Women's Status in the Bible and Its Influence Thereafter

摘要

Most researchers believe that monogamy, as well as sexual equality, is advocated in the Bible, which thus benefits women in modern marital relations; yet, reading the Old Testament carefully, we can find quite a few contrary examples, such as polygamy, incest, adultery, and prostitution. In all these cases, most females serve as subordinates of their male counterparts, and their feelings, even their lives, are ignored together with their will. Only in the New Testament, which centres Jesus Christ's teaching, is monogamy advocated and women begin to be treated equally as men, which is unfortunately only superficial. All this has had a lasting influence on women's status, especially in Christian countries.