Is Christianity really oppressive?

People object to Christianity on so many baseless grounds, the popular one being how it violates peoples rights, or is oppressive to people (woman in particular). It typically involves the opponent building a straw man, painting that as Christians and tearing it down, after words patting themselves on the backs for "taking on" the Bible.

Typically what you find are these three historical objections:

1: The Crusades and the Inquisition
2: The laws of old Israel
3: The Witch Hunts

What we must understand about the Crusades is they were authorized by the Pope and the Catholic church, they were many true believers who objected to this, but they were silenced by the Holy Roman empire. The Inquisition was, again, authorized by the Pope, against Protestants who were viewed as heretics in the eyes of the "Church", more Christians were killed than Muslims and Jewish nomads than history often portrays, in fact the total body count of the whole Inquisition itself is not that high considering some of the other tragedies through out history during that time and after. Most people assume the Catholic church and the Protestant church are the same, that is not true, so I cannot be held responsible for the actions of the Pope. If you desire to debate the issue, at least go to the correct people.

Progressive Revelation. That is the term used to describe God's unveiling of truth in the Bible. It started in Genesis and ended in Revelation, in between we see God set laws for the people of Israel under the old covenant, up until the new covenant that Jesus set with His appearing on Earth and dying for God' glory and our redemption. Those laws were to keep Israel pure, that they could be an example to the lawless nations around them; we now live in the age of grace and God saves men through Christs propitiation on the cross, those laws are no longer necessary, they were never meant to save men, but to condemn them so they could see the need of a Savior.

Lastly, the witch hunts. Sadly, this was an actual event were several people were killed and labeled as witches out some of the early Puritans superstition; but does that mean that all of Christianity is commanded to do the same? No. We are commanded though that if their is a believer who engages in an obvious sin, without any repentance or desire to do so, to not keep company with such:

"But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner--not even to eat with such a person. For what [have] I [to do] with judging those also who are outside? Do you not judge those who are inside? But those who are outside God judges. Therefore 'put away from yourselves the evil person.'" 1st Corinthians 5:11-13

As mentioned before, women's rights is something the anti-Bible group tries to throw at us "Oh they are oppressive to women, they teach for a wife to submit to her husband. How patriarchal blah blah blah..." Consider this:

Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were the first two to uncover Jesus' empty tomb (Matt. 28:1-8), God gave them the message to deliver the disciples. In Israel at the time, a woman's testimony was not allowed in court because they did not value a woman's word. Yet, Christ had the very first message of His resurrection delivered to two women, and appeared to them first!

"And as they [Mary Magdalene and the other Mary] went to tell His disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, 'Rejoice!' So they came and held Him by the feet and worshiped Him." Matthew 28:9

Jesus spoke to the woman at the well (John 4), it was a cultural taboo for any man to talk to a woman in public, even if it be his wife. Hence the disciples reactions when they returned to Him:

"And at this [point] His disciples came, and they marveled that He talked with a woman; yet no one said, "What do You seek?" or, 'Why are You talking with her?'" John 4:27

Jesus' ministry was surrounded by women, one can see an example of this in Luke 8:1-3

"Now it came to pass, afterward, that He went through every city and village, preaching and bringing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God. And the twelve were with Him, and certain women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities--Mary called Magdalene, out of whom had come seven demons, and Joanna the wife of Chuza, Herod's steward, and Susanna, and many others who provided for Him from their substance."


Why would anyone who wanted to make a new religion record Jesus as having a ministry that had women in it, who were viewed as less than acceptable? His entire ministry was comprised of reaching, teaching, healing and befriending those who were considered the worst. One of His own disciples was a tax collector, who were hated back than, still are except they are called the IRS.

IF Christianity is so oppressive as others say, why don't we take a look at what some other religions teach about human rights.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,490884,00.html

India Family Beheaded in Apprent Revenge for Forbidden Wedding

The bodies of a poverty-ridden Indian man and eight members of his family were found shot, beheaded and floating in a river after an alleged revenge killing for his having married a wealthy woman, Reuters reported.

Police from Bihar, in eastern India, said they have charged 15 people, most of whom are from the bride's family, with the murders.

The killings took place over the weekend after 21-year-old Ratan Mandal eloped with 18-year-old Kanchan Kumari, fearing their families would not approve if they did not keep the wedding a secret.

"The girl's family invited the boy's family for a meeting on the pretext of settling the dispute, but killed all eight and beheaded them," Raghunath Prasad Singh, a senior police officer from Bhagalpur, told Reuters.

Bhagalpur is well known for revenge and honor killings when men and women dare to marry outside their caste, Reuters reported.

Last time I checked, Christ never told us to do such unto people. I cannot seem to recall the Bible verse that says "Kill those who will not submit to me." Islam would also teach that a woman is no more than reproductive property, they also teach women do not go to their "paradise", even though there are 71-72 virgins for every martyr? Honor killings are a common practice and anyone who converts from Islam do not get "freedom of religion", they get a sword to their head! Hinduism's chaste system is so brutal and so all encompassing that there is no hope for anyone in a lower class, they are taught that they did something bad in a past life and deserve what they have now. No "pursuit of happiness" here; nope you live and poverty and your descending generations will. Orthodox Judaism still holds to those old laws, while not as extreme as the Muslim or Hindu's view, in some cases is still being practiced without the true love and hypocrisy that Christ condemned their fathers for.

Now, the Bible does say that a woman is not to be a pastor, a teacher is different, but not a pastor. Rules on marriage are only that two believers are too be married and not to be unequally yokes with an unbeliever, so they do not destroy our faith. Also that a wife is to submit to a husband, but before the men get to happy they are ALSO supposed to submit to their wife and to Christ. In fact, I would not even consider marriage if it was not absolutely apparent that it was to be based on Christ, anything else is doomed to failure and being without true joy. There are other debatable issues out there that others debate like long hair, rock and roll, tattoos, etc... But those might fall into the category of our Christian liberty:

"All things are lawful for me, but all things are not helpful. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any." 1st Corinthians 6:12

Back on topic. We are to guide them into salvation, faith and repentance; but never death. He never asked for jihad, in fact he told us quite the opposite, WE will be the ones killed, thinking it is a service to God! Christ liberated us from that old covenant, put us under a new and greater one so that no one can ever claim superiority in any way to any man or woman. Not by color, gender, physical status, economic status, positions of power, etc... All we need is a humble heart, recognizing our sin, and turning to Christ as our only hope for salvation. Than we are grafted in and are put in the family of God.

"There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus" Galations 3:28