Early Scenes in Church History: Faith-Promoting Series, no. 8

Blainey goes on to note that "the debate about Paul's attitude to women will go on and on", for in later letters ascribed to Paul, it is written "let your women keep silence in the churches", although elsewhere Paul lays down rules for women for prayer and prophesying during religious services. The early Christian texts refer to various women activists in the early church. One such woman was St.

Priscilla , a Jewish missionary from Rome, who may have helped found the Christian community at Corinth. She traveled as a missionary with her husband and St Paul, and tutored the Jewish intellectual Apollos. Others include the four daughters of Philip the Evangelist , from Caesarea, Palestine, who were said to be prophets and to have hosted St Paul in their home. However, some people, including the author of Acts, did not see women as true missionaries or leaders in their own right even though they did perform good acts in the community.

Men and women in marriage have an equal partnership in the early church. In the bible, there are many quotes that explore this equality. One authentic Christian tradition is "Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands, as to the Lord" while "Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the Church, and gave himself for it". This equality gives a supportive base to marriage. The oneness of humankind between male and female was a defining feature of this new religion.

As stated before, women were given equality by adding the title of deaconess. In Christian orthodoxy, the function of the two sexes is genuine have equal roles and seen as a mutual fellowship. Both men and women are to offer love and sacrifice, according to Jesus Christ. An orthodox text states that an Orthodox woman should not feel inferior to men simply because she cannot stand in front of the holy altar, for everything in the church is a result of cooperation.

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While some positions were not allowed for women, they still were able to get involved with the church. The equal partnership between men and women is not only seen in the religious aspect of Christianity but also in the social and home life. During the early centuries of Christianity, there is evidence of a great deal of activity by women in the life of congregations. Women served as deacons and ladies of means like Lydia of Philippi acted as financiers. Women probably constituted the majority of Christians. Blainey notes that by around AD , women had become so influential in the affairs of the church that the pagan philosopher Porphyry "complained that Christianity had suffered because of them".

From the early patristic age , the offices of teacher and sacramental minister were reserved for men throughout most of the church in the East and West. Even if it is granted to a woman to show the sign of prophecy, she is nevertheless not permitted to speak in an assembly. When Miriam the prophetess spoke, she was leading a choir of women For [as Paul declares] "I do not permit a woman to teach," and even less "to tell a man what to do.

Historian Philip Schaff records early church fathers of the 3rd and 4th centuries as teaching, regarding 1 Cor. Tertullian , the second-century Latin father, wrote that "It is not permitted to a woman to speak in church. Neither may she teach, baptize, offer, nor claim for herself any function proper to a man, least of all the sacerdotal office. Women commemorated as saints from these early centuries include several martyrs who suffered under the Persecution of Christians in the Roman Empire , such as Agnes of Rome , Saint Cecilia , Agatha of Sicily and Blandina.

As such her role in history is of great significance as her son Constantine legalised Christianity across the Roman Empire, and became a convert himself - ending centuries of mistreatment of Christians. Similarly, Saint Monica was a pious Christian and mother of Saint Augustine of Hippo , who after a wayward youth, converted to Christianity and became one of the most influential Christian Theologians of all history. Other women contributed to the development of early Christian monasticism , seeking redemption in the wilderness, as with the hermit Saint Mary of Egypt c.

AD who is venerated in Western, Eastern, Oriental and African Christianity, for entering a life of penitence and prayer in the deserts beyond the Jordan River, after arriving from Egypt as a prostitute. As Western Europe transitioned from the Classical to Medieval Age, the male hierarchy with the Pope as its summit became a central player in European politics, however many women leaders also emerged at various levels within the Church. In the East, a similar male hierarchy prevailed around the Patriarch at Constantinople. However, women rose to play an active role in religion after the Fall of Rome: Marian devotion blossomed, setting a model of maternal virtue at the heart of Western civilization.

In the West, the Roman Catholic Church was the major unifying cultural influence in Europe during the Middle Ages with its selection from Latin learning, preservation of the art of writing, and a centralized administration through its network of bishops. In the Roman Catholic Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Church , the priesthood and the ministries dependent upon it such as Bishop , Patriarch and Pope , were restricted to men. The first Council of Orange forbade the ordination of women to the diaconate.

