Tuesday, October 30, 2007

Not Counting Women and Children Week 2

This week we are looking at Chapter 2 - The Women of Exodus. Enjoy reading and I look forward to your posts. Peace.

25 comments:

Nikki said...

I must admit that I kept getting a little bit lost in this section. I understood after a while what she was saying about tit being contemporary especially when she said something about it being a genocide because it made made me think of World War II and Hitler. He wanted to kill off minorites just like the Pharaoh did. Then I started to think of all of the other wars and political problems around the world and that does have at least a small part in most of the conflicts when you really think about it.
I enjoyed the description of the midwives and the rest of the women in the scripture a lot because I had never realized how important they really were and how much courage all of the women had in this stroy. I was truly amazed when she compared the women to jesus because they were pretty much sacrificing themselves because the pharoah could have killed them or put them in jail if he caught them for the good of the their people; so that they may all live.
I liked how this story shows how inportant life is. I think people today need to read this chapter so that they too may realize how imporatnt life is.

Kat said...

Wow. This chapter had a lot of information in it. It was kind of hard to figure out the true meaning behind the whole chapter. But I guess it was that we must do everything in our power to protect the children because they are the future of everything.
I like the way McKenna broke down the passages of the Exodus to describe in detail the true meanings and symbols behind everything especially the people, the women. It made me realize that the women really did have power back then, more than the men thought, and they could control situations to their advantage to certain points.
I also like how those passages help to advocate life, and how abortionsare so horrible. Like the whole story aobut Moses's birth, how that one child who was saved by the help of three women turned out to be the salvation for an entire group of poeple. How many leaders have people killed, future presidents, doctors, priests, nuns, fahters, mothers all killed before they actually had the chance to live. How man generations of family lines have we lost? We could have had more kids in our graduation class; one of our best friends that we will never meet; someone who might have changed our lives forever, gone because no one wanted to save a life, like the women from the Exodus.

Kat said...

Nikki, i totally agree with you on the kill of minorities things. It got me thinking of all the poeple who fear the number of minorities increasing in a certain country. Like the illegal immigrants in the US, everyone wants to find ways of getting the number to go down; they are trying to crack down on them and deport them. But very few people take into consideration that those people are the core of the economy that we really do rely alot on them because those are the ones that do the hard labor, the jobs that no one in the working class wants to do, because of the pay. So why are people so eager to get rid of these people when we need them so muchd all of us are descending from immagrants as well.

Anonymous said...

I have to agree with everybody on the fact that it was a lot of information to soak in all at once. One thing that has stayed in my mind was the section that regarded Pharaoh and his powers. It is amazing (in a negative way)to read how a man can have such power to force women to basically kill their own children. It just shows you how through the time evil has spread and how easy it is to be spread. There's a saying that basically goes that being good isn't easy it it kinda reminds me of how these kinds of evil, though maybe not played out exactly the same, but have the same roots. Yet Mckenna goes in to explain that men were considered the fighters and the violent ones which is kinda ironic with the title of the book. It lead me to think that if men were considered to be these warriors and violent people and the women almost hiding in the corner because they were "harmless", was peace then hiding in the corner as well? Is it because of these beliefs of power and that man is above all that violence and wrath occur?

Erika said...

The first part of this chapter that really struck me was the reaction to oppression. The talk about abortion is obviously very controversial because of the pro-life pro-choice sides, but the most interesting part is how the Third World reacts to abortion: genocide. This is probably the only aspect of third world countries that I wish our nation had. I also like how the author goes into how power starts with children. We are the next generation of leaders, we shouldn’t be killed because of our gender or the surprise of our conception; we should be embraced by society as a whole and taught to be good people. Later on in the chapter she talks about priorities and how “abortion is not an option.” We have to be midwives and bring life into the world and nurture it, not destroy it.
Other random parts of the chapter I found surprising was how God rewarded the people for lying. I agree that in some situations lying is for the better. It reminded me of the “Was It Heaven-Or Hell” story I read. I also liked the connection between Moses and Noah’s way of transportation. It shows that there are links all over the bible if you look deep enough. And a third part of interest was the making of Miriam a leper. I have never read that part of the bible and it shocked me. It shows that it’s not easy to stay on track, but we will always be let back on after we learn our lesson. All in all, I liked this chapter more than the last.

