One particular issue to which I have given increasing attention is the oft-repeated Jewish charge that Christian feminism is a new form of anti-Semitism, by making Jesus the Christian hero who liberates women from oppressive Judaism. I have, thus, given attention to the accomplishments and positive roles of women in Second Temple Judaism before I cover the negative views of men toward women. Further, I have argued (in print) that Jesus is a hero to both Jews and Christians. David M. ScholerThis is an accusation of which I had not been aware. It is something to be sensitive to as we approach the discussion of how Jesus treated women. His treatment of women is very positive and is a model that is important in understanding the role of women in the home and in the Church. We do not want to minimize or lose the powerful image of Mary sitting at Jesus' feet learning as men did at the time. Nor do we want to miss the importance of Jesus speaking to the woman at the well and revealing to her who He was! But perhaps we should choose our words carefully so that we minimize any potential offense to our Jewish brothers and sister.
What do you think?
I have to disagree with David M. Scholer. Who says that Jesus came to liberate women from oppressive Judaism? I've never heard that nor have I ever used it. It appears that maybe he is just creating a diversion? Jesus didn't offer his "liberation" to just Jews. And the oppression experienced by women at that time was not limited to just Jewish women. Don't we have the Greeks to thank for the subjugation of women not Jesus or our worship of him as a hero?
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