Jimmy Carter: ‘The words of God do not justify cruelty to women.’
Jimmy Carter: ‘The words of God do not justify cruelty to women.’
Former President Jimmy Carter, who in 2000 officially severed ties with the Southern Baptist Convention after the SBC declared its opposition to female pastors and reiterated its calls “for wives to be submissive to their husbands,” condemned the mistreatment of women by religious leaders, writing that “the words of God do not justify cruelty to women.” In an opinion piece published last weekend, entitled “Losing my Religion for Equality,” Carter said that a “twisted interpretation of the word of God” taught by male religious leaders has been used to justify the oppression of women:
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.
Although Carter severed ties with the SBC in a 2000 letter mailed to 75,000 Baptists, the former president “continued to serve as a deacon and Sunday school teacher at his local church” in Plains, GA, an SBC affiliate that in 2006 ordained former first lady Rosalynn Carter as a deacon. President Carter, a member of a group of retired statesmen formed by Nelson Mandela called “The Elders,” said last month that the group had concluded that religion has been “a basic cause of the foundational excuse” for “other dominant males to persecute or abuse or deprive women of their justifiable rights.”
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It’s good to hear such wisdom from an inspiring individual. Keep up the good work, Jimmy.
July 20th, 2009 at 10:25 pmThis comment has been voted down. Click to read.
“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.”
God Lord thank you for a x-President that can write such wonderful things.
July 20th, 2009 at 10:37 pmWhat former President Carter failed to mention was that these self-same men look down upon, taunt and otherwise castigate anyone who doesn’t see the world through their eyes. The forced oppression of women is just one part of it.
PEACE
July 20th, 2009 at 10:39 pmCan anyone tell me the difference between the SBC and Islam when it comes to women that “for wives to be submissive to their husbands?” The SBC probably owns stock on C-Street.
I never will forget the church I was invited to in Columbia, SC with a friend that happened to be a SBC church and I was shocked and applaud at the pastor’s sermon. He equated that man made missiles with the second coming of Christ. This happen to be on the first Sunday so communion was given and all the men and their sons had their communion first and than women and their daughters were last. Not to mention this church had 6 tithes offering within a span of a 40 minute service roughly. And this was not a poor church by all means. Go figure.
Later I found out he was one of those “tap your feet 3 times in the bathroom pastor.”
July 20th, 2009 at 10:43 pmWhy is Regan so glorified and Carter so vilified? Carter had the balls to state our dependance on forign oil would be our downful, and what did he get for his honesty? Jeers and scorn. The fact is, if we listened to Carter, we would be better off. But no, in came Regan and the destruction of the Unions and everything the working man earned. Now Carter is a respected humanitarian while Bush Sr. and Jr. live the life of luxary built on the the working man’s sweat. WTF? I told family members if we listened in the 70’s we would be better off now. But they don’t want to hear it. Regan is God to them.
July 20th, 2009 at 10:44 pmI still, to this day tell my friends on the right that I PROUDLY voted for Jimmy Carter twice. A better man I truly have never seen in politics. His Nobel Peace Prize speaks for itself.
July 20th, 2009 at 10:47 pmThank you, Jimmy Carter. Your legacy will be a very positive one. If only more politicians had your outlook, not just on women. You’ve been such an amazing ambassador for the U.S., but of course conservatives, Repubs, & right wing radicals just don’t get it. They’re ignorant & often hateful, with no facts to back up anything they say. Keep talking, Mr. Carter– you speak the truth when many do not.
July 20th, 2009 at 11:01 pmFor the definition of Speaking Truth To Power:Jimmy Carter
July 20th, 2009 at 11:04 pmFormer President Carter will certainly be shredded for saying such a thing, but I’m glad he said it anyway. The nerve of him speaking the truth!
Jimmy Carter is good as saying things that need saying, because he’s not a coward.
July 20th, 2009 at 11:05 pmIt took over 140 years after the end of the Civil War for the Southern Baptist Convention to apologize for their defense of slavery.
Since when is there any shred of morality and decency within that cult?
Its members continue to be the worst sort of racists and overall slimeballs in the U.S.
At the time of its inception, it carried water for the slaveholders.
July 20th, 2009 at 11:06 pmNow it is at the total behest of the repiggies.
If Carter chose Equality over Religion, he made the right choice.
A Religion that fosters inequality for women has nothing to do with God. And everything to do with cementing patriarchy.
