Hey, Isn't This Cool? Or Wait...Maybe It's Not....

Ok. I just had to comment on this article that I just read in salon.com this morning. It's about a new church in Seattle filled with young people who look like well, people you'd think came from Seattle. Tattoos and mohawks, etc. I'm reading this and I'm thinking "Isn't this cool?" This is not the first time I've seen or heard about a church like this, but I'm still fascinated. However once I got to the part about their church's doctrine concerning women, it stopped me cold. They preach that women should quit their jobs(!), and have as many children as possible. Here I was, reading this and thinking, now here's a church I would like to go to, until I read THAT.

I have to say in all fairness that some women love being stay at home moms. I just know I hated it. But that's because I had a dirtbag husband. I also know that I am a thousand times happier as a single working mother with a partner who also works so we can combine our two incomes to actually make ends meet in this household! And to have a pastor tell it's women to quit their jobs to concentrate on raising kids? What Would Jesus Do? Tell women to get an education, be a moving and shaking contributing member of society, fully utilizing the gifts that He gave her? Or to be simply a breeder?

I have a friend who practices Wicca. I asked her why. She said that it's because she wanted no part of a religion that repressed women. Now don't worry. I'm not about to start casting a spell anytime soon, but she does have a point that's worth pondering. But this is why I have told my own daughter two very important things: number one is to always have a job, whether you have kids or not, and don't worry about what other people try to tell you about religion, just concentrate on how you feel about God and be at peace with that.