Jimmy Carter Leaves Church Over Treatment of Women

[The Straight Story]

Jimmy Carter Leaves Church Over Treatment of Women

After more than 60 years together, Jimmy Carter has announced himself at odds with the Southern Baptist Church -- and he's decided it's time they go their separate ways. Via Feministing, the former president called the decision "unavoidable" after church leaders prohibited women from being ordained and insisted women be "subservient to their husbands." Said Carter in an essay in The Age:

At its most repugnant, the belief that women must be subjugated to the wishes of men excuses slavery, violence, forced prostitution, genital mutilation and national laws that omit rape as a crime. But it also costs many millions of girls and women control over their own bodies and lives, and continues to deny them fair access to education, health, employment and influence within their own communities.

And, later:

The truth is that male religious leaders have had -- and still have -- an option to interpret holy teachings either to exalt or subjugate women. They have, for their own selfish ends, overwhelmingly chosen the latter. Their continuing choice provides the foundation or justification for much of the pervasive persecution and abuse of women throughout the world

http://www.politicsdaily.com/2009/07/20/jimmy-carter-leaves-church-over-treatment-of-women/?icid=main|htmlws-main|dl1|link3|http%3A%2F%2Fwww.politicsdaily.com%2F2009%2F07%2F20%2Fjimmy-carter-leaves-church-over-treatment-of-women%2F

[Tangerine LaBamba]

1. All right, JIMMY!

The man's putting his money where his mouth is.

Excellent move, sir. And I'm sure this is one not easily taken.

Kudos, President Carter..............

[struggle4progress]

31. Jimmy Carter says he can 'no longer be associated' with the SBC (Oct 2000)

By Greg Warner
Associated Baptist Press
ATLANTA (ABP) ... "I had never been involved in the political struggle for control of the SBC and have no desire to do so," Carter wrote in the letter, which was mailed to 75,000 Baptists nationwide by the moderate group Texas Baptists Committed. He said he was disappointed that his effort two years ago to promote dialogue between SBC factions failed. "My hope was that, as a traditional Baptist layman, I could find some channel through which I could help fulfill our Christian commitments. But since that brief interlude of apparent harmony, I have been disappointed and feel excluded by the adoption of policies and an increasingly rigid SBC creed, including some provisions that violate the basic premises of my Christian faith. I have finally decided that, after 65 years, I can no longer be associated with the Southern Baptist Convention" ... http://www.baptiststandard.com/2000/10_23/pages/carter.html

[DebbieCDC]

2. Thank you President Carter

Probably the most decent man ever to hold the office.

[Arkana]

3. And, sadly, it is because of the fact that he was probably the most

honest and decent man to hold the office that he didn't win a second term.

[WheelWalker]

4. Right on.

:kick:

[LWolf]

5. The first man I ever voted for for POTUS.

:thumbsup: :thumbsup:

[Amy6627]

10. Me too! I love him! And all the so called "Christians" hate him!

because he actually walks the walk!

[PatSeg]

33. True

If I was a Christian, I would want to be like him. He really gets the teachings of Jesus.

On edit - not that I can't be like him without being a Christian.

[shadowknows69]

6. Go Jimmy!

[sutz12]

7. Once again, he shows his integrity.

:kick:

[horseshoecrab]

8. Wow!

This is amazing and yet so in character for this wonderful man.

Go Jimmy Go!

:patriot:


horseshoecrab

[JitterbugPerfume]

9. he was probably the smartest President

in my lifetime, but also one of the most ethical . I do not include Obama because he is still in play ,but he might match Carter in both areas.

Strange that Carter was followed by one of the dumbest presidents(Reagan) in my lifetime, and Obama followed the dumbest one.

[spanone]

11. a true enigma...a politician with a conscience

[timeforpeace]

12. Too bad he doesn't feel that way about Islam.

[RoyGBiv]

29. You should read his article ...

The article linked in the OP is based on this:

http://www.theage.com.au/opinion/losing-my-religion-for-equality-20090714-dk0v.html?page=-1

The point of it is that "church Elders" of many world religions are exercising an *option* in their interpretation of religious texts toward subjugation of women.

Within this argument he says:

At its most repugnant, the belief that women must be subjugated to the wishes of men excuses slavery, violence, forced prostitution, genital mutilation and national laws that omit rape as a crime. But it also costs many millions of girls and women control over their own bodies and lives, and continues to deny them fair access to education, health, employment and influence within their own communities.

The impact of these religious beliefs touches every aspect of our lives. They help explain why in many countries boys are educated before girls; why girls are told when and whom they must marry; and why many face enormous and unacceptable risks in pregnancy and childbirth because their basic health needs are not met.

In some Islamic nations, women are restricted in their movements, punished for permitting the exposure of an arm or ankle, deprived of education, prohibited from driving a car or competing with men for a job. If a woman is raped, she is often most severely punished as the guilty party in the crime.

