1. Christianity
1.1. The Traditional attitude of Protestants
1.1.1. Men and women have separate roles
1.1.2. Women bring up the children and run the home
1.1.3. Men work and are the leaders of the family
1.1.4. Only men can be leaders at church, women must remain silent
1.1.5. They believe this because
1.1.5.1. It is the teaching of the New Testament, particularly St. Paul
1.1.5.2. Adam was created first and given more responsibility than Eve
1.1.5.3. Jesus' disciples were male
1.1.5.4. Tradition that only men can be leaders in the church
1.2. The Modern attitude of Protestants
1.2.1. Men and women should have equal rights
1.2.2. Women are allowed to be priests and ministers (church leaders)
1.2.3. They believe this because
1.2.3.1. The first creation story says that Adam and Eve were created equally
1.2.3.2. St Paul teaches that men and women should be treated equally
1.2.3.3. Jesus treated women as equals
1.2.3.4. There were women priests in the early days of Christianity
1.3. The Roman Catholic attitude
1.3.1. Men and women should have equal rights
1.3.2. They can have equal roles in the church BUT they can not be priests or bishops
1.3.3. They believe this because
1.3.3.1. The creation story teaches that men and women were created equally
1.3.3.2. The Catholic church teaches that men and women are equal
1.3.3.3. Only men can be priests because Jesus' disciples were men
1.3.3.4. Only men can be priests because Jesus was a man
2. Judaism
2.1. The Orthodox (Traditional) Attitude
2.1.1. Men and women have different roles
2.1.2. Women should look after the family and the home, men go out to work
2.1.3. Men and women sit seperately in the synagogue
2.1.4. Men are responsible for the religious activity in the home
2.1.5. Women can't be rabbis (Jewish priests)
2.1.6. They believe this because....
2.1.6.1. It is the teaching of the Torah and Talmud
2.1.6.2. It is believed that this is what God wants
2.1.6.3. Men have the responsibility to obey God's commands in the Bible, so women can not have equal rights
2.2. The Liberal/Reform (Modern) Attitude
2.2.1. Men and women have completely equal rights
2.2.2. Men and women worship together and there are women rabbis
2.2.3. They believe this because....
2.2.3.1. The creation story in Genesis says that men and women were created equally
2.2.3.2. The Torah is not the direct word of God and so should be interpreted for the modern world.
2.2.3.3. God does not (and should not) think that men are more important than women
2.2.3.4. Judaism should relate to attitudes in the modern world.