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Women, the root of all evil?

I was reading through some Celtic poetry online,A Celtic Psaltery, by Alfred Perceval Graves, and when I read this ancient poem I realized how deep are the roots of misplaced theology.

EVE'S LAMENTATION

(From the Early Irish)


I am Eve, great Adam's wife,
'Twas my guilt took Jesus' life.
Since of Heaven I robbed my race,
On His Cross was my true place.

In His Paradise, God placed me,
Then a wicked choice disgraced me.
At the counsel of the Devil,
My pure hand I stained with evil;

For I put it forth and plucked,
Then the deadly apple sucked.
Long as woman looks on day,
Shall she walk in folly's way.

Winter's withering icy woe,
Whelming wave and smothering snow,
Hell to fright and death to grieve--
Had been never, but for Eve!


First thoughts: what about the serpent ( Satan)? what about Adam? God didn't hold him blameless! Eve's main problem was getting deceived, and yet she gets blamed for the entire woeful condition of man. Things haven't changed much in some circles of thought. eve and apple

Beyond this, because we know little of the beliefs of the pagans we don't know how much a previous view of women was layered on Christian theology, or if it was.

It is such a challenge to get the true communication of the Bible on the nature of women, without other views adulterating it. I take a look at this poem, and then I think of what many traditionalist apologists are saying... and except for the clarity of the message ( the older one being much less veiled) how different are the two? Part of the problem is the traditionalists rejection of the egalitarian message of the Gospel. The Gospel does have an egalitarian message- it is linked with the hierarchal one. Not instead of, but with. Without the elevating egalitarian viewpoint the view of women descends into a type of misogynistic view. That is not the gospel of Jesus Christ, so we have to find a way to express the female/male differences in the unified and higher level of viewpoint that is unarguably resident in the Gospel.

Like the problem with the two types of views of men and women in the Church, it seems a problem of emphasis.

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Posted by Ilona at September 30, 2007 5:27 PM Ilona | TrackBack

Comments

You make such a good point here. The Scriptures describe men and women in BOTH hierarchical roles and in an egalitarian relationship. It's not an either/or but AND. Blessings, e-Mom

Posted by: e-Mom at September 30, 2007 7:21 PM

The Gospel does have an egalitarian message- it is linked with the hierarchal one. Not instead of, but with.

Wow, Ilona, I was working on the draft for my GodBlogCon speech earlier this evening and I wrote about this very same thing! Is that cool or what?!

we don't know how much a previous view of women was layered on Christian theology, or if it was.

Actually I think I've read things speaking to this, but can't remember where or what they said...

One thing I do recall is that, in some writings of the early Church fathers, women were categorized as evil temptresses, and thereby blamed for the sexual sins of men. Or something like that.

Posted by: Bonnie at September 30, 2007 10:38 PM

Yes definitely way-cool;)

Well, I don't think St. Paul wrote anything like that, even though there are some that like to twist it that way...

It now makes me wonder ( since you commented on it) what the exact right division is on some of this, since there certainly is an element of the temptation powers of women ( ie Balaam teaching Balak to lure away Israelite men and snare them through sexual sin) but it is a subtext and not a maintext category of women.

Would those same Church fathers put Mary the mother of Jesus in with that doctrine?

( I am aware of the Catholic doctrine of immaculate conception- but that postdates the Church Fathers you are referring to... and btw, which ones would they be?)

Or any of the godly women of scriptures? If not, how do they support their contention that all women are temptresses? No matter how you cut it you can't have it both ways.

The problem of integrating that idea with Christian doctrine is this: where is the salvation and the grace? If the sons of Adam are saved by the blood of Christ, are not the daughters of Eve? See, I think there is a problem with the theology that was passed on through many centuries, more a tradition of men than a doctrine of the gospel of Christ. There is no alternative gospel that applies to women. One faith, one salvation, one Lord.... without partiality.

Posted by: ilona at October 1, 2007 2:33 AM

Yes, I think there is a problem with certain theology that was passed on, especially since it both perpetrated and spawned many subtleties. There were many interrelated subtle doctrines that were perhaps used to support or explain other doctrines in order to cope with difficulties in life, in practice, and in doctrine.

I think it's also true that early writings have been passed down in misunderstood form and continue to be misconstrued in order to lay blame for this and that. I will try to find some specifics, hopefully source readings.

Maybe Atlantic can help us?

Posted by: Bonnie at October 1, 2007 10:22 AM
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