Does Christianity Promote Male Domination Over Women?
By Douglas R. Groothuis An obstacle hinders many souls from trusting in Jesus as their hope for this life and the next. Many modern women have felt the anguish of being treated as second-class citizens in a man’s world. They have been stereotyped and marginalized by men who fail to see their real abilities and understand their real desires. Because many women have been discriminated against unfairly because of their gender, they justifiably complain of the sting of sexism. Christians should be sensitive to these problems, since God calls us to respect everyone equally on the basis of the truth that we are all created in the image of God (Genesis 1:28), to love our neighbors as ourselves (Matthew 19:19), and to recognize our unity and equality in Christ (Galatians 3:26-29). Yet sadly, many women see the Bible itself as justifying the mistreatment of half the human race. A few years ago I wrote an essay for a campus newspaper that responded to an editorial by a young goddess-worshiper na
