact with, and reinforce, traditional practices justify some of the most pervasive, persistent, flagrant and damaging examples of human rights abuses.
It’s great when a well-known male political figure takes a stab at this. Probably would have been better if he’d said it 30 years ago… but better late than never.
Read the full Guardian article here.
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Thank you for sharing this Alex.
Relevant for the times. This just gained a prominent place on my Facebook wall. Good post, buddy. : )
What a nut!
This guy is defending Hamas and other Muslim extremists who subjugate women.
@ Joe
How is Carter defending Hamas? He has been defending the Palestinians who have been losing their ground to militant Israeli action.
He attempted a peace treaty. I forgot….peace isn’t the American way anymore.
Totally awesome post! ^.^ I know a few pastors in my area that could heed his words.
@ Gil & Stephanie – thanks guys. Appreciate the kind words!
@ Joe – I would people are complicated…politicians even more so. Many toe the line their entire careers. At least now, with nothing to lose politically, he speaks on the subject. Presumably it’ll carry some weight, and get a discussion started.
The Adam story is so mythical … one among many stories. It just happened to belong to a religion that is managed and propagated well. Many other storeis died because their religions did not dominate the world. That is all.
A man of conscience like Carter is always admired by people. It will be difficult to suppress women anymore. The old tools, including mythology will not work anymore.
@ Das – thanks for the comment. Interesting point. I think you’re point about suppression is valid in the West. Not quite the same in many developing countries and dictatorships.
And its true about myths. I’m reading some Mircea Eliade now regarding myths, and will hopefully start “The Evolution of God” which just came out.
Not true . I am a Muslim , I am treated like a princess . every one of my relatives care for me and look after my interest. I am well educated and I have the freedom to go were ever I want . I have the same salary as my male colleagues and much more , I hope you would not fallow the media propaganda about Islam , take care
I think Jimmy Carter is a brave man.
Mezon;
I am happy for you, I glad that you are treated like a princes, as you should be, the fact that you are an exception to the rule does not obviate the necessity to stand up for the millions who are not treated like you.
And to people who are focused on Carter’s motives now as compared to when he was the president, it matters not why. The whole mess in this world is because people focus on the messenger instead of the message. We worship Jesus and forget what he stood for, We venerate Muhammad and forget the teachings.
Lets stop pointing fingers at the messengers, lets engage our minds and find the good and lets support that which makes us all better, it matters not if the messenger is a Jew, Christian , Muslim, Hindu or an Atheist.
Arif
@ Mezon – thank you for your comment. It’s hard to make a case for how women are treated as a whole, by generalizing from a single example.
@Arif – I agree with you with taking Mezon’s example for what is it…and exception.
With respect to Carter, I actually like some of what he’s done throughout his career. But with respect to his motives, he admits himself, that he’s partially doing it because he has nothing to lose politically.
I’m of the opinion that its great that he’s standing up at all. But its not quite as hard politically to be “pro-women” in the West these days (as opposed to 30 yrs ago)
@Mezon – Many, who are just like me, are ignorant when it comes to the plight of Muslim women around the world. So when we hear things like what you just said and then read some other things from those who have escaped the ideology (such as the link I provide below), we just couldn’t help but wonder… how does one get to meet a princess? : )
http://www.commondreams.org/view/2009/06/19-11
Thank you.
1 Tim 2:11-16
“11A woman should learn in quietness and full submission. I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man; she must be silent. For Adam was formed first, then Eve. 14And Adam was not the one deceived; it was the woman who was deceived and became a sinner. But womenwill be saved through childbearing if they continue in faith, love and holiness with propriety.”
He basically has a problem with the scriptures, not the Southern Baptist. It’s unfortunate that he elevates his personal felt needs above the authority of the scriptures.
@ Mezon – you may be a Muslim and that’s how you may be treated. But as far as the Qur’an specified, your treatment at the moment by your male colleagues is unislamic.
Kevin, go hug a root. Your bible also says not to eat shrimp, yet on any given Sunday around noon you see all of the church people sitting there in their finest eating what? SHRIMP! Damn them all to hell. So tell me, what’s with your god and tapeworms? What’s that a punishment for?
Mr. Carter makes a deeply painful and difficult choice to leave his church, which I respect. I just don’t know how much impact this will actually have on the Southern Baptist Church (or our culture in general). The Church left me long ago with its quaint–and unjustified–doctrines limiting the full humanity of women. And, as Kevin’s post shows, the literalistic interpretation of sacred texts that justify the continued subjugation of women is alive and well, and will take a long, long time to change. But one can hope, eh? Thanks Alex for the terrific post, and as usual, a great conversation.
