The Bible

[emmie]

it's a while since i read a Bible, so you will have to bear with me in this.
Did women have or play any part in compiling the scriptures, text, or in any way contribute. It was one of those moments earlier today that the thought came to me, no idea why. Perhaps it had something to do with one of the other threads about famous women, and how many examples of women who have made a large contribution to the world we live in. I don't believe in any religion, but assumed that all texts, in the Quran, Bible, Torah, and any others would have only been composed by men.

[boxtops]

No, I don't think they did. The books about women (e.g. Ruth) were written by men - women didn't scribe in those days. IMO.

[seadogg]

Can't see women going around with those scribes and pharisees who caused so much bother.

[naomi24]

I would say your assumption is correct.

[Zacs-Master]

But surely, everything in the bible is true, so it doesn't matter which gender wrote it.

[RATTER15]

I dont think any woman would ever have been accepted as being intelligent enough to have been entrusted to write such scripts and probably not permitted to do such things.

[emmie]

where are all the religious zealots on here, who might have been able to contribute, let me know, or do they not know, or care.

[ludwig]

Before about 400 years ago I don't think anything was written by women, in any culture.

[sith123]

i agree with ludwig, you have to remember that its not just religion but overall history that had this view.

[beso]

When women tried to assert themselves they were put in they place by accusations of witchcraft. The church often led the witch hunt.

[sith123]

yes, but then the church ruled everything than. this isnt really an argument of religion, its more to do with the historical and social factors of those times.

[emmie]

not correct, nor was earlier than 16th century.

http://en.wikipedia.o...century_women_writers

[emmie]

it's not about long dead women writers, feminism, but more to do with who contributed to those tracts i mentioned, it seems women did not, but no one knows for sure, especially as they were compiled, written over long periods, thousands of years ago, so men's views, stories, and so forth.

[beso]

Regardless of the historical origins of the unfair subordinate status of women it was religion that enshrined it in their holy texts.

Religion always has been a leading factor in opposing the introduction of eqaul rights for women and the doctrine of these books is the central "evidence" for it being the natural order.

[emmie]

beso, no mention was made in original post about subjugation of women, i merely wanted to know, if anyone knows, or can speculate whether any of these books had any form of contribution by women, it seems most likely not.

[naomi24]

It's true that no one knows for sure, and it's also true that no mention was made in the original post of the subjugation of women. However, in order to provide an answer we have to explore the evidence and when we do we find that in the past religion ruled people's lives completely, as it still does in many societies, so despite Sith's protestation, religious doctrine is fundamental to the question. Upon reading the books you're asking about, it's clear that a woman's role was very different to that of a man - and in some cultures that still applies. They weren't equal to men, they weren't considered to be as capable as men, and they weren't educated. Therefore it's pretty safe to conclude that the writers of the books in question were men.

[Anlyn]

Sexism in religion is still practised today, How many 'officially ordained' female priests are there in the Roman Catholic Church?

[beso]

Sexism in religion started when Eve was made to take the rap for the incident with the apple.

All women are still taking the punishment for that one because God designated that they would forever experience extra pain in childbirth for it. The "Sins of the Fathers" are only punished to the third and forth generations.

[naomi24]

According to the Koran, giving birth is easy. There's no doubt that was written by a man!

80:20. "then We made the passage (though the birth canal) easy."

[RATTER15]

Naomi, I think the Koran meant that if men were giving birth it would be easy, a couple of paracetamol and back to work after a cuppa.

[naomi24]

Ratter, Haaa! You sound like my husband when he says 'I don't know why women complain about having babies. If they had to shave every day like men do, they'd really have something to moan about!!" :o)