The church’s record of holding power from the 4th century onwards has involved some terrible acts of coercion, exploitation, and abuse. Yet Jesus set an example of selfless service and started a “humility revolution”.
This lesson looks at how, in different times and in different ways, Christianity has had both positive and negative impacts on women.
Introduce
Human Barometer Activity
Facilitate a Human Barometer activity where students indicate their perspective on the following statements:
- “Gender inequality is a significant problem in today’s world”
- “Gender inequality is still a significant problem in Australia today”
- “Christianity values men and women equally”
- “Christianity is good news for women”
Class Discussion
Students discuss the challenges of being a woman in
- Afghanistan today
- England in the 1880’s
- Jerusalem when Jesus was teaching and ministering
Engage
Watch & Respond
Watch the documentary excerpt ‘Oppressive or liberating? Christianity and women’ (6:19) and discuss how Jesus responded to the women that he met.
Students compare and contrast some of the ways life was different for Christian women and non-Christian women during the Roman Empire. (Christianity & Women Slides)
Students describe the attitude towards women presented in the 1487 bestseller Malleus Maleficarum (“The Hammer of She-Witches”) mentioned in the clip, and suggest reasons why there might be such a disconnect between Jesus’ relationship with women and some of the later actions of the church.
Bible Study
As a class read Mark 5:25-34 and discuss what stands out or any questions that arise. Also read Leviticus 15.25-27 & 15.31 before discussing the miracle.
- Discuss what this woman’s life would have been before being healed by Jesus.
- How do you think she would have been treated by Jewish society at the time?
- What is Jesus’ response to the woman? How does this compare to how society treated her?
Students read Galatians 3:23-28 and answer the following questions:
- According to v.26, how does a person become a “child of God”?
- 28 mentions several contrasting groups who have become Christian. How would this have been a challenge for Roman society in the first century?
- What does it mean that neither male nor female?
Respond
Reflective Composition
Students compose two diary entries from the perspective of the woman Jesus healed from bleeding – one from before she met Jesus and one from after (capturing the events that took place and the emotions experienced.)
Students write a short comment on Malleus Maleficarum, outlining the kind of perspective Jesus might have had.
Class Discussion
Discuss how followers of Jesus today should feel about past abuses of women by the church. How should Christians respond to those who don’t want to be a Christian because of the Church’s mistreatment of women in the past?
Extension 1
Students research one of the women from the New Testament who helped Jesus’ mission, e.g. Mary (mother of Jesus), Mary Magdalene, Lydia, or Priscilla – outlining her role in the mission of Jesus, and what we learn about Jesus attitude towards women from her.
Extension 2
- Lecture: Is Christianity Bad News for Women? (45:55)
Students watch the CPX 2017 Richard Johnson Lecture delivered by Amy Orr-Ewing on the topic “Is Christianity Bad News for Women?” Students respond to the clip by noting any questions or concerns they now have to discuss with other students or the teacher.