Having previously reported on The Freedom From Religion Foundation’s Christmas present to Albuquerque; we will now begin a consideration of the $200,000 ads from the self described “godless organization”: the American Humanist Association (8 anti-Judeo-Christians, 2 anti-Islam and all pro-conversion to Humanism).
Find this whole series here.
The first ad listed on this AHA page is “On Women” so apparently this is the beginning and end of what the Bible and Humanism believes “On Women”:
“A woman should learn in quietness and full submission. I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man; she must be silent.”
I TIMOTHY 2 (NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION)
“The rights of men and women should be equal and sacred—marriage should be a perfect partnership.”
ROBERT G. INGERSOLL, IN A LETTER DATED APRIL 13, 1878
Clearly, the issue is not women in general but marriage in particular—expressed via touching upon rights, equality and the secular-sacred (whatever that is). For a detailed consideration see Is the Bible misogynistic? which makes some bullet points and links to further info.
Begin with the fact that the Bible instantly elevates women to being ontologically (in their very nature and essence) equal to men by affirming that YHVH created both males and females in His image (Genesis 5). Then move to the fact that men and women have different roles, such as that women carry babies in their wombs and men do not. This is actually where the confusion seems to occur; the distinction between essential equality yet, differences in roles.
Note that while American Humanist Association claimed that “All quotes from religious texts were checked by scripture scholars to ensure accuracy, context and proper translation” it was noted in part 1 that even granting this; we will find that even if that much is granted, they are not tackling the issue with integrity.
In this ad, they juxtapose what we would term being a “head pastor” and marriage. This is a category mistake. The New Testament states that women should be teachers but the 1 Timothy text is referring to the role of head pastor. The fact that women are to learn is already a tremendous improvement over the ways of the world at that time. One must also factor in historical and cultural context.
Now, what of Robert G. Ingersoll’s letter? Who is he that Humanists must adhere to a statement in one of his letters? This is just to remind us of the point made in part 1 about authority and dogmatheism.
Timeline:
In 1878 AD, Ingersollian Humanism affirmed that, “marriage should be a perfect partnership.”
Millennia previously, Genesis 2 stated “That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh” but why come together as one flesh? Because “When God created mankind, he made them in the likeness of God. He created them male and female and blessed them” (Genesis 5:1-2) because it was not good for man to be alone and so, from his very flesh, woman was made. This set up the model for marriage. That “marriage should be a perfect partnership” is clear from the fact that it was not good for man to be alone, that the woman could help him and that they were to dwell together as one.
Also, millennia previously, the New Testament stated:
Husbands, love your wives and do not be bitter toward them (Colossians 3:19).
Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her (Ephesians 5:25).
Ok, but the Ephesians 5 text states this in verses 22-24,
Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.
Indeed, husbands and wives are both told to do that which is naturally difficult for them: he must love, she must submit.
Yet, Ephesians 5:21, the very previous verse, states, “Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.”
You see, it is not as simple as scare-pull-quote-talking-points. There is an interaction of concepts here. Essential equality, different roles, submitting to each other as a body of believers, husbands and wives doing that which is difficult for them, etc. thus, “marriage should be a perfect partnership” (see Muhammad and Jesus for an interesting juxtaposition).
Perhaps the ad at this link would be more befitting a nationwide $200,000 campaign. The American Humanist Association are Charles Darwin fans so here is the text of the revised ad:
“When God created mankind, he made them in the likeness of God. He created them male and female and blessed them”
GENESIS 5:1-2
“Man is more courageous, pugnacious, and energetic than woman, and has a more inventive genius.”
CHARLES DARWIN, The Descent of Man and Selection in Relation to Sex
For more dissections of fallacious atheist ads see: Atheist bus ads and billboards
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