I'm reading Philip Jenkins' The New Faces of Christianity for Theology. And it occured to me, about halfway through his chapter "Women and Men" that the Bible gives few restrictions on women and the types of roles or jobs they should hold. It says that a woman should be submissive to her husband, it says that a wise woman looks well to the ways of her household, and that younger women are to be keepers at home, but it has more to say on a woman's behavior. Nothing about no college, split ends down to the ankles, flowery sack dresses, barefoot, pregnant and in the kitchen. The strongest statement on feminine roles is that a woman is not permitted to speak in church--but there are plenty of other places that she can speak!
Conservation and Conversation
We just came back from a week in California, where we visited the peerless Monterey Bay Aquarium. Conservation is a frequent theme of the aquarium: every exhibit makes some plea to consider how one's personal choices affect the health of the oceans. It's a persuasive appeal in the presence of so many beauties. Why not give up a reliance on ugly plastic bags and bottles if they are hazards to majestic sea turtles and sunfish? The Aquarium's stance isn't merely political. It participates in rehabilitation and care for injured wildlife as well as research. Part of its facilities inhabit an old canning factory and is situated on Cannery Row: a reminder that once upon a time, fishing defined its existence. Conservation became a necessity when overfishing took down an industry. The aquarium doesn't demonize seafood lovers: it passes out fliers listing the seafood choices of Good, Better, Best, and Avoid. (Many of which overlap with the recommendations for pregnant and...
Comments