The Making of Biblical Womanhood
Ratings11
Average rating4.1
15
Ratings11
Average rating4.1
USA Today Bestseller Christianity Today 2022 Book Award Finalist (History & Biography) "A powerful work of skillful research and personal insight."--Publishers Weekly Biblical womanhood--the belief that God designed women to be submissive wives, virtuous mothers, and joyful homemakers--pervades North American Christianity. From choices about careers to roles in local churches to relationship dynamics, this belief shapes the everyday lives of evangelical women. Yet biblical womanhood isn't biblical, says Baylor University historian Beth Allison Barr. It arose from a series of clearly definable historical moments. This book moves the conversation about biblical womanhood beyond Greek grammar and into the realm of church history--ancient, medieval, and modern--to show that this belief is not divinely ordained but a product of human civilization that continues to creep into the church. Barr's historical insights provide context for contemporary teachings about women's roles in the church and help move the conversation forward. Interweaving her story as a Baptist pastor's wife, Barr sheds light on the #ChurchToo movement and abuse scandals in Southern Baptist circles and the broader evangelical world, helping readers understand why biblical womanhood is more about human power structures than the message of Christ.
Reviews with the most likes.
Really good!! I loved this and I bought a copy after reading the library version.
This was a focus on medieval history and covered a lot of topics but ultimately I think she did a great job arguing her points.
This is such a valuable book and I am so glad I read it. I highly recommend it for anyone who either wants to learn more about the historical origins of the idea of “biblical womanhood” or who is reexamining what they may have been taught about it. It is well written (from the perspective of a historian / professor who knows her stuff), well-cited and thoroughly thought-provoking.
Here's the issue - I agree with most of the conclusions this author arrives at. Women should be teachers, women are not second-tier (and it's never taught that in the Bible), women are partners with their husbands, not “lower than”. The issue I have with this book is that the author thinks her genius that has uncovered these deeply hidden secrets - my girl, you just went to a toxic church. This is not a well-researched essay about Biblical Womanhood, but a memoir highlighting the flaws in the American church today.
The entire second chapter argues that “perhaps” Biblical text is misunderstood as a whole - nope, you just need to learn context before diving into scripture. Understanding the basic context that Paul and Peter wrote in their letters to various churches will completely change the way you read those passages. These men did not think women should be silent, and there's not some massive conspiracy from biblical translators to undermine women. You just need to get better teachers and pastors in your life.
If you grew up in a very “traditional” church or maybe left a toxic church, this might be a helpful book to reframe your mindset around feminity and patriarchy, but if you are in a healthy church, you probably already know all of this from regular Sunday services or perhaps just from observing how healthy Christians treat the women around them.
What this book really did for me is realizing how toxic Christianity has become so normal and loud. None of the things that happened to Barr in her church was justified or Christ-like in any way. I can't help but wonder if there's more to her stories or if her political views and past experiences tainted her view of this “research”. Overall, it's a skip for me.
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