July 20th, 2009 at 11:06 pmbackup says:
If Carter chose Equality over Religion, he made the right choice.
Why do you always have to waffle? He obviously DID choose equality over the Southern Baptist religion — no “if” about it.
July 20th, 2009 at 11:09 pmIf dbadass can presume to speak for bit, dbadass believes that bit would object on the grounds that that book has tons of spousal abuse and gender stereotypes….
July 20th, 2009 at 11:12 pmMy bad: Should have been “When Carter chose Equality over Religion…
Wasn’t my intention. But, I stand corrected.
July 20th, 2009 at 11:13 pmMr. Carter deserved that Nobel Peace Prize and his words, actions and work continue to demonstrate that he is a good human being. Religions have been the scourge of society and more have been killed in the name of religion then most other causes of death. Along with ignorance and bigotry we also have stupidity on a grand scale in which religious texts are interpreted in ways that have no semblance of the written words. How can we combat this? Teach the words, not the interpretation. Allow the people to make up their own minds on how to interpret the words.
July 20th, 2009 at 11:23 pmThis comment has been voted down. Click to read.
There are not too many people on the planet that I respect more than Jimmy Carter.
July 20th, 2009 at 11:33 pmJimmy Carter is the kind of Christian who could inspire me to believe in God …again.
Thank you, sir, and may your God bless you.
July 20th, 2009 at 11:33 pmJimmy and Rosalynn will always be two of my favorite Americans
To look back now and realize that Americans traded this brilliant humanitarian for the likes of R.R. is so sad.
July 20th, 2009 at 11:36 pmThis comment has been voted down. Click to read.
Jimmy Carter’s Presidency may not have gone down as
July 20th, 2009 at 11:52 pmthe best in history books.. However, I believe that
he, Carter, ranks up at the top with Washington,
Lincoln and one or two other Presidents who are
Men of Honor and Trust. We cannot honor these men
enough.
This comment has been voted down. Click to read.
These religious leaders! If Jesus came down to earth,
July 21st, 2009 at 12:00 amI suspect these (so-called) leaders would not
recognize Him. I suspect they, again because they’re
so blinded by their egos and greed, would claim
Jesus was the anti-Christ! I’ve no doubt that at
least half of the major leaders wouldn’t recognize
Him!
RC, what have YOU ever done for the improvement
July 21st, 2009 at 12:03 amof the human race? And I know who I have “contempt”
for, and it’s NOT Jimmy Carter. God Bless Him.
RealityCheck says:
Jimmy’s Presidency was the absolute worst in the last 100 years of our nation.
no – that dishonor goes to your hero – GWB. Jimmy Carter will never get credit for what he tried to get done – IF we had listened to him, and done just some of what he suggested, this country would not be in the mess it is in today.
July 21st, 2009 at 12:11 amUntil President Obama, Carter has been the only president that I liked, heart and soul. He’s a fine man, and a genuine liberal leader. He was ahead of his time, but we’re catching up.
July 21st, 2009 at 12:17 amI believe Carter was a good man and may have been able to accomplish more with a second term had he won.
July 21st, 2009 at 12:18 amlol I like Carterand make it clear yet I get more negative votes than the guy who’s slandering him.
July 21st, 2009 at 12:22 amWasn’t Nixon’s mom a religious leader of some sort?
July 21st, 2009 at 12:29 amHi Reality Check.
July 21st, 2009 at 12:31 amNothing a little nuzzle in a bosoom won’t solve…
RealityPunk you are such an ignorant piece of filth. You are a liar and a fool. Jimmy Carter was Thomas Jefferson compared to GW GUMP. You are stupid RealityPunk. You are so ignorant and pathetic the only funtion you perform is someone to laugh at. You are like a crackwhore except without the dignity and self respect
July 21st, 2009 at 1:03 am.
Carter hints at the larger picture…
… That POINT #5 relates too, to be exact!
.
July 21st, 2009 at 1:17 am.
P E A C E
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lBIRE7g5ybo
.
July 21st, 2009 at 1:49 am.
LOL
Reality is more than a T.V. Game Show…
… And some choose to Check out.
I bet we know what this dude thinks of Bush. NO?
.
July 21st, 2009 at 2:05 amExcuuuuuuuuuuuuse me. *eyes rolling*
I’ll correct my comment at #13 as follows:
I hope my meaning is clear now.
July 21st, 2009 at 2:14 amSorry, going O.T….