With the establishment of Christian monasticism , other influential roles became available to women. From the 5th century onward, Christian convents provided an alternative for some women to the path of marriage and child-rearing and allowed them to acquire literacy and learning, and play a more active religious role. While non-aristocratic women were in many respects excluded from political and mercantile life in the Middle Ages, leading churchwomen were an exception. Medieval abbesses and female superiors of monastic houses were powerful figures whose influence could rival that of male bishops and abbots: A major spokesman for the Church in the High Middle Ages 11th through 13th centuries was Thomas Aquinas , [19] one of the 33 Doctors of the Roman Catholic Church and renowned 13th-century theologian.

Geoffrey Blainey, writes that women were more prominent in the life of the Church during the Middle Ages than at any previous time in its history, with a number of church reforms initiated by women. Blainey cites the ever growing veneration of the Virgin Mary and Mary Magdalene as evidence of a high standing for female Christians at that time. Irish hagiography records that, as Europe was entering the Medieval Age, the abbess St. Brigit of Kildare was founding monasteries across Ireland. The Celtic Church played an important role in restoring Christianity to Western Europe following the Fall of Rome , due in part to the work of nuns like Brigid.

She was conferred such titles as Mother of God and Queen of Heaven.

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Mary Magdalene's Feast Day was celebrated in earnest from the 8th century on and composite portraits of her developed from Gospel references to other women Jesus met. The art historian Kenneth Clarke wrote that, if art is taken as a guide, then only from the 12th century did the cult of the Virgin come to appeal to the popular imagination in the West. The great Cathedrals of France were dedicated to her: Chartres Cathedral in particular honoured Mary with the elaborate splendour of its architecture.

St Bernard of Clairvaux preached of her as an ideal of beauty and mediator between humanity and God. Clare of Assisi was one of the first followers of Saint Francis of Assisi. She founded the Order of Poor Ladies , a contemplative monastic religious order for women in the Franciscan tradition, and wrote their Rule of Life—the first monastic rule known to have been written by a woman. Following her death, the order she founded was named in her honor the Order of Saint Clare, commonly referred to today as the Poor Clares.

Catherine of Siena — was a Dominican tertiary and mystic of considerable influence who was proclaimed a Doctor of the Church in Considered by her contemporaries to have high levels of spiritual insight, she worked with the sick and poor, experienced "visions", gathered disciples and participated in the highest levels of public life through letters to the princes of Italy, consultations with papal legates and by acting as a diplomat negotiating between the city states of Italy. Arguably the most famous female Catholic Saint of the period is St.

Considered a national heroine of France, she began life as a pious peasant girl. As with other saints of the period, Joan is said to have experienced supernatural dialogues which gave her spiritual insight and directed her actions - but unlike typical heroines of the period, she donned male attire and, claiming divine guidance, sought out the King Charles VII of France to offer help in a military campaign against the English. Taking up a sword, she achieved military victories, before being captured.

Her English captors and their Burgundian allies then arranged for her to be tried as a "witch and heretic", after which she was burned at the stake. A papal inquiry later declared the trial illegal. A hero to the French, sympathy grew for Joan even in England and in she was canonised a saint. A network of European monarchies established power throughout Western Europe through the Medieval period.

Men were generally given precedence to reign as monarch, however aristocratic women could achieve influence. A number of such women were singled out as model Christians by Pope John Paul II in his Mulieris Dignitatem letter on the dignity and vocation of women: She is an important figure in the spread of Christianity to Russia and commemorated by both the Catholic and Orthodox churches. Italian noblewoman Matilda of Tuscany — is remembered for her military accomplishments and for being the principal Italian supporter of Pope Gregory VII during the Investiture Controversy.

Saint Hedwig of Silesia — supported the poor and the church in Eastern Europe and Jadwiga of Poland reigned as monarch of Poland and, within the Catholic Church, is honoured as the patron saint of queens and of a "united Europe". Saint Elisabeth of Hungary — was a symbol of Christian charity who used her wealth to establish hospitals and care for the poor.

As sponsor of Christopher Columbus ' mission to cross the Atlantic, the Spanish Queen Isabella I of Castille known as Isabella the Catholic , was an important figure in the growth of Catholicism as a global religion. Her marriage to Ferdinand II of Aragon had ensured the unity of the Spanish Kingdom and the royal couple held equal authority. The Catholic Monarchs then conquered the last Moorish bastion in Spain at Granada in January and seven months later, Columbus sailed for the Americas.

