The Bible Message without Patriarchy

In this podcast episode, we read the story of the flood from an English translation of the Bible that is gender-accurate in these specific passages.  We learn that God sent a great flood to cover all the earth, when He saw that human beings had become bent on violence and murder.  In His mercy, God provided a means of escape for one righteous man and his family.  After the flood, God made a pledge not to ever again cover all the earth with water.  He also established a law that human beings may not take the life of another innocent person, because all of us--male and female--are made in God's image, and are members of the same human family. 

In this episode, we read Genesis chapter 6, verses 5-22 from an English translation that uses gender-accurate language.  This passage tells us of God's response to deliberate and continuous violence.  It also tells us of God's plan to save Noah and his family from the injustice of that age, and God's judgment against it.

In this episode, we read Genesis chapter 6, verses 5-22 from an English translation that uses gender-accurate language.  This passage tells us of God's response to deliberate and continuous violence.  It also tells us of God's plan to save Noah and his family from the injustice of that age, and God's judgment against it.

In this podcast episode, we correct a patriarchal misuse of Genesis chapter 6, verses 1-4.  St. Augustine used this passage to claim that women equal sin, and must therefore be ruled by men.  In reality, the passage focuses on the sins of fallen angels, and their influence on humankind.

In this episode we read portions of Genesis chapter 5 from the New English Translation of the Bible.  We learn that God created both male and female in His image, and gave them the name "adam," which is properly translated into English as "humankind."  We also read about a remarkable man named Enoch, who was taken up to heaven without seeing death.

In this episode, we read Genesis chapter 4 from the New International Version of the Bible.  This passage highlights the influence of sin on human relationships.  We find examples of rivalry, jealousy, murder, deception, polygamy and a cycle of revenge.  God warns human beings to say "no" to sin, so that we do not experience negative natural consequences.  Sadly, one verse in this passage has been mistranslated and misused to once again rationalize the male subjugation of women.  That verse is Genesis 4:7.  We examine the oldest available manuscript evidence related to this verse, so that patriarchal bias in translation and commentary can be removed.  

In this episode we read Genesis chapter 3.  It was necessary to read from two different English versions of the Bible to get an accurate translation, free of patriarchal bias.  The first portion of the chapter is read from the New International Version; the second is read from the Common English Bible.  We then explore how complementarian theology makes a number of assumptions about this passage that contradict what we find in the oldest available Bible manuscripts.  Once these patriarchal assumptions are addressed, we are then able to reflect on the intended meaning of the passage.  We highlight details of humanity's first sin, as well as its tragic consequences.