Erika said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Erika said...

I agree with what Kat says about realizing that some women did have power. I also liek how she mentioned the jobs these children that have been killed could have had. We will never know what we missed out in because of abortions and murders.

Erika said...

Biancas comment about peace hiding in a corner was very insightful. The Christians had to hide their masses, so thats another kind of peace hiding. I guess some times its better to keep it on the down low for a time until the world is ready.

Erika said...

Nikki is right about the whole kill minorities thing. I never would have thought to compare Pharoahs to Hitler, but it makes sense in this story. I also liked how the women were compared to Jesus. There are many who face life changing decisions because of their faith. We just have to pray for the best.

Alex said...

I liked this chapter for the most part. It showed the courage that these women must have had to do the things they did (top openly defy Pharoah and risk their lives). They did this because to them, saving lives of children was more important than their own lives. This i think could be something we could all try to practice within our lives. I'm not saying we should all risk our lives all the time for stupid reasons, but just generally be selfless and put others before ourselves.
I felt that i couldnt relate to this chapter very well at first because it was centered around roles of women and the protection of children. I do support protection of life of children, however, and it was interesting to see the craftiness of the women of the Bible pointed out to me. I dont remember if i said this last week, but i would never have understood the Bible the way she does.

Alex said...

Nikki/Erika: i disagree with the Hitler comparison...Hitler systematically had people killed during the Holocaust because he felt that those people were "unfit for life", not because of the fear that they would gain too much power like in the Moses story. But i do understand where you saw the connection of genocide. it is a ridiculous way of "dealing" with a people who are or may become a problem.

Kat: i also liked the way she explained all of the symbols and everything. and very deep reflection on the effects of abortion. i too feel it is horrible(as should everyone else). there are alternatives to abortion, and there are alternative ways to control population.

Erika: i so totally agree about Miriam becoming a leper. i was kinda confused after i read that. God is portrayed in different ways sometimes and that throws me off track. but i do like how it makes Miriam and Aaron human and imperfect, because before they were seen as these flawless people, only because they were obscure and underdeveloped.

Kat said...

Erika: yea i have never heard that part of the Bible either (Miriam becoming a leper), but yea i was surprised when i heard that part. because god was so pleased with her and she messes up that one time and then punishes her severely because she messed up one time. doesnt that seem a little harsh?

Ana said...

I like the topic of this chapter. I'm one of those people that all for human rights and pro-life and all that good stuff. I understand the whole dictatorship thing because we still have it. Look at Castro nd now in Venezula, I think. I know that God put this story for us to grow from it, but at that time, I'm pretty sure it sucked to be them. How awful is it to live peacefully with a group of people, but eventually everyone from that generation dies and doesn't tell that story. What happened to the oral tradtion. The stories spoken to the children. How are they to learn, if we don't pass down. Like I believe Erika said about the children being the next leaders, well yes it is. How can we be so silly as to kill off the next group of people to run the world.
Somehow, I think we all have over looked the fact of the women. Their importance. We don't give them any thought because the imply it here or suggest it there. Maybe we just understood it all along, but didn't exactly put two and two together. I like I understand their culture and I understand the readings, more or less, but I never put it together like I should.
Megan has definitely opened a lot more light on these stories. I puts two and two together. Kind of rounds the jagged edges and colors in the blank spots.

Unknown said...

Chapter 2 presented me with a lott of information. When McKenna mentions the "anawim", it really got me thinking, and it is true. How we treat these people determines our faithfulness because in reality we are all equal.

