>>>>You have succeeded (once again) in distoring the Biblical view of women. If you really want to know the truth about what the Bible says about women (which I doubt) you can read it here: http://www.proverbs31woman.com/macarthur/womensroles.php
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>>>But why does everyone only quote what supports their view? Oh. Wait, that's it, isn't it? It supports their view. It's all opinion and supposition. There are so many conflicts in the bible depending on who is speaking, from what time and for what purpose. The only thing anyone can do is pull what they want to out of it and use it to fit what they want it to. I could probably find a biblical reference to dispute/contradict any other reference someone quotes. What's the point? I'm really not asking for a discussion on this; it's more of a rhetorical thing.
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>>The Bible should be read in context. People do take things out of context (which is what Alex has done.) You're right some people do use the Bible in that way to support some rather odd ideas. However, when a person reads passages in the proper context, there is really no conflicts or contradictions.
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>>Sorry to answer your rhetorical question - just thought others may want an explanation even though you did not.
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>Howard;
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>> However, when a person reads passages in the proper context, there is really no conflicts or contradictions.
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>If in fact the above statement was true then why have there been so many flavors of Christian Churches since the establishment of Christianity? I am aware of the history of Christianity. As a Catholic I realize that there are and were several Catholic Churches. One reason for this was the acceptance of specific “gospels”. A reason for the creation of the Protestant Church(s) was the interpretation of specific passages of the bible. This is as true today as it was in the time of Martin Luther.
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>A friend of mine belonged to an established church (Presbyterian), and one day the minister gave an interpretation of a passage of the bible that got several church members upset. So upset in fact that they established their own church. A few years later the same thing occurred in the new church – the minister interpreted a passage from the bible and upset members of the congregation. This was the cause of yet another protestant church being created.
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>Why are their over 1000 different protestant churches? Basically, there is not total agreement upon the meaning of each word in the old or new testaments.
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>In theology we were taught that there is a basic difference between the Catholic and Protestant Churches. Catholics celebrate the Last Supper of Jesus Christ during Mass. God has endowed Protestants with the ability to interpret the Bible.
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>Why must a Protestant belong to an established religious group only to allow himself/herself to be told by a minister what the meaning of biblical passage is?
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>Tom


The comedian Emo Phillips had a great routine on this subject --

I was walking across a bridge one day, and I saw a man standing on the edge, about to jump off. So I ran over and said "Stop! don't do it!" "Why shouldn't I?" he said. I said, "Well, there's so much to live for!" He said, "Like what?" I said, "Well...are you religious or atheist?" He said, "Religious." I said, "Me too! Are you christian or buddhist?" He said, "Christian." I said, "Me too! Are you catholic or protestant?" He said, "Protestant." I said, "Me too! Are you episcopalian or baptist?" He said, "Baptist!" I said,"Wow! Me too! Are you baptist church of god or baptist church of the lord?" He said, "Baptist church of god!" I said, "Me too! Are you original baptist church of god, or are you reformed baptist church of god?" He said,"Reformed Baptist church of god!" I said, "Me too! Are you reformed baptist church of god, reformation of 1879, or reformed baptist church of god, reformation of 1915?" He said, "Reformed baptist church of god, reformation of 1915!" I said, "Die, heretic!", and pushed him off.