The Catholic encyclopedia, credits Isabella as an extremely able ruler and one who "fostered learning not only in the universities and among the nobles, but also among women". Of Isabella and Ferdinand, it says: The Reformation swept through Europe during the 16th Century, ending centuries of unity among Western Christendom and bringing Protestantism into being as both a political and religious opponent of Catholicism.

Mary I of England , was his eldest daughter and succeeded the throne after the death of her Protestant younger half brother Edward VI. Mary was the daughter of Catherine of Aragon, and thus remained loyal to Rome and sought to restore the Roman Church in England. Her re-establishment of Roman Catholicism was reversed after her death in by her successor and younger half-sister, Elizabeth I.

Early Scenes in Church History: Faith-Promoting Series, no. 8

Rivalry emerged between Elizabeth and the Catholic Mary Queen of Scots , finally settled with the execution of Mary in The religion of an heir or monarch's spouse complicated intermarriage between royal houses through coming centuries. The throne was reserved for males, though women such as Theophanu and Maria Theresa of Austria , controlled the power and served as de facto Empresses regnant.

The powerful Maria Theresa acquired her right to the throne of the Habsburg Monarchy by means of the Pragmatic Sanction of , allowing for female succession - but had to fight the War of the Austrian Succession to secure her right to reign. A liberal-minded autocrat, she was a patron of sciences and education and sought to alleviate the suffering of the serfs. On religion she pursued a policy of cujus regio, ejus religio , keeping Catholic observance at court and frowning on Judaism and Protestantism - but the ascent of her son as co-regnant Emperor saw restrictions placed on the power of the Church in the Empire.

She reigned for 40 years, and had 16 children including Marie-Antoinette , the ill-fated Queen of France. The Protestant Reformation , closed convents and effectively closed off the option of a full-time religious role for Protestant women, as well as one which had provided some women a life in academic study. John Calvin agreed that "the woman's place is in the home. The majority of Protestant churches upheld the traditional position, [34] and restricted ruling and preaching roles within the Church to men until the 20th century, although there were early exceptions among some groups such as the Quakers and within some Pentecostal holiness movements.

John Knox — also denied women the right to rule in the civic sphere, as he asserted in his famous First Blast of the Trumpet Against the Monstrous Regiment of Women. John Gill — comments on 1 Corinthians By this the apostle would signify, that the reason why women are not to speak in the church, or to preach and teach publicly, or be concerned in the ministerial function, is, because this is an act of power, and authority; of rule and government, and so contrary to that subjection which God in his law requires of women unto men.

The extraordinary instances of Deborah, Huldah, and Anna, must not be drawn into a rule or example in such cases. Mormonism describes itself as falling within world Christianity , but as a distinct restored dispensation ; it characterizes itself as the only true form of the Christian religion since the time of a Great Apostasy that began not long after the ascension of Jesus Christ. In addition, Mormons believe that Smith and his legitimate successors are modern prophets who receive revelation from God to guide the church. They maintain that other religions have a portion of the truth and are guided by the light of Christ.

Smith's cosmology is laid out mostly in Smith's later revelations and sermons, but particularly the Book of Abraham , the Book of Moses , and the King Follett discourse. In Mormonism, life on earth is just a short part of an eternal existence. Mormons believe that in the beginning, all people existed as spirits or "intelligences," in the presence of God. In Mormonism, the central part of God's plan is the atonement of Jesus Christ. In this process, people inevitably make mistakes, becoming unworthy to return to the presence of God.

Mormons believe that Jesus paid for the sins of the world and that all people can be saved through his atonement. According to Mormon scripture, the Earth's creation was not ex nihilo , but organized from existing matter. The Earth is just one of many inhabited worlds, and there are many governing heavenly bodies, including the planet or star Kolob , which is said to be nearest the throne of God.

In Mormonism, an ordinance is a religious ritual of special significance, often involving the formation of a covenant with God. The term has a meaning roughly similar to that of the term " sacrament " in other Christian denominations. Saving ordinances or ordinances viewed as necessary for salvation include: Mormons also perform other ordinances, which include the Lord's supper commonly called the sacrament , naming and blessing children , giving priesthood blessings and patriarchal blessings , anointing and blessing the sick , participating in prayer circles , and setting apart individuals who are called to church positions.