Its interesting about McKennas views of the Exodus as a very imporant part in history, because it is. I never really thoutht of it that way as being the "blood line and foundation of the Law". It really is. I mean this was a very crucial turning point in our faith's history because it symbolizes freedom and strength to stand up for what we believe in.

Theres so much in this chapter that I can reflect on, but I am choosing to write about the ones that really stood out to me.

I like how this chapter really focuses on the women, as in the title of the chapter. I gained a higher understanding of the tasks of the midwives and it seems like they were very important back then. Women had very important tasks back then that i really didn't know much about because it is true, not a lot of people take the time to actually analyze the womens' roles back then.

This chapter had a lot of stories of the women in Exodus, but one in particular i liked was the one of Miriam, when she led the women in praise. I like how McKenna described her to be the leader of the journey and leading everyone in song and praise. I don't recall reading about many women who took leadership roles back then, and I found this as a big step for women in Jesus' time.

Unknown said...

Nikki, Kat, and everyone who had thoughts about the minorities: I agree with all of you and when I read your comparisions to Hitler, the Pharoah and Hitler are really alike. I have put two and two together like that so thank you for that.

Kat: I like your overall conclusion of the chapter. I have to agree that it did have alot of information, but in the end, the children our our future. To me, everything is related, from the killing of minorities to the future being in the hands of our children. If these children are exposed to such acts as genocide, then when it is their turn to have all the power, they will not have many morals because of the way that they were raised.

Alex: I like how you stressed the courage of the women, because the really did go out on a limb to do what they felt was right. I agree that everyone can learn from these women because I admit i don't know if I would be able to be as strong and courageous as these women were!!

Anonymous said...

It is nice how the topic about women and children follows through to the next chapter. I realized there is much more to women in the scripture then what is learned. In school we are taught to read and reflect, but never to tear apart what the scripture is saying, exactly. The beginning was not catchy until the author commenced speaking about the midwives and how we may all be like them. For many of us we do not realize that we are like the pharaoh's daughter or the midwives of the time. We may have helped or have been benefactors in rising or bring to life something or someone who has needed aid. The chapter described the act of the three women in detail and how all three are accomplices and beneficiaries to the downfall of Egypt’s king, and the rise of a people unexpected, but inevitable. Because Moses biological mother wanted him to live she gave him up, basically. He was adopted and given a new life. He was able to prosper and succeed in his life, meanwhile, give thousands of people a new start and shot at a life of promises and with consequences and repercussions. Yes, he may have started with an amazing start, but he also committed sin, being the leader of his people. He killed an Egyptian because he was hurting his people. Moses only acted upon what he was taught and raised to do, nothing else. Was it right that he killed or would it have been wrong to let his own race be down routed by his second half? In Essence, Moses himself is a midwife. We do not have to be women to be midwives. It is the same in not having to be a man to be part of mankind. We all have acted as midwives, and have given life and a lucid meaning to a new beginning.

Anonymous said...

Everyone hit upon strong points, whether it was minorities, midwives, or women's positions in society. Nikki was right about the Hitler part and that is an excellent example of modern day genocide. Everyone spoke on Midwives, but especially liked the comment on how they are related to Jesus. Bianca hit it right on the nail when she referred to the part about women were nothing and were treated as rags. If it was law to kill their babies they would have too. It is gruesome and morbid.

gabriel said...

I agree with the fact that we have to agents what society is telling us to do and is right because for the most part it is completely false so we shouldn’t let are selves fall in to that temptation. I’m with the saving of the child’s life no one has the right to decide who lives or dies except God so I was glad to read about the women going agent pharaoh in order to save a child’s life from being killed. I also really think that people should go agents the flow to please God and do what he wants us to do verses what people or are selves wants us to do because what we want is completely wrong an shouldn’t happen for the most part.


