Does anyone else have mixed thoughts about the apostle Paul?
Am I the only one who feels this way? Personally, when I read the NT, I find him a bit off, fanatical and strange in some of his "teachings". He clearly has problems with women.
1......
The issue of women speaking in church. Now, I'm sure this topic has been covered. However, I feel almost every Christian has been brainwashed and conditioned into a standard response.
That "Paul was talking about disruptive women" being silenced. However, this is complete nonsense. The NT does not say this at all. This is just something made up by the church. Paul clearly says that it is a disgrace for women to speak in a church because they are women. Without a shadow of a doubt, he says that a woman sinned first, that a woman is never to instruct a man, and consequently they are not to speak in church. And I will not debate this, because this is what the scriptures clearly say, and I will not enter into convoluted arguments that attempt to twist it.
This is one of his strange theologies that appears nowhere else in the NT.
2.................
Celibacy. He's a fanatical celebist. He laments that he wishes everybody could be celibate like he is. Now, that on it's own simply could be interpreted as being passionate about his calling that he wishes everyone has. However, he makes a truly odd remark about "young widows". He shows his fanaticism when he lambasts them for "abandoning their first love" when they want to remarry. Very harsh I think.
3..............
Head coverings. Again, showing his problems with women. The idea of head coverings on a woman are that they show their submission by an outward garment. Again, this is an odd theology nowhere else in the NT.
4...............
Men and long hair. He is quite descriptive about how much of an abomination it is for a man to have long hair. Yet another oddball doctrine. This is nowhere else stated in the NT. What about Samson?
Opinions?