In Mormonism, the saving ordinances are seen as necessary for salvation, but they are not sufficient in and of themselves.

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For example, baptism is required for exaltation , but simply having been baptized does not guarantee any eternal reward. The baptized person is expected to be obedient to God's commandments, to repent of any sinful conduct subsequent to baptism, and to receive the other saving ordinances. Because Mormons believe that everyone must receive certain ordinances to be saved, Mormons perform ordinances on behalf of deceased persons. In accordance with their belief in each individual's "free agency", living or dead, Mormons believe that the deceased may accept or reject the offered ordinance in the spirit world , just as all spirits decided to accept or reject God's plan originally.

In addition, these "conditional" ordinances on behalf of the dead are performed only when a deceased person's genealogical information has been submitted to a temple and correctly processed there before the ordinance ritual is performed. Only ordinances for salvation are performed on behalf of deceased persons. Baptism for the dead. While Mormons believe in the general accuracy of the modern day text of the Bible, they also believe that it is incomplete and that errors have been introduced.

The Mormon scriptural canon also includes a collection of revelations and writings contained in the Doctrine and Covenants which contains doctrine and prophecy and the Pearl of Great Price which addresses briefly Genesis to Exodus. These books, as well as the Joseph Smith Translation of the Bible , have varying degrees of acceptance as divine scripture among different denominations of the Latter Day Saint movement. In Mormonism, continuous revelation is the principle that God or his divine agents still continue to communicate to mankind.

This communication can be manifest in many ways: Joseph Smith used the example of the Lord's revelations to Moses in Deuteronomy to explain the importance of continuous revelation. Whatever God commands is right, no matter what it is, although we may not see the reason thereof till long after the events transpire. Mormons believe that Smith and subsequent church leaders could speak scripture "when moved upon by the Holy Ghost.

In Mormonism, revelation is not limited to church members. Mormons are encouraged to develop a personal relationship with the Holy Ghost and receive personal revelation for their own direction and that of their family. It also teaches that everyone is entitled to personal revelation with respect to his or her stewardship leadership responsibility. Thus, parents may receive inspiration from God in raising their families, individuals can receive divine inspiration to help them meet personal challenges, church officers may receive revelation for those whom they serve.

The important consequence of this is that each person may receive confirmation that particular doctrines taught by a prophet are true, as well as gain divine insight in using those truths for their own benefit and eternal progress. In the church, personal revelation is expected and encouraged, and many converts believe that personal revelation from God was instrumental in their conversion.

Mormonism categorizes itself within Christianity , and nearly all Mormons self-identify as Christian. Since its beginnings, the faith has proclaimed itself to be Christ's Church restored with its original authority, structure and power; maintaining that existing denominations believed in incorrect doctrines and were not acknowledged by God as his church and kingdom. This discord led to a series of sometimes-deadly conflicts between Mormons and others who saw themselves as orthodox Christians.

This gives rise to efforts by Mormons and opposing types of Christians to proselytize each other. Mormons believe in Jesus Christ as the literal Son of God and Messiah , his crucifixion as a conclusion of a sin offering , and subsequent resurrection. Mormons hold the view that the New Testament prophesied both the apostasy from the teachings of Christ and his apostles as well as the restoration of all things prior to the second coming of Christ.

Some notable differences with mainstream Christianity include: A belief that Jesus began his atonement in the garden of Gethsemane and continued it to his crucifixion, rather than the orthodox belief that the crucifixion alone was the physical atonement; [73] and an afterlife with three degrees of glory , with hell often called spirit prison being a temporary repository for the wicked between death and the resurrection. Much of the Mormon belief system is geographically oriented around the North and South American continents.

Mormons believe that the people of the Book of Mormon lived in the western hemisphere , that Christ appeared in the western hemisphere after his death and resurrection, that the true faith was restored in Upstate New York by Joseph Smith, that the Garden of Eden was located in North America, and that the New Jerusalem would be built in Missouri.

For this and other reasons, including a belief by many Mormons in American exceptionalism , Molly Worthen speculates that this may be why Leo Tolstoy described Mormonism as the "quintessential 'American religion'". Although Mormons do not claim to be part of Judaism , Mormon theology claims to situate Mormonism within the context of Judaism to an extent that goes beyond what most other Christian denominations claim. The faith incorporates many Old Testament ideas into its theology, and the beliefs of Mormons sometimes parallel those of Judaism and certain elements of Jewish culture.

