Top 10 Sexist Quotes from Men of the Church
Mohamad Mostafa Nassar
Twitter:@NassarMohamadMR
Today we find that many Christians have this type of Superiority complex when it comes to other nations and religions. But the reality is that the West evolved from Secular ideas rather than Biblical ones. Things like womenâs rights, and equality were never really considered something which correlates with the Bible.
Actually, quite the opposite. For this reason, I wanted to share with our readers the Top 10 Historic quotes we have from famous Church Fathers and Reformers. These were men who had, throughout the course of History, help shape Christianity into the religion it is today.
Number 10: John Knox: (Scottish clergyman and Protestant Reformer, 16th century)
âThe Woman in her greatest perfection was made to serve and obey man . . . Nature I say, paints [women] further to be weak, frail, impatient, feeble and foolish: and experience has declared them to be inconstant, variable, cruel and lacking the spirit of counsel and regiment [or, leadership].â
[1] The First Blast of the Trumpet Against the Monstrous Regiment of Women.
Number 9: John Calvin: (French theologian, pastor, and Protestant Reformer, 1509-1564)
On the first post-resurrection appearance of Jesus to women rather than to men: âI consider this was done by way of reproach, because they [the men] had been so tardy and sluggish to believe. And indeed, they deserve not only to have women for their teachers, but even oxen and asses. Yet it pleased the Lord, by means of those weak and contemptible vessels, to give display of his power.â
[2] Commentary on the Gospel of John (John 20)
âOn this account, all women are born that they may acknowledge themselves as inferior in consequence to the superiority of the male sex.â
[3] Commentary on 1 Corinthians (1 Corinthians 11)
Number 8: Martin Luther: (German priest, theologian and Protestant Reformer, 16th century)
âFor a woman seems to be a creature somewhat different from man, in that she has dissimilar members, a varied form and a mind weaker than man. Although Eve was a most excellent and beautiful creature, like unto Adam in reference to the image of God, that is with respect to righteousness, wisdom, and salvation, yet she was a woman. For as the sun is more glorious than the moon, though the moon is a most glorious body, so woman, though she was the most beautiful work of God, yet she did not equal the glory of the male creature.â
[4] Commentary on Genesis, Chapter 2, Part V, 27b
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Number 7: Thomas Aquinas: (Doctor of the church, 13th century
âBut a woman is naturally of less strength and dignity than man . . .â
[5] Summa Theologica, Volume 1, Question 92, Article 1, Objection 2.
âAs regards the individual nature, woman is defective and misbegotten, for the active force in the male seed tends to the production of a perfect likeness in the masculine sex; while the production of woman comes from a defect in the active force or from some material indisposition, or even from some external influence.â
[6] Summa Theologica, Vol. I, Q. 92, Art. 1, Reply to objection 1.
Number 6: Augustine: (Bishop of Hippo, Doctor of the Church and Latin Father, 354-430)
âI donât see what sort of help a woman was created to provide man with, if one excludes procreation. If a woman is not given to man for help in bearing children, for what help could she be? To till the earth together. If help were needed for that, man would have been a better help for man. The same goes for comfort in solitude. How much more pleasure is it for life and conversation when two friends live together than when a man and a woman cohabitate?â
â. . . the woman together with her own husband is the image of God, so that that whole substance may be one image; but when she is referred separately to her quality of help-meet, which regards the woman herself alone, then she is not the image of God; but as regards the man alone, he is the image of God as fully and completely as when the woman too is joined with him in one.â
[7] On the Trinity, Book 12 7.10
Number 5: Jerome: (Priest, Theologian, Doctor of the Church and Latin Father, 4th-5th centuries)
âThe Woman is the root of all evil.â
[8] Phelips, The churches and the modern thoughts pg. 203
Number 4: Clement of Alexandria: (Theologian and Greek Father, 2nd century)
âEvery woman should be filled with shame by the thought that she is a woman. the consciousness of their own nature must evoke feelings of shame.â
[9] Paedagogus (The Instructor) Book 2, 33.2 (?)
Number 3: Origen: (Theologian and Greek Father, 2nd-3rd centuries)
âMen should not sit and listen to a woman . . . even if she says admirable things, or even saintly things, that is of little consequence, since it came from the mouth of a woman.â
[10] Fragments on 1 Corinthians
Number 2: Tertullian: (The Father of Latin Christianity, 155-245)
â And do you not know that you are (each) an Eve? The sentence of God on this sex of yours lives in this age: the guilt must of necessity live too. You are the devilâs gateway: you are the unsealer of that (forbidden) tree: you are the first deserter of the divine law: you are she who persuaded him whom the devil was not valiant enough to attack.
You destroyed so easily Godâs image, man. On account of your desertâthat is, deathâeven the Son of God had to die.
And do you think about adorning yourself over and above your tunics of skins?â
[11] De Cultu Feminarium (On the Apparel of Women), Chapter 1
Number 1: Chrysostom: (Archbishop of Constantinople and Doctor of the Church, 4th century
âGod maintained the order of each sex by dividing the business of life into two parts and assigned the more necessary and beneficial aspects to the man and the less important, inferior matter to the woman.â
[12] The Kind of Women who ought to be taken as Wives â
âThe [female] sex is weak and fickle . . .â
[13] Homily 9 on First Timothy
Allah knows Best.
Source:
[1] The First Blast of the Trumpet Against the Monstrous Regiment of Women.
[2] Commentary on the Gospel of John (John 20)
[3] Commentary on 1 Corinthians (1 Corinthians 11)
[4] Commentary on Genesis, Chapter 2, Part V, 27b.
[5] Summa Theologica, Volume 1, Question 92, Article 1, Objection 2.
[6] Summa Theologica, Vol. I, Q. 92, Art. 1, Reply to objection 1.
[7] On the Trinity, Book 12 7.10
[8] Phelips, The churches and the modern thoughts pg 203
[9] Paedagogus (The Instructor) Book 2, 33.2 (?)
[10] Fragments on 1 Corinthians
[11] De Cultu Feminarium (On the Apparel of Women), Chapter 1
[12] The Kind of Women who ought to be taken as Wives
[13] Homily 9 on First Timothy
Almighty Allah is the highest and most knowledgeable, and the attribution of knowledge to him is the safest.
Right from Almighty Allah and wrong from me and Satan
Prepared by Mohamad Mostafa Nassar
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Arrogance is not only a sign of insecurity, but also a sign of immaturity. Mature and fully realised persons can get their points across, even emphatically without demeaning or intimidating others.