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Sexism is a sin: The biblical basis of female equality

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My first impression of this book was that although it pointed out the ways in which men (the male principle) succeded in overwhelming the authority of women (the female principle) the author does not treat this fact as if men had accomplished this unilaterally. Women hold up half the sky, and in this book they are protrayed as having initially cooperated in this takeover.

The book traces this cooperative venture of males and females from the time of the Fall in Eden, until now. The author uses the bible to trace this development, and it reads like a fascinating--but not always elevating--story. Although I was familiar with Sunday School lessons about men like Abraham, Joseph, Jacob and Esau, the author brings out facts I never knew. They seemed so extraordinary I had to check them out in the bible to see if they were true. They were.

The post-biblical section of the book gives information that was also new to me. Although I had taken certification courses in Women Studies I never heard about the theology of Ann Lee, the founder of the Shakers. She had a vision of Christ and emigrated to this country in 1774, specifically in order to establish a church which taught the female/male nature of God, and the need to establish this equality in all human affairs.

After reading this book, neither the bible, nor the feminist version of history, will ever be the same to me.

Many people doing biblical exegesis highlight those passages that accord with their worldviews and consider them "literal" while (arbitrarily) treating contradictory passages as "allegorical." In contrast, Rev. Hyland, while recognizing that Scriptures are often contradictory, considers all Scripture as meaningful. She looks for themes in the Scriptures, finding that a central issue of dispute concerns the proper role of women in society. The early prophets drew sharp distinctions between womens' and mens' roles in society. Hyland demonstrates that these early prophets endorsed the violence that this separation inevitable engenders. The later prophets, however, encouraged people to internalize both the "male principle" (action and overcoming) with the "female princle (caring and compassion). Hyland notes that Jesus Christ's ministry centered on encouraging both principles. His life illustrated that adoption of these principles promoted love and nonviolence. Unfortunately, only a minority of Christians have followed Jesus Christ's prescription for peace, and Christianity has consequently wraught much misery upon the world. Hyland demonstrates that following Jesus Christ's example is personally liberating, spiritually fulfilling, and a path towards world peace.

Although I am committed to the equality of women I am also a Christian and have had to listen to a steady stream of distorted teachings regarding the place of women in the church and in the world. Although I knew they were wrong I did not have the expertise to refute what churchmen (and women) were telling me the Bible said. Until I read SEXISM IS A SIN.

Talk about a revelation! The author is a biblical theologian who traces the development of sexist attitudes from the time of Abraham and Sarah to the time of St. Paul. Although the scholarship behind the book is obvious it is not written for academics. It is a fascinating and easy-to-read story of people and events who, throughout biblical times, ignored the call of Jesus and of the Latter Prophets who called for social justice, compassion and mercy. Instead, men continually choose to use violence and power-politics to get what they wanted and then blamed their brutality on God.

The author connects this insistence on violence to the development of a sexism that is determined to keep the female role of nuturing and care-giving confined to the home where it cannot interfere with the warrior mentality that operates in the larger world.