Comments on: Baptist Seminary Offers Homemaking Major

The Skinny: Women-Only Concentration Includes Classes On Baking, Sewing, Laundry

[lydiasings]

I didn''t say I was a doormat; I run the house and don''t want for anything. I make plenty of decisions on my own, hire help, design the interiors, and don''t whine. Life is good. I am capable of doing a lot of things that is a lost art, domestic things, and we have a landscaping and a cleaning service help. I am not a slave and my husband says he is never bored. I enjoy being alone, and am not clingy or jealous. All my single friends come to me for advice; they want our life. It works; you get what you give. I left two abusive marriages, and married a nice guy who doesn''t lord it over me, but is smart and practical. Sometimes he cooks. I agree, you are better off single than with a controlling, vice laden, hurtful, insecure spouse. When you love someone, and he is good to you, it makes you want to take care of him by making great healthy dinners, keeping things organized, paying the bills on time, looking good, and staying healthy. Many career women can''t do anything but earn a living. Why should I go out and work, and still do the cooking and everything else. I just don''t spend money shopping for material things constantly. I don''t buy expensive purses, or cars, but I shop sales when I need stuff at better department stores. We have a very good life. When my husband want to make the final decision, I let him, that''s all. He wants to make me happy, I want to make him happy. We don''t manipulate each other. I don''t compete with anyone.

[oldpilot954]

I will make a couple of observations.
First, I would expect that it is an attempt to suppress some of the stigma that comes from being "just a housewife". My wife suffered from some of that stigma when she took a 16 year break in her career to raise children. This was in spite of the fact that she had a Masters degree and had been working for several years. My wife loved staying home with our children, our food bills were lower, the food was healthier, and we had more time to do things we enjoyed doing. However, as our children got older, their need for cash money grew faster than my teacher''s salary and she returned to her teaching job for financial reasons.
Secondly, I think Paul takes some bad press. We try to put 21st century culture into a 1st century writing. I read Proverbs 30, Song of Solomon, and other scriptures and not see the oppression we Christians are supposed to support. What I do see is that Paul said the husbands of those "submissive" wives were supposed to love them "like Christ loved the church". That means to literally spend his life (even dying) for the good of his wife. There are always tyrants who use religion as an excuse for oppression whether they claim to be Christian, Muslim, Buddhist, atheist or whatever. However when you get past the "tag" you find they are all just small people trying to make themselves look big at the expense of others. Religion is just one tool that they use.

[swbts0402408]

I believe that people get upset at the concept of women being submissive to husbands because they a) have defined Christian submission wrongly, b) do not balance it with how God has instructed husbands, & c) may have seen men unbiblically misuse the idea of submission to rule over & abuse their wife rather than serve & love their wife.

[swbts0402408]

The difficulty with handling this subject in a secular article, is that there would never be enough room to fully address the theological principles behind the concept. I will however attempt to give an overview: First, the concept of Christian submission is not an issue of value, but of role. It is based on the fact that though Christ is one with God (Thereby equal) The son of God willingly chose to submit to the will of the Father. No One would ever accuse Christians of devaluing Jesus, just like biblical Christianity does not devalue Women, but actually exalts a Godly wife. Second, perspective is only brought when looking at the entire context of Ephesians 5 where this is taken. One would find instruction that we all submit to one another. (Christian submission is willingly looking to the other persons interest rather than your own) Also, there are five times more intructions to husbands about how to treat their wives, including- love her like Christ loved the church. I remind you that Christ loved the church so much, he gave his life for her. This is a self sacrificial, serving love, that communicates to one''s wife- "I would give my life for you"

[ladyjaneg]

Um, I thought the whole thing about women''s liberation is that we have CHOICE. If a woman wnats to go out and a CEO of a bank or whatever, go for it. And if she wants to stay at home and bake pies all day, then all power to her. I work full-time for a pharmaceutical compant, but I also go home and cook a homemade meal and clean the house....like a ''housewife''. It''s not always easy, but it''s my CHOICE. And that''s what women''s lib should be about. The choice.

[boffo1962]

Seems to me this is a clever way for the school to get tuition money from those that don''t even need a college education to get "the job" the degree is designed for. If there are women are stupid enough to pay a school for this, they deserve each other.

[simonsez40]

However, contrast what is said here about these religious zealots with the reality of typical bloodthirsty divorcees/abusive mothers, and we now know the liberals are equally criminals. They have trashed women more than fundamentalism ever could.



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Posted by Dan9111 at 11:36 AM : Oct 11, 2007

WE NOW KNOW.......??? Name your sources Dan9111? Typically religion has oppressed women from the beginning of time - I don''t think this is a liberal issue it''s a religion issue. ....the world is on crack!

[dan9111]

This is a funny article. Too many men have spent hard working years and then get robbed by divorce and children kidnapped. You can be they would trade places in a nanosecond with a homemaker. *** does not matter, and it is obvious all people ought to live up to their potential -- at home and/or work..

However, contrast what is said here about these religious zealots with the reality of typical bloodthirsty divorcees/abusive mothers, and we now know the liberals are equally criminals. They have trashed women more than fundamentalism ever could.

[simonsez40]

Justpraisin - I agree it''s a choice but don''t demean and subjucate women into a lesser role - as we all know it takes both sexes to make this world great and I don''t think women need to take a back seat to anything.....

The grand patriarchial myth............that religions want to perpetuate so they can stay in power and oppress and conquer..........anything that isn''t male.

[justpraisin]

No one forces young women to take these courses. I spent 12 years as a stay-home wife and mother and loved being able to pour my energy and creativity into my family, and I would never trade the time I had at home raising young children. I have now been back in the workplace for over 19 years and enjoy pouring energy and creativity into my career. Wasn''t the women''s movement supposed to be about women choosing their own career paths? If some women choose to be stay-home wives and mothers and take courses to help them be the best that they can be, why should anyone care or castigate them? It''s the choice, remember? Or is career choice only acceptable if the career takes women OUT of the home? If that''s the case, so much for women''s liberation!

[simonsez40]

HWY71 obviously you weren''t cast for the leadership role either - perhaps you should submit to your wife......the world would be a better place.

[simonsez40]

....after the Burka has covered the womans body then Women Circumsicion is performed..........

HWY71 go back to traditional American conservatism - join Warrens group they''d love to have you aboard!

[simonsez40]

Oh sweet Jesus Lydia - glad you have no mind of your own and are content to LET YOUR MAN think for you. However, there is something completely wrong in this thinking - what if YOUR MAN was abusive would you SUBMIT to his unwaivering will.........

God this takes me back to the 1800''s and the frightening THING is there are WOMEN like Lydia that allow this.........hmmmmmm I think Jeff Warrens was just sentenced prison time because women submitted to his will........makes me ill!

[gramto7]

''''m ready to get back to traditional American conservatism. Besides, the Bible does instruct the woman to be silent in the assembly. Meaning, they aren''''t cast for the role of religious leader.

Posted by Hwy71So at 10:30 AM

This was written by Paul, who is well known as a misogynist! He seldom has a good word for women, no matter what the occasion. Why should women of the 21st century have to kowtow to the beliefs of someone from 2000 years ago who seemed to hate women to start with?

[hwy71so]

Good deal. I''m tired of seeing all these women that can''t cook. The guys are even worse. Folks just don''t know how to tend to the home much anymore. Too busy chasing the "American Dream".

I''m ready to get back to traditional American conservatism. Besides, the Bible does instruct the woman to be silent in the assembly. Meaning, they aren''t cast for the role of religious leader.

[re_evolve]

Included in the course is the proper application of the Burka.