Product Description

The publication of The Woman's Bible in 1895 and 1898 represented the feminist pioneer's last strike at the roots of the ideology behind her gender's subordinate role in society. In keeping with her characteristic radical individualism, Stanton attacks religious orthodoxy on a political rather than scholarly basis. This clarion call to action consists of a book-by-book examination of the Bible, placing events in their historical context, interpreting passages as both allegory and fact, and comparing them with the myths of other cultures. It endures as an extraordinary document because of the questions it addresses, the topics it covers, and its still-resonant sincerity. Unabridged republication of the classic two-volume edition of 1895 and 1898.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #239473 in Books
• Published on: 2003-01-23
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 384 pages

Features

• ISBN13: 9780486424910
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
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Customer Reviews

Into her mind
I was so excited when I got this book and read it. Even if your only reason for reading this book is to peer into the mind of Elizabeth Cady Stanton, it will not be a waste of your time.

I was always very curious about what motivated her to challenge the other sex's views of her sex, what she thought of the Bible and God, what reasons she had for being a feminist, whether she hated men, etc. This books answers so many questions about her, because it is written by her and over 10 other women. These women respond to every place that the Bible mentions women, in the form of an essay.

Whether we agree or disagree with her, we as women are endebted to ECS's, because her views and beliefs and efforts are what made us free.

I feel that many men (and women) even today do not understand the women's right movement; many are still trapped under the old views about women, or are ignorant of how ECS and other feminists from the 1800s shaped the liberties of women today. And this causes problems between the two sexes. The only way to understand the women's movement, and the people behind them, are to read their own words.

A fine legal mind, a discerning eye, and a fearless pen
Susan B. Anthony said of Stanton, that if she had been a man, she might have been on the Supreme Court - which would have certainly helped us avoid much painful history in my opinion. These two women were the backbone of the movement that won women the vote.

And now for the bible, and Stanton's take on it. At the age of 19, I was challenged by a Protestant acquaintance to read the bible - he knew, that as a former Catholic, I probably was not as familiar with the 'good' book as he, and he was right, so I did. And found it appalling in most details and insulting toward women in the extreme (and this was before the feminist revival of the 60s!)

Although I had long left organized religion, I became convinced, reading it, that in addition to mind control and acquisition of the 'flock's' resources and obedience, organized religion has another, unspoken agenda: the control and distribution of the available females, to put it as nicely as possible.

'Feminist' religionists strive mightily to prove that religion honors and frees women, and have done much violence to the truth in that process. The bible - both old and new testaments - could be fairly described as a very long diatribe against women, and every right we have earned has been in opposition to biblical doctrine. (I believe the same thing can be said of Hinduism, Islam, Buddhism, and all the patriarchal religions.) The bible's treatment of women provides very good grounds for the early church fathers' debates on whether women had souls.

Elizabeth Cady Stanton - besides being a right-on sister in pressing for the vote and the abolition of slavery - understood that the bible was one of the foundations of women's subservience and men's dominance and that to change that, the bible had to be dissected fearlessly and challenged. One writer here opined that she should have 'gone to the source' and not based her criticism on an English translation. Well whatever is said in that Hebrew/Greek/Aramaic ideal version (and I would not hold out much hope of it being the feminist document that might have defied her analysis) It was the common, English translation of the time which was used to deny women property, freedom, and equality in every field - and that is the one she very rightly critiqued.

Worth every penny and minute spent
I was not here during the feminists revolution and all that. I was also brought up a christian and although devout, have costantly had this battles going on about my place in christianity.
This book had the "balls" to ask those questions I've always been afraid to even think about. It's funny to see the date when this book was published and to know that after all those years, women still have to battle to be heard. But then, women have come a long way too. I'm glad this book was written. I'm even more glad that I read it. Every woman worth her salt should read it. Because with the questions comes the answers and with the answers comes true freedom. "The truth shall make you free".