In the late 1980s about 11% of American women kept their maiden names after marriage. Ten years later only about 2% kept their maiden names after marriage. The other 98% followed the traditional custom of adopting their husband's surname upon marriage. The feminist imperative of women retaining their maiden names has lost ground. What is the reason for this trend?
Gloria Steinem (1934 - ) of 1970s women's lib fame is reputed to have said "A woman needs a man like a fish needs a bicycle." Her bicycle must be built for two because she recently got married! When Gloria Steinem gets married I think we need to seriously consider adding the word "post-feminism" to our vocabulary.
The purpose of this article is not to bash feminism. Feminism is not all bad. Although feminism has brought some absurd ideas into American society it has also done some good for both sexes.
The reason feminism seems to be on the decline is because human beings realize that men and women are different. Men and women have different emotional and physical makeup and different capabilities. It may not be politically correct to point this out but everyone knows it. The differences between men and women suit them for different roles in life.
The Bible is often criticized for being patriarchal. The Bible's passages that affirm patriarchy are only mildly patriarchal when understood in context. The Bible is very affirming of women and also protective of them.
Let me also point out that every institution ever formed by man is patriarchal. No human government or culture on earth -- be it east or west, past or present -- treats men and women alike. All human institutions have double standards. The U.S. government has multitudes of double standards. For instance, mothers rather than fathers are typically given custody of the children in divorce cases. The U.S. Army allows no women in infantry or armor.
Civilizations in Asia and Africa are much more patriarchal than those of the Judeo-Christian influenced west. Even radical secular societies like communist China are patriarchal. The old Soviet Union spouted feminist ideology in its early days but remained thoroughly patriarchal.
Famous cultural anthropologist Margaret Mead (1901 - 1978), no friend of biblical morality, wrote that there has never been a true matriarchal society. On at least one occasion she confronted sociology textbook writers by explaining that there are matrilineal societies (inheritance passes from mother to daughter) but no matriarchal societies. In all societies most decisions in both public and private life are made by males.
I didn't invent this. I didn't make this up. Differences between the sexes just happens to be reality. Thomas Sowell wrote a book called Is Reality Optional? In it he explains -- contrary to postmodernism -- that reality is NOT optional! God's holy book, the Bible, deals with reality, not fantasy and gives us true wisdom for daily living.
The Bible is scientifically accurate! Find the evidence at www.icr.org.
Steps to salvation:
Jesus said "Ye must be born again." (John 3:7)
- Believe that God created you and loves you and sent the Messiah (Messiah is Hebrew for Christ) to redeem you.
- Believe that Jesus the Messiah came in fulfillment of over 300 Bible prophecies to die for you to take upon Himself the penalty for your sins. (Isaiah 53:5-6, John 6:29, Romans 4:5, First Peter 3:18)
- Turn from sin and call on the name of Jesus to receive forgiveness. (Romans 10:13)
- Receive Jesus as Savior and experience the new birth. (John 1:12, Acts 2:38)
- Follow Him as Lord. (John 14:21)
"Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved" (Romans 10:13)
To receive the salvation that Jesus purchased for us at the terrible cost of His suffering and death on our behalf I invite you to pray this simple prayer:
"Dear heavenly Father, I thank you for sending Jesus, the promised Messiah, to die for my sins. I admit that I am a sinner and I ask for your forgiveness on the basis of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. I ask you to fill me with your Holy Spirit to empower me to serve you under the Lordship of Jesus Christ, Amen."
If you prayed that prayer in the humble sincerity of your heart then you have received everlasting life, which includes power to live right in this life and entrance into heaven in the afterlife!
Bill Nugent, Overcomer Ministries of West Harrison, New York, USA
(C) 2010 William P. Nugent, permission granted to email or republish if credit given
Read Bill Nugent's award winning Christian book, Lawful or Legalistic: How New Testament Believers Must Understand Old Testament Laws. For more information and to order click here.
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DEFENDING THE FAITH
APOLOGETIC ARTICLES
Bill Nugent currently writes a series of articles called "Defending the Faith" which, as the title suggests, defend the Christian faith from the many attacks leveled against it in our postmodern world.
The articles deal with such topics as evolution, UFOs, cults, modern/postmodern philosophy, liberal theology and popular culture. At the end of each article is an invitation to receive Christ as Savior and Lord. These articles are sent out over the Internet to several opt-in email lists. People who receive these articles are encouraged to resend them to their own lists and in this way reach their own unsaved relatives and friends with the Gospel.
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