There is no question that Mrs. Pape has done her research. Her bibliography lists 78 references. She also includes quotations from roughly 2/3 of the books in the Bible. All of this in order to find a description of God's ideal woman. Along the way she quotes various philosophers, commentators, and leaders from all the major world religions as to their opinions, many of which are shocking.
"Women are evil, jealous, and stupid." "Avoid the sight of them." "Do not speak to them." Sayings all attributed to Buddha.
For Hindus, to be born as a woman was regarded as a sign of failure in a previous life, but it was at least marginally better than being born as an insect or non-sacred animal.
She reports hearing of a sign on a Moslem mosque that says, "Women, Dogs, and Other Impure Animals not Permitted."
Most of us have heard things like this before, usually when we see them contrasted with Jesus' relationships with the women in the Gospels. Luke especially highlights his acceptance of women as his disciples and even supporters, and his tender care and concern for them. But what shocked me more were the quotations from Christian commentaries that belittled these women, making them seem almost like necessary evils. Mrs. Pape quotes several and shows with Scripture and common sense how wrong their thinking is.
I find these types of things enlightening and helpful in this book. However, at other times I find myself shaking my head in bemusement. In one place she tells us that women are to submit to their husbands. "The reason Paul gives for this act is that it is befitting or convenient rather than that it is divinely commanded." I thought that was what Scripture was—the Word of God. This is now, beloved, the second epistle that I write unto you; and in both of them I stir up your sincere mind by putting you in remembrance; that you should remember the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and the commandment of the Lord and Saviour through your apostles 2Pet3:1,2. Did you catch that? What the apostles wrote are Jesus' very own words. If you want a red letter edition, the whole New Testament should be red!
Another point she made seemed almost deliberately obtuse. Quoting 1 Cor 14:34 she got it right when she said the chapter is about the use of spiritual gifts. But then she says that it couldn't mean that women could only use theirs in private because what would be the point if no one were there? This after mentioning Priscilla's part in teaching Apollos, taking him aside rather than doing it publicly. It's as if one time she knows what "private" means and the next she doesn't, or is she just using it however she wants to make a point in her favor?
There is so much hit or miss in this book that I would be afraid to hand it to a new convert. I think I understand her point at the end to be that there is no such thing as God's Ideal Woman. All of us can be one as long as we are serving God in whatever circumstances we find ourselves in—wife, mother, widow, single--and I would add, in the way He prefers, not the way we prefer. That's one thing I can go along with.
In Search of God's Ideal Woman is published by InterVarsity Press, Downers Grove, Illinois.
Dene Ward
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