But the thing I couldn’t get over is the fact that the pharaoh had so much power that he could tell anyone anything even to kill someone and they would listen to him no matter what because they feared him. Another thing is I couldn’t get over when she said that women were the great ones basically because they didn’t fear pharaoh, they went agents his laws and did what was right to please God by their deeds. But the thing that I cant agree with Megan is that women are the only ones that care about life and that speak agents the ones in power because they are the ones always oppressed because there have been many men that in the past and still do speak agents the ones in power an also care about the lives of others especially children.

gabriel said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
gabriel said...

Erika/Kat: I have never heard of the part of the Bible that talks about Miriam becoming a leper because of Jesus being displeased with her so when I read this it caught me off guard and didn’t really know what to say except God isn’t all the time the happy go lucky an forgiving God we always hear about he does get ad and punish us if we mess up.

Erika/Kat/Alex: I agree with Alex that Hitler and Pharaoh are similar that they went about dealing with what they thought as a problem in a totally exaggerated and wrong way but their reasons were different. Hitler did it because he was like the Jewish people or unfit to live because they don’t fit the image of his perfect society when the Pharaoh did it in order to protect his kingdom and his power because there were so many Jewish people an so little Egyptians that if their was war an the Jewish people banded agents them their kingdom would surely crumble.

Anonymous said...

This chapter was a bit too much for me.

Anonymous said...

The beginning of this chapter completely blew me away with the talk about Law. And I have to be honest just like everyone here I really don't understand what McKenna was trying to explain concerning Law and the Exodus.

I mean I understand that the Law changed once the new Pharoah came in and forgot about Joseph, and the how the Exodus began, but I just think there was too much information to comprehend in a chapter. I also think that the chapter went off in tangents.

For example, the beginning was talking about laws, and I was actually wondering...Where does the role of women and children come in. I dont know if I was paying attention or I started thinking because of all the info presented, but I really was lost.

However, I am enjoying McKenna's description of women in the Bible. I never thought that women had such important roles in scriptures. I always thought the Bible was mainly a male's perspective. Because if you think about it...the Gospels for example are all male. There are no female Gospels. And whenever letters are written to the Corinthians, etc. It seems to be talking to males and not females.

McKenna opened a completely world for me. A lot of the stories that occured in the Bible are because of women. I especially liked the way McKenna talked about Moses being afriad to contradict the Pharoah while the midwives were not. However, I do not like the idea of fearing God becuase God is not to be feared.

Nikki: Just like Nikki, I also thought about wars and about the genocide of minorities. Everytime, I hear the word genocide I always think about innocent people being killed. Just like the wars happening in Iraq or Israel. The innocent suffer for the mistake of a few power hungry people.

Kat/ Erika - Just like both of them, I realized the role and power women had. I mean it is hard to be a woman back then whether rich or poor. The Pharoah's daughter had to hide the fact that she was protecting a Hebrew boy. But what I dont understand is. If she was protecting him, and hiding him at the same time. How come Moses real mother and sister were not caught? And why didnt she question the sister for just appearing out of nowhere to make a suggestion of taking care of the child?

Gaby: In response to men speaking against power, it is true. And you are right about it not onl being women. But it's harder for women to speak up, becuase back then adn even in today's society they are looked as inferior to the male population. Think about government and even in churches. There are no women priests and nuns do not really have the same priveleges as brothers.

Nikki said...

just like mona, I was lost with the laws she talked about in the beginning. The part that she compared Moses and the midwives I thought was amazing too. You hear so much about Moses and nothing about the midwives yet the midwives had more courage and strength than Moses did.

gmoneyforlife said...

well my mind kept drifting off the page.and i couldnt really get what it meant because it seem to go everywhere.but i got that orphans,widows and all the poor were thought of as enemies because they can be for or against the cause.the israelites increased more and more as they were opressed. and it showed how children and midwives had so much power to change the world.and how they thought girls being born were weak. thats all i got

Unknown said...

I was very aroused by her opinion about the law of the exodus i felt that she was 50/50 on her opinions but i respect all opinions the ending of chapter 2 left me on my knees begging for more.