Reclaiming Scripture: Manifesting Equality

One 4-hour session: Saturday 2/1 (1-5pm Eastern / 10am-2pm Pacific) Loud voices in the public sphere are calling for regressive policies that would increase their power by denying it to others. Some of these demands are grounded in claims of religious authority—especially around gender. More and more, many people of faith are feeling like they…

Workshop Description

One 4-hour session: Saturday 2/1 (1-5pm Eastern / 10am-2pm Pacific)

Loud voices in the public sphere are calling for regressive policies that would increase their power by denying it to others. Some of these demands are grounded in claims of religious authority—especially around gender. More and more, many people of faith are feeling like they have two untenable choices — attend religious services that push against their values or stay home. —Barry Crossno

What do you think -and do – when people who describe themselves as ‘Christian,’ use Christian scripture to defend war, racism, and the subjugation of women?

Lucretia Mott was able to counter arguments and enlighten detractors because she knew scripture well. Today few people, including Quakers, read scripture for ourselves. When faced with scriptural argument, most of us respond with humanistic morals and perspectives – which means we are speaking in a different language from those we most need to reach.

As a recent transplant to Alabama, a state filled with right-wing Christians (and too few Quakers,) I’m finding that my knowledge of scripture provides a helpful bridge to meaningful dialogue. Speaking from a scriptural basis is enabling each of us to hear and learn from each other’s perspectives, without retreating and stereotyping. Does that make sense to you? If so, ‘What is your condition, Friend?’ Do you know scripture, or want to know it better? Have you discovered the many surprising truths to be found if we go beneath what’s been emphasized in most religions to find the core?

For instance, did you know the first book in the Bible is Genesis, and it contains two very different stories of creation? The famous one, emphasized by preachers and poets alike, is the second account. It tells a story about people named Adam and Eve which everyone knows. But, that story is actually in Chapter 2 of Genesis.

The original, lesser-known account comes first, in Chapter 1. In it, there’s no snake, apple, or a rib from which woman is made. The first woman doesn’t commit the ‘original sin’ attributed to Eve in the later story; nor are women perpetually punished. Man is not created first, nor woman as an afterthought. Instead, this account says ‘male and female’ are created at the same time, from the same dust, and both are in the image of God. Does that information shock you as it did me? Have you given thought to the inherent implications?

What do you think has been the impact of the original story being ignored and the second made famous?

What would our world be like if we trade the patriarchal lens that emphasizes gender and racial inequalities, for a clear and loving lens which better emulates Creator as described in Genesis 1?

This program explores those questions and more. It seeks to help each of us remove the boulder from our own eyes so we may help remove the splinter from other’s (another biblical reference.) This class works to expose scriptural contradictions and male-centric interpretations, in order to reveal and embrace the clarified, important truths. “Let those who have ears hear. “

Participants will explore how the patriarchal editing and interpretation of scripture has hampered humanity’s progress and the true ‘love thy neighbor’ message at the core of Christianity; a requisite for making ‘earth as it is in heaven.’ Together we will review key passages and scenes, seeking to free them of all bias, including the male centric lens most of us inherited.

We will read scriptural passages, review pertinent historical events to give context, and work to let the foundational people whose names we know well; live, breath and talk to us from long ago. There will be large groups discussions, Q & A, as well as small group work. Queries such as the following will be explored:

“In what ways might the world change if we focus on the first story in Genesis Chapter 1 more than the Adam and Eve story?”

“Based on the account of creation in Chapter 1, What, if any, are God’s pronouns?”

“Why is the life of Jesus, and importance of his teachings, omitted from most Creeds, in favor of “born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead and buried. On the third day he rose again…?”

“What differences might be manifested if the importance of Jesus’ teachings was emphasized more than his death and resurrection?”

The goal of this workshop is to set participants on a path of increased knowledge and interest in scripture, while providing insights on reading it free of bias with archeological tools at hand. If successful, we can surely multiply these efforts, enhancing equality and creating community throughout humankind.”

Leader Experience

It takes time to clear our lenses from biases and prejudices, but it is time well spent. My own transformation started when reading “The Chalice and the Blade” by Riann Eisler, nearly 30 years ago. (I highly recommend it if you can find a copy in your library, bookstore, or online.) Examining archeological sites from the female perspective, her book inspired me to revisit the life and teachings of Jesus – through a woman’s eyes. My goal was to write and publish a female written gospel once I’d done enough research to give the most accurate account I could. However, choosing Mary Magdalene to be the gospel’s narrator, proved to be a bane and a blessing. When I discovered there’s nothing in scripture about her being a prostitute, I wondered about the why, when and how of her being so slurred. Each answer led to another question, resulting in a rabbit hole of research which never truly ends; though I do have a completed, so far unpublished, manuscript. During this journey, I’ve discovered many surprises, including important people and events who’ve been lost, blurred or obscured through the ages. As with any archeological dig, things look different once they’ve been exhumed and dusted off a bit. In fact, they look amazing! That’s the blessing I hope to share. I give gratitude to my friend and Friend, Deborah Burton, who has been supporting me with this workshop and who will also be doing the tech work for this workshop.