My Red Couch Quotes

The book that I mentioned last time was My Red Couch And Other Stories on Seeking a Feminist Faith. It's edited by Claire Bischoff and Rachel Gaffron. The book is filled with many stories of women who are many different denominations. I want to share with you all some quotes from the book that I connect to and maybe you will too.

"I realized that the image I'd understood to be the acceptable Christian woman was actually the very image Jesus shattered every day of his ministry. Jesus did not pat passive women on the head and urge them to be more subservient-that was the identity their culture dictated to them. Rather, he called women like the one caught in adultery to speak her own forgiveness. He honored women who spent their entire lives giving themselves away with the chance to rest and to gather themselves back."

-Heather Scheiwe

I have met many people who believe women should be passive, it's a stereotype that has existed for so long. You know: women should be quiet, not radical, get married to a man and serve him, don't talk back and know your place at home and in the church. That sounds very archaic to say the least. In modern times this is still present (I still know people) however sometimes they are undertones. There is a modern mask and under lies the same passiveness. Society created that, not Christianity.

I love this quote because it tosses the passive image. Jesus doesn't want women to be passive, they should be loud and bold. They should dance and sing. They should have opinions and beliefs and the courage to stick to them even when it's not the popular choice. To me, this is saying Jesus endorses feminism. Feminism is all of those things: loud and bold, dancing and singing, courage and confidence. It is everything good and positive in life. Feminism is having the strength to not be passive, to having a voice in the world.

The other one is actually a bible verse that was brought up many times in this book.

Galatians 3:28 "There is no longer Jew nor Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus"

You are one. No genders,no biological sex, nothing. Just one. That is a great verse. You do not have to dwell on what makes you different all the time (however I feel it makes people unique so still honor that when its needed). Jesus sees no difference between men and women, everyone is mixed together. Wouldn't it be nice if the catholic church could follow this verse when speaking of women being priests? This verse is saying it doesn't matter who you are, you can worship God. The thing about the verses is everyone interprets it differently, that is the road block and the challenge. Someday maybe someone will knock some sense into the pope....