Same rhetoric, different century
After reading The First Blast of the Trumpet Against the Monstrous Regiment of Women by John Knox I felt totally spent. Reading through this “Blast” was a trying experience. I could only imagine the multitude of women being silenced, held back, and punished if they tried to escape their “bondage to man.”This treatise is said to be an attack on Queen Mary but I feel Knox is expressing his views on all women. In the document, Knox repeatedly refers to women as “wicked,” and “monstiferous.” He continues his attack by pointing out “not
able faults” of women and even declares they are “weak, frail, impatient, feeble, and foolish,” and if that isn’t enough, he states “experience has declared them to be inconstant, variable, cruel, lacking the spirit of counsel and regiment.” All this because he wants to prove “women should not bear rule over men.” Knox even goes so far as to argue that women shouldn’t even have thoughts of ruling over men: “woman ought never to pretend nor thirst for that power and authority which are due to man,” and if they dare to have such unnatural thoughts then they should be “repressed and bridled.” What happened to the freewill that God has given us all? I don’t believe He was only passing it out to the fellas that day.It is interesting to note that even today the same arguments are being used to stop women from becoming more actively involved in the Catholic Church. Reverend Raymond de Souza uses the old argument, “the bible tells me so,” and states, “Had [Jesus] wanted to ordain women, he would have.” Thankfully, there are plenty of arguments out there that support the women who challenge this old argument.
As for women who want to rule over men, Mr. Knox is surely turning over in his grave when he sees the number of current female world leaders and heads of state. Rule on ladies.
posted by Lucy @ 2:32 PM
3 Comments:
Hi Lucy,
Great Blog as usual! Your first post really interested me and got my dander up! I find it outrageous that men would stand behind the Bible as their reference for the authority of man over woman when there are countless times when Jesus purposely used women as an example to whom men should follow! I am specifically thinking of the poor widow who, according to Jesus, gave out of her poverty more than all the rich people. (Luke 21: 1-3) Also there was the woman who was to be stoned for adultery and not one of the men willing to stone her could begin since there were none found, as Jesus asked,without sin. (John 8:4-10)
Great examples of how Jesus viewed women. The Bible has been used to support so many points of view but people tend to forget, or ignore, the fact there is usally a counter agrument to be found. We also must remember the church held the same view toward women as Knox did so you can bet he had more supporters than naysayers.
By the way, thanks for the kind words about my blog.
re. your last point: yes, and it's only taken 500 years.
(sigh)
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