Feminism

Sirs,

The finding of a recent poll, for Sky News, made interesting reading. Released on International Women’s Day, the results showed that a considerable majority of people in the UK thought feminism had gone far enough, while many believed it had gone too far.

The majority of 67% included discerning women who thought that the fight for feminist equality had gone far beyond the mark. We indeed agree with them, without a quibble, and so does the Bible.

While we respect and admire the fairer sex, feminism is a very different beast; and not a nice one. The loud intolerant cry over the past few years has been far-reaching, in the workplace (especially the political arena) and the home, with the relentless demand being made for equal rights, equal work, equal pay, equal status, equal authority, equal this and equal that - for women.

One feels sorry for the ever-contented never-complaining women, who have had to put up listening, with much embarrassment, to what can only be described as radical feminism gone mad; or in other words, women not being content with their lot and ever shouting about it.

It has not always been like this. The Oxford English Dictionary reveals that 1852 was the year in which the word ‘feminist’ first appeared and then, in 1895, ‘feminism.’ Since then, observers of the so-called feminist movement tell us that while, historically, it was an outgrowth of their quest for equal rights the central thrust of women’s liberation was really to promote humanistic values and give priority to females rather than to males.

Maybe they forgot that God opposes these values and priorities. While feminism contradicts the teaching of the Bible, it has never offered a solution that God’s Word hasn’t already taken care of. Yes, the Bible has all the answers we need. In Christ, we (men and women) will find all the fulfillment, worth, value and purpose this life has to offer.

In the Bible we read that both men and women were equally created in the image of God, that men and women are equally worthy of eternal salvation and both men and women are equally cared for by God as “heirs together of the grace of life” (I Peter 3:7). The Bible makes no distinction between men and women regarding their personal worth.

However, Scripture declares that in the matters of authority and leadership men and women are not equal. God is the head of Christ, Christ is the head of man, and man is the head of woman (1 Corinthians 11:3). A woman is not to exercise dominion or authority over a man (1 Timothy 2:10- 11). Two reasons are given why men have authority over women. First, “it was Adam who was first created, then Eve” (1 Timothy 2:12) and second, “it was not Adam who was deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression” (1 Timothy 3:14; See also Genesis 3:6; 2 Corinthians 11:3).

More specifically, Scripture declares that in marriage “the husband is head of the wife” (Ephesians 5:23). That this was God’s intent from the beginning is evident because the woman was created to be a “helper” for man (Genesis 2:18). God specifically said, “he shall rule over you” (Genesis 3:16).

At a human level, we leave the last words to a discerning woman, Phyllis Schlafly: ‘The feminist movement is just not compatible with happiness. They are not for equality; they want to kill everything masculine.’

Donald J Morrison

85 Old Edinburgh Road

Inverness

Letter: “Intolerant cry” of feminism

26 March 2018