Later, he taught that Mormons were Israelites, and that they may learn of their tribal affiliation within the twelve Israelite tribes. Members of the LDS Church receive Patriarchal blessings which declare the recipient's lineage within one of the tribes of Israel. The lineage is either through true blood-line or adoption. The LDS Church teaches that if one is not a direct descendant of one of the twelve tribes, upon baptism he or she is adopted into one of the tribes.

Patriarchal blessings also include personal information which is revealed through a patriarch by the power of the priesthood. The Mormon affinity for Judaism is expressed by the many references to Judaism in the Mormon liturgy. For example, Smith named the largest Mormon settlement he founded Nauvoo , which means "to be beautiful" in Hebrew.

There has been some controversy involving Jewish groups who see the actions of some elements of Mormonism as offensive. In the s, Jewish groups vocally opposed the LDS practice of baptism for the dead on behalf of Jewish victims of the Holocaust and Jews in general. Brough, "Mormons who baptized , Holocaust victims posthumously were motivated by love and compassion and did not understand their gesture might offend Jews Since its origins in the 19th century, Mormonism has been compared to Islam , often by detractors of one religion or the other.

This epithet repeated a comparison that had been made from Smith's earliest career, [79] one that was not intended at the time to be complimentary. Comparison of the Mormon and Muslim prophets still occurs today, sometimes for derogatory or polemical reasons [81] but also for more scholarly and neutral purposes. Mormon—Muslim relations have been historically cordial; [82] recent years have seen increasing dialogue between adherents of the two faiths, and cooperation in charitable endeavors , especially in the Middle and Far East.

Islam and Mormonism both originate in the Abrahamic traditions. Each religion sees its founder Muhammad for Islam, and Joseph Smith for Mormonism as being a true prophet of God, called to re-establish the truths of these ancient theological belief systems that have been altered, corrupted, or lost.

In addition, both prophets received visits from an angel, leading to additional books of scripture. Both religions share a high emphasis on family life, charitable giving, chastity, abstention from alcohol, and a special reverence for, though not worship of, their founding prophet. Before the Manifesto against plural marriage, Mormonism and Islam also shared in the belief in and practice of plural marriage, a practice now held in common by Islam and various branches of Mormon fundamentalism.

The religions differ significantly in their views on God. Islam insists upon the complete oneness and uniqueness of God Allah , while Mormonism asserts that the Godhead is made up of three distinct "personages. Despite opposition from other Christian denominations , Mormonism identifies itself as a Christian religion, the "restoration" of primitive Christianity. Islam does not refer to itself as "Christian", asserting that Jesus and all true followers of Christ's teachings were and are Muslims—a term that means submitters to God. Mormons, though honoring Joseph Smith as the first prophet in modern times, see him as just one in a long line of prophets, with Jesus Christ being the premier figure of the religion.

Mormon theology includes three main movements. The two broad movements outside mainstream Mormonism are Mormon fundamentalism , and liberal reformist Mormonism. Personal prayer is encouraged as well. It has continuously existed since the succession crisis of that split the Latter Day Saint movement after the death of founder Joseph Smith, Jr. The LDS Church seeks to distance itself from other branches of Mormonism, particularly those that practice polygamy.

For example, the LDS Church excommunicates members who practice polygamy or who adopt the beliefs and practices of Mormon fundamentalism. One way Mormon fundamentalism distinguishes itself from mainstream Mormonism is through the practice of plural marriage.

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Fundamentalists initially broke from the LDS Church after that doctrine was discontinued around the beginning of the 20th century. Mormon fundamentalism teaches that plural marriage is a requirement for exaltation the highest degree of salvation , which will allow them to live as gods and goddesses in the afterlife. Mainstream Mormons, by contrast, believe that a single Celestial marriage is necessary for exaltation. In distinction with the LDS Church, Mormon fundamentalists also often believe in a number of other doctrines taught and practiced by Brigham Young in the 19th century, which the LDS Church has either abandoned, repudiated, or put in abeyance.

Mormon fundamentalists believe that these principles were wrongly abandoned or changed by the LDS Church, in large part due to the desire of its leadership and members to assimilate into mainstream American society and avoid the persecutions and conflict that had characterized the church throughout its early years. Others believe that it was a necessity at some point for "a restoration of all things" to be a truly restored Church.