Then he concludes:

The truth is that male religious leaders have had - and still have - an option to interpret holy teachings either to exalt or subjugate women. They have, for their own selfish ends, overwhelmingly chosen the latter. Their continuing choice provides the foundation or justification for much of the pervasive persecution and abuse of women throughout the world. This is in clear violation not just of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights but also the teachings of Jesus Christ, the Apostle Paul, Moses and the prophets, Muhammad, and founders of other great religions - all of whom have called for proper and equitable treatment of all the children of God. It is time we had the courage to challenge these views.

[Critters2]

13. I'm not sure why this is news. He's been affiliated with the Baptist Cooperative Fellowship,

which is made up of people who've left the SBC, for nearly a decade. No one I know, including members of the SBC, have believed he was still a member in recent years.

[waiting for hope]

20. I think they got the information here:

Losing my religion for equality

Jimmy Carter
July 15, 2009


I HAVE been a practising Christian all my life and a deacon and Bible teacher for many years. My faith is a source of strength and comfort to me, as religious beliefs are to hundreds of millions of people around the world. So my decision to sever my ties with the Southern Baptist Convention, after six decades, was painful and difficult. It was, however, an unavoidable decision when the convention's leaders, quoting a few carefully selected Bible verses and claiming that Eve was created second to Adam and was responsible for original sin, ordained that women must be "subservient" to their husbands and prohibited from serving as deacons, pastors or chaplains in the military service.

~Snip~

And did sloppy reporting on the "when" portion. A ton of Baptist churches broke from the Southern Baptist Convention when they redid their by-laws - my parents church was one so I know it was a while ago.

[CTyankee]

34. Thanks for posting that. I thought he had done this a long time ago so I was

bewildered to see it here. I was beginning to wonder just how ditzy I must be...

[Pacifist Patriot]

44. Me too. I remember when he made similar statements eons ago.

[Shireling]

14. I admire his courage to speak the truth.

I admire all he does to bring peace in the world.

[LeftishBrit]

15. Good for him!

[SpiralHawk]

16. Well done, Jimmah

Your integrity merits a special SpiralHawk wig-wag salute.

[lunatica]

17. Thank you President Carter

[rsmith6621]

18. I Left the SBC Ten Years Ago.......

....Cause they wouldn't let me bring beer to the lunch after church on Sunday...:rofl:

....No in all do seriousness...I left because of their growing involvement into the nations political process.

[Mrs. Overall]

19. A man of integrity and true faith.

[Enthusiast]

46. One in a million. nt

[Liberal_in_LA]

21. K&R

[senseandsensibility]

22. kick

:kick:

[Stevenmarc]

23. Unlike most politicians who pimp God for votes, Jimmy is a true Christian

[glinda]

24. Glowing hug from me to Jimmy. Wow!

[TexasObserver]

25. I'm glad he's taking this step. The SBC has lost its mind.

[BlancheSplanchnik]

26. Love Jimmy! We need more MEN to see and speak out like this

Because when women speak out, as many luminaries and ordinary women have for centuries-, very few people listen, and the media delights in mocking them.

[Vidar]

27. Yet again, showing the courage of his convictions.

[snot]

28. sorry too late to rec; J. Carter ROCKS.

[nolabels]

30. Organizations invented by men and run by men, who would of thunk it?

It's funny that in man's fear of other men he has failed to see his true enemy of the other sex :sarcasm:

[progressoid]

32. Love ya Jimmy but,

a lot of us figured this out a looong time ago.

[kenfrequed]

37. Eh...

I rarely ever begrudge someone doing the right thing or saying the right thing even if they come to it later in life. I even forgave McNamara after watching 'Fog of War.'

[proteus_lives]

35. Good for you President Carter!

I hope many more SBer's follow your example.

Man, I don't get religious folks like that. Why would anyone want someone to be subservient to them? I want friends, family and a mate that challenges me and stands next to me.

[defendandprotect]

36. Let's face it. .. everyone should leave patriarchal religion over its treatment of women--!!!

Carter should totally abandon biased patriarchal religion - sexist, racist, homophobic --

which he's supported for 60 years!

And he should look behind the scenes at what certainly looks like a new Christian Crusade

vs Muslims -- granted, there is more than "oil" at stake in the Middle East!

[frylock]

38. our greatest living president..

:patriot:

[jellen]

39. Jimmy Carter was the most real Christian president.

Maybe he wasn't great in some ways but I think he was too kind and honest to be president. I remember when he was running for office, I thought how awful it would be if he won. After a short while, I thought things were going well. That was about the time I turned into a Democrat.

[sarcasmo]

40. Welcome to the light Jimmy.

[Deep13]

41. I felt the same way when I was a Christian.

I was horrified by the misogyny in the conservative churches.

[Richd506]

42. K & R for Mr. Carter!

[Piewhacket]

43. Damn. Wow. ... just wow. Jimmy, you are awesome!

[countmyvote4real]

45. I admire President Carter SO much.

He has never stopped speaking the truth. And he doesn't just talk. He acts on it.

God bless you, Jimmy Carter.