No religion has done as well by women

A CNN special called God's Warriors highlights Islam, Judaism, and Christianity. It is a typical hatchet job on religion in general likening Christians--who take the Bible seriously--to Al Queda terrorists.

At various points, host Christian Amanpour plants her "experts" who predictably have the same anti-religious blood coursing through their veins as she. Enter Prof. Karen Armstrong who asserts that "no religion in the world has ever been good for women."

I certainly understand her feelings but her facts are wanting. The truth is, no religion in the world elevated the status of women as Christianity did exemplified by Jesus scandalizing his disciples by giving audience to the woman at the well.

But Jesus saw people as His creations whom He loved which is why He was there in the first place. The Samaritan woman said to Him, "How is it that You, being a Jew, ask me for a drink since I am a Samaritan woman?" (John 4:9) She is shocked that He would even speak with her.

In the culture of the day, women were little better than chattel and to be a Samaritan woman was even worse.

When the disciples get wind of Jesus' conversation with her, they too are shocked with the text telling us, "they [also] marveled that He had been speaking with a woman…"

(John 4:27)

Jesus was sending a strong message by example that women, even Samaritan women, are people of value and worth. And when you consider the other examples of Jesus with the woman caught in adultery and Mary who wiped Jesus' feet, and then you add all of Paul's writings--one has to acknowledge that Christianity has been very good for women.

Of course I am aware of the caricatures of brutish husbands who treat their wives like dogs telling them to shut up and submit to them like good little Christian wives, but that is neither what Jesus, nor Paul taught at all; quite the contrary. Ephesians 5 makes it clear that husbands are to "love their wives in the same way that Christ loved the church…"

The fact that many do not, is not the fault of Christianity but of lousy Christians.

Give credit where credit is due--the founder of the faith truly elevated women like never before, or since and Prof. Armstrong is blinded by her prejudice and ignorance of Biblical truth.