I pretty much agree with everything Jimmy said, except for his view on authority. 1 Timothy makes it pretty clear that Men are to be the authority and leaders of the Church. That does not make Women less important or useless. They will have ministries within the Church as well.
@Mark
Shrimp being forbidden to eat was old testament for the Israelites. This was a dietary law for them to distinct themselves from everyone else. New Testament where we are not judged by the law anymore, Jesus declared all food being clean! (Mark 7:19)
@Gil – thank you for the insightful comment.
@Kevin – thanks to you too for your comment. I’d gotten some other more private notes about disapproval of Jimmy Carter’s stance on the baptist church. Its interesting to see what riles people
@Mark – thank you for your shrimp comment – lol
@ cdkleitch – thank you for the kind words, and insightful comment. My feeling is that any kind of social progress comes with each new generation.
This reminds me of something. I forgot who actually said it, but it was something to the effect that: “progress” is when a current generation dies out, and the new one comes along and forgets what pissed off the previous one in the first place.
@kash – thanks for your comments.
Mezon, I am sure the woman in this story felt like she had it very good also.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7894721.stm
I am pleased that President Carter is a Christian. I find it amazing that he defends Hamas and Fatah and they treat women like rubbish. The hypocrisy is amazing that he does not stand up for these women. The US needs to stand up for the rights of Muslim women around the world. Why are all the feminists so quiet on this issue. Shame on them.
@ Kash
My, your fingers are quite red. Somebody’s been cherry-picking again, haven’t they?
So let me get this straight. Following the kosher laws found in the old testament is an unnecessary practice due to (your words, not mine) “Jesus declared all food being clean!”, but the condemnation of homosexuals, a practice also found in the old testament, and subjugation of women (again, found in the old testament) are perfectly ok to practice.
Hey, I think I see a cherry still on that tree from whence you picked. But fear not! for I think I’ve found the source of your confusion.
See, according to the Bible, Jesus said that he came not to abolish the laws of the prophets, but to fulfill them. What many people do not realize was that there was an asterisk (*) at the end of that sentence and that Jesus originally intended for Christians to arbitrarily decide what to follow based on how they were feeling that day.
Remember kids, it is particularly important that Jesus be loved and revered, and that his words be ignored.
I feel like I should say something in defense of Mezon – she is most definitely NOT the exception to the rule in being treated like a princess in her Islamic faith. Most Islamic women enjoy the same position as her. It is also worth noting that that Kevin has most likely never read the Qur’an because I can testify, not just as a doctor of religious studies but as a catholic and a woman, that the Qur’an insists on the preciousness of women – more so than the Holy Bible does in fact.
This person should be ashamed to show his face in public. He is without doubt the worst president this country ever had. If you recall he forced the Shah of Iran to leave the country and thats when all the trouble started with the Islamic radicals. Human rights he called it. I would like him to explain this to us instead of writing pro Hamas and pro terrorist books. What a nutcase!!!
Thank you president Carter for standing up for women’s rights. The fact that you have quit the Southern Baptist is wonderful. Hopefully one day you will give up Christianity and start to see that the entire philosophy of Christainity is based on male dominance and hypcrosy. I faught for decades until I decided to give it up totally. Christianity has so many contridictions it’s unbelievable.
It is time for people in general and especially Americans or better yet African Americans to wake up and start to view life from a more spiritual point of view. It is time that we collectively acknowledge God as an internal Light that is within every creature on earth. A light that radiates unconditional love for everyone and everything on earth and in the universe.
Anfra Boyd
Author
Right on!
It’s simple. For Christians who really want to know the truth, go the Bible and see if what the pastors said is true. If the Bible does say what they’ve said, then they’re clearly correct. The Bible should not be altered to fit our times. (Revelations 22:18-20, 2 Timothy 3:16-17). In the end God’s opinion is the one that truly matters. And yes, he does love all of us, male and female. But that doesn’t mean the pastors or the Bible are preaching anything less than love and obedience to God. Read the Bible, asking God and the Holy Spirit to help you understand, then it will be clear. But first, you must accept Christ as LORD and savior. Otherwise, the Bible won’t make sense to you. Remember, it’s about God and what he wants. He tells us what he wants in the Bible.
