CHRISTIAN ATTITUDES TO THE ROLES OF MEN AND WOMEN There are 3 different attitudes to the roles of men and women in Christianity. 1. The traditional Protestant attitude. This teaches that men should be the head of the family and women should not speak in church or be ministers or priests. The reasons for this view are:  St Paul’s statements in the Bible about women not being allowed to speak in church, and having to submit to their husbands  in Genesis 2 Adam was created first and Eve sinned first.

2. The liberal Protestant attitude This teaches that men and women should have equal roles in life, including religion. Many Protestant Churches (e.g. Church of England, Methodist, United Reformed Church) not only have equal roles for men and women, but also have women ministers and priests. They believe this because:  St Paul said ‘There is neither…male nor female for you are all one person in Christ’.  Jesus treated women as his equals and had women followers like Martha and her sister Mary  they believe that Jesus chose men as his apostles because of the culture of the time and not for any religious reason. CHRISTIAN ATTITUDES TO THE ROLES OF MEN AND WOMEN

3 The Catholic attitude This teaches that men and women should have equal roles and equal rights because men and women have equal status in the eyes of God. However, the Catholic Church teaches that only men can become priests. They believe this because:  Jesus only chose men to be his successors (people who follow him)  Jesus was a man and the priest represents Jesus in the Mass CHRISTIAN ATTITUDES TO THE ROLES OF MEN AND WOMEN Traditional Christians believe men are more important than women because this is what the Bible teaches. Liberal Christians believe men and women have equal roles and accept women priests. Roman Catholics believe men and women are equal, but only men can become priests.

ISLAM AND THE ROLES OF MEN AND WOMEN There are two different attitudes to the roles of men and women in Islam 1. The traditional attitude. This teaches that God has given men and women different roles in life. Men should support the family, while women have children and bring them up. Both men and women have the role of bringing up children as good Muslims, but men have more responsibilities because of their role as provider. Men and women should pray separately and only men have a duty to pray in the mosque. They believe this because:  the Qur’an teaches these roles.  these are the roles shown in the Shari’ah (Islamic law) + = Carers for children Share home chores Go to the mosque = Main money provider Has to go to mosque

2. The modern attitude This teaches that men and women should have equal roles and that women can have a career, and should worship in the mosque. However, they believe that family commitments come first for women and that men and women should worship separately in the mosque. They believe this because: the Qur’an teaches that men and women are equal in religion and education modern society needs educated and career women. ISLAM AND THE ROLES OF MEN AND WOMEN Traditional Muslims believe men and women have different roles and men have a providing role because the Qur’an teaches this. Modern Muslims believe men and women have equal roles, but family commitments should come first for women. + = Carers for children Share home chores Go to the mosque = Also money provider Should go to mosque