do different strands on Christianism differ on misogyny?

[Margim]

There are several different protestant denominations/groups, and within protestant denominations the options tend to differ from country to country, and even across borders.

Anglicans in Australia are now ordaining women, I believe, but so far there are no female bishops - but then I doubt women are being ordained in some of the more conservative provinces, like in Asia.

More conservative churches like the Southern Baptists in the USA do not allow ordaination of women... churches have been kicked out from the congress for doing so.
On the other hand, women are being ordained in the Baptist Union of Victoria (my home state in Aus). My own mother is currently exploring ordaination.

In fact, as a side note, the Theological College I attend is so concerned with gender equality that we are not allowed to use the term 'mankind' or 'man' to refer to humanity... something I tend to agree with. We also have to avoid, where possible, referring to God exclusively as 'He' in essays. Comes across as a little paranoid, I know, but when you look at the way the church has become dominated by masculinity over 2000 years, you come to accept it.

 

[Milan's Warrior]

The catholic bible adds to the "normal" bible but i dont think it takes anything away. It should still be in there.

That is so interesting that I would like to check if it is in the catholic bible too, because I my whole life I have never ever heard it (but I can't check because I don't own any).

I was quite suprised that they teach that her womanhood was mutilated.

I did not explain myself correctly. "mutilated" is my interpretation of the teaching that she conceived virgin and died virgin (albeit mother) and albeit it is a fate that she accepted; it is not a fate that she initiated.

what type of people discourage you from reading the bible!!??

The catholic priests at my school. Of course it was never openly said "I discourage you to read the bible", but we had to learn by heart a few things; one of this things was document (i think from the vatican council 2, but I am not sure) that said (not exact quote) "people reading the holy scriptures on their own might of might not get the Truth that is in there; only the Church has the True interpretation". In addition, in 8 years f catholic school we never read from the bibile (if not during mass) but we had endless hours or religious education in which the interpretation was given to us

 

[Margim]

The Catholic bible is the same as the protestant bible, except that it includes what is known as the apocrypha, a collection of writings that appear between the Old Testament and the New Testament... the Maccabees, some extra sections of the book of Daniel, and a few other writings. The changes don't affect what is in the new testament.

What changes, however, is the approach to interpretation. Catholicism has built itself up around the veneration of Mary, and tends to interpret all verses relating to her in a way that is consistent with its beliefs.
Protestant churches believe Mary is just another woman, chosen specially by God, but just another woman.

 

[Milan's Warrior]

[...]I am a Baptist.

The whole of your post is just amazing to me. It is as if catholicism and baptism (sp?) were two different religions

 

[Milan's Warrior]

Yes gannon, I'm pretty sure the Catholic church's official line is that Mary had no other children. Certainly the Catholic line is that Thomas and James are not the brothers of Jesus - very convenient for much of your dogma, such as denying the Gospel of St Thomas...

Milan's Warrior - the reason Thomas doubted Jesus was because he was his brother. Thomas did not believe Jesus when he rose, and Jesus made him place his fingers in his stigmata to prove it was indeed him.

I am more and more shocked. Are you all making fun of me???????????????
Thomas and James are Jesus' half-brothers????????????????????????????

 

[Margim]

I am more and more shocked. Are you all making fun of me???????????????
Thomas and James are Jesus' half-brothers????????????????????????????

James, leader of the Church in Acts (not James one of the 12) was Jesus' brother. Thomas was not. There are a few places with references to Jesus' siblings. Here's a few references.

Acts 1:14 All these were constantly devoting themselves to prayer, together with certain women, including Mary the mother of Jesus, as well as his brothers.

Mat 13:53 When Jesus had finished these parables, he left that place.
54 He came to his hometown and began to teach the people in their synagogue, so that they were astounded and said, "Where did this man get this wisdom and these deeds of power?
55 Is not this the carpenter's son? Is not his mother called Mary? And are not his brothers James and Joseph and Simon and Judas?
56 And are not all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all this?"

And possibly
Galatians 1:18 Then after three years I did go up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas and stayed with him fifteen days;
19 but I did not see any other apostle except James the Lord's brother.

Of course, as I said, interpretation affects everything...