Disclaimer — I do not follow any religion, nor am I an atheist. I was struck however by the parallels between all fundamentalist idealogies, and draw some here between what the author has stated above and evangelicals worldwide.

Generally most fundamentalist Christian and Jewish religions generally place women below men.

“In spite of being pragmatically egalitarian, the majority of evangelicals believe that final authority, leadership and decision-making is the responsibility of men in marriage.”

First Corinthians 11:2ff. Namely, God is the head of Christ, Christ is the head of every man, and man is the head of woman. (Biblical Old Testament)

Most fundamentalist Christians argue the following - “the three headships enumerated belong to the hierarchy of nature” (p. 871). Lewis Johnson contends that the male gender as such “displays the authority of God on earth” (p. 1247; cf. 11:7).

Next, there is the controversy as to whether the terms of verse 3 are to be rendered “man” and “woman” or “husband” and “wife.”

Many evangelical Christians believe headship applies generally — in the home (cf. Eph. 5:22ff), in the church, and even beyond — in societal relationships.

Now who was this Paul they quote -he’s someone who appears in the New Testament. For me it’s hard to believe that in a time when magic and divinity rather than science were at work in the world, the Gospels aren’t what I call creative non-fiction.

I don’t dispute the importance of these ancient texts as historical and inspirational documents. Unfortunately however I don’t believe the rigid beliefs that come out of them, executed through many of the monotheistic Abrahamic religions work today.

In particular, I absolutely do not believe the way they advise treating women has any place in a global secular society.