It’s great to see Liberals going out and seeking new information out of line with their worldview, rather than all congregating in the same place and congratulating each other on how open minded they are.
not all muslim womens are treated badly, and you people might find it weird or think that we have no rights or that we are not allowed to live freely and we are not satisfied then you are mistaken . there are bad people in every religion .
if a christian man beat his wife,, the news wouldn’t say ” the CHRISTIAN man beat his wife ” but if he was a muslim it would go in the headlines ” THE MUSLIM MAN beat his wife ” .why mention that he is muslim ? does islam had anything to do with it ? just coz some people dont follow it properly that doesnt mean EVERYone is like that . face it , islam is the target of everyone nowadays .
everyone have their own religion they follow.
i respect people that can make a decision like this. it says a lot about him as a person, his commitment to his integrity and growth.
and as for the whole “islam and subjugation of women” … let’s not even go there! it’s more complicated that it seems and if you research the history/politics/religion/culture of the region, you’ll see it all looks very similar the Christian past.
Mad respect to Mr.Carter…
Further proof what an incredible pussified hippie Jimmy Carter is
I applaud Jimmy. But I would ask all Americans this simple question? Do you actually know the history of Christianity and how churches like the Baptists, originally persecuted by governments and the old RCC came to be formed, what their aims were and how they have become inevitably all corrupted to some degree from their original intent? I am an agnostic but was raised Catholic. I find it very ironic that almost all of the Protestant religions now perpetuate in one way or another the very abuses against which they so “protested” in the Catholic Church. And I am by no means mounting some kind of apology for the RCC. However it must be said, that despite all the good work Christians do, too often behind the veil of religion lies hypocrisy, avarice and a few individuals who derive enormous financial gains. Please just think about it for yourself and for godsake remember every religious text was written by a human hand enacting the human intention of the author, even when that author believed he/she was speaking the “Word of God”.
Cheers.
PS: RCC = Roman Catholic Church
One more thing for Joe, the tough guy above, come on down to Australia, big boy, minus your yankie guns and see how far your tough-talking redneck crap flies here. Listen buddy Neo-con Republicans and small-minded US patriots like you are the real pussies. Have you ever really examined the aims and objectives that the founders of your freedom had. They were nothing like Cheney, Rumsfeldt, Bush, Palin.They were principled individuals who wanted to create a free, just, fair and tolerant society for all men, (which also now implies women of course). I am not a hippy but I’ve met many who’d kick your sorry posterior from here to neverland and then eat you for desert and they wouldn’t need a gun to do it. Why do so many Americans think a leftist or alternative political point of view is weak. You have a lot to learn. Either you are uneducated or so pampered with the privileged lifestyle you lead that you can’t even glimpse the truth because of your prejudices. It’s this kind of attitude that is destroying the reputation of the USA all over the world. Travel a bit if you don’t believe me. God what happened to the USA????
And a question for muslims – when is the last time you heard a muslim take any responsibility for the part that they play in the present chaos the world suffers from. If a genuine muslim does not support violence and terror then speak out against it NOW and LOUD. In Christian countries freedom of speech is valued and protected. And self-criticism is applauded. In other words Christians DO criticise and engage in debate with other christians and do so in a civilized, rational manner, at least sometimes. By the way I am not a christian either. But I just don’t hear ANY muslims developing any kind of coherent critique about Islam. And re women in Islam, if it’s so liberating and wonderful, then you are perfectly free to change religions, yes? Well aren’t you? But in a fully Islamized society what would happen if a woman dared to try to become say a buddhist or to live in some un-Islamic way?
That guy Ed is hysterically funny. He really believes the Bible is the word of God. It’s a human document, the greater part of which was written by Jews and for Jews and has now been translated many times over from Hebrew to Ancient Greek, then into Latin and only very recently (last 500 yrs) did it assume any English form. Every translation necessarily alters meaning. That’s how it is, Ed. Humans wrote the thing and they translated it. Humans did this Ed, not God. You poor sad man. Why don’t you study the extraordinary amount of painstaking scholarship that has been done into the Bible over the last two centuries. And talk to some Jewish people as well. Jesus WAS a Jew. Yeah and I am not Jewish either. Can’t you guys engage in some real critical debate, that’s informed and intelligent. Where I come from an intelligent man is respected. Slavish devotion to anything that you haven’t thought about yourself and sought an independent opinion upon is just plain stupid.
I am sorry to hear that Justin doesn’t think that the Bible was inspired by God and given to man to write. I guess he has never heard the voice of God talk to him. Well, that is too bad, because if he did he would finally after all these years understand. The Bible is the Word of God. No translation makes any difference. I have been studying in all the languages of the time of Jesus and before and have found that they prove the Bible is God’s word.
As for here in the USA, yes, Justin, there are alot of us that have studied the history of our Founding Fathers and know and agree with what they set down and what is now being taken away by the so-called politicians of today. None of them have ever read the Constitution that they swear to uphold and defend or the Declaration of Independance. So Justin, yes we can engage in some real critical debate.