Judge: CIA committed fraud in eavesdropping case
By NEDRA PICKLER
Associated Press Writer
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_CIA_FRAUD?SITE=NYMID&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT
I didn’t know I could lie to Congress about violating the Inalienable Rights of Americans AND get a medal to show for it…
… OUTLAW IMPUNITY!
.
July 21st, 2009 at 2:45 amlook at the pain and suffering and wars in the world due to the male ego.
as a male I have had to live with that ego every day of my life.
if we look close at a traditional repub you will find a male ego trying to control most everything.
religion is very much about the male ego and fear of losing its woman ie its property.
few males will understand my words very few.
July 21st, 2009 at 2:54 amFYI: The political Right excoriates Jimmy Carter for one reason and one reason only: he dared to speak out against Israel.
If you speak out against Israel, the Right will badmouth you to the end of your days.
As for his ranking, historians rate Jimmy’s Presidency around 25th amongst our Presidents–not very high, but nowhere near the worst. In polls of historians, Jimmy scores just above Richard Nixon and about equal with Gerald Ford. And those guys didn’t go on to win the Nobel Prize. ;)
July 21st, 2009 at 5:23 am“Reality” Check is living in an alternative universe. Carter had to deal with quite a few challenges, including the Iran hostages. He was driven out of office by big oil, who quickly realized Carter was a threat to their oil-soaked monopoly on our economic system via gas-powered cars. Cowboy Reagan came into office, giving us the Iran-Contra scandal, trickle down theories and voodoo economics, not to mention not lifting a finger to help the deteriorating steel industry, firing all the air traffic controllers and last (but hardly least in his stable of awful moves), his vice president, George HW Bush (which led to his son, the worst American president in history). Carter is an exemplary human being who has done much to make the world a better place for all. That’s why Carter was given the Nobel Prize for Peace. Reagan tried to make America a better place for the rich. No comparison.
July 21st, 2009 at 6:32 amI love Jimmy Carter. He’s a good man right down to his innards. He quit his Southern Baptist church recently because he no longer can identify with their ideology:
http://spiritualmind.com/2009/07/jimmy-carter-quits-baptists-women/
He’s too compassionate, accepting, and logical to be with those hateful idiots! I applaud him once again. :-)
July 21st, 2009 at 7:13 amWill George W. Bush be sacrificing his time and life to build homes for the poor in our country? Nope! No way would he live Jimmy Carter’s life! Georgie will spend his days running from the law, playing golf with the Haves & Have Mores, and will be an absolute embarrassment to the human condition!
July 21st, 2009 at 7:18 amDon’t diss your ‘y’ chromosome, researcher. Yeah, the world would be far calmer without it but far less SPECTACULAR! Look to the buildings of ancient Rome or Europe and HISTORY.
July 21st, 2009 at 7:26 amJimmy is still the best President of the 20th century.
July 21st, 2009 at 7:43 amresearcher is just trying to score some chicks with his “understanding.”
July 21st, 2009 at 8:21 amIf all Christians were like Carter, many of wouldn’t hate Christianity as we do. I’m proud to say Jimmy is the first president I voted for. And I proudly did it again four years later.
July 21st, 2009 at 8:31 am(standing up, applauding)
As a Progressive Christian, I certainly look up to former President Jimmy Carter, for what he has done, and his unwavering views.
And it cracks me up when he’s attacked for his political affiliation, and presumed past wrongs, yet what he has accomplished is completely ignored (Reality Check from above).
I can only hope I become half the man he is!!!
July 21st, 2009 at 8:59 amI sooo respect Jimmy Carter!!!!
July 21st, 2009 at 9:34 amGeorge W. Bush is the worst president of the past 100 years, and possibly the worst of all the U.S. presidents ever.
July 21st, 2009 at 9:56 amIt is interesting to note that Carter is the only former president who is still involved in various organizations that truly help people. The others, Bush and Clinton, pale in comparison to Carter. He ranks in the top 5 presidents who had a sense of morality and acted in accordance with that morality.
July 21st, 2009 at 10:21 amprogressive homeschooler says:
If all Christians were like Carter, many of wouldn’t hate Christianity as we do. I’m proud to say Jimmy is the first president I voted for. And I proudly did it again four years later.
July 21st, 2009 at 8:31 am
Respectfully, you probably don’t understand the ramifications of what you’re saying: If all Christians were like Carter, many of wouldn’t hate Christianity as we do.
Carter is a Southern Baptist, that’s the SBC nomenclature. In all the acolytes he receives there is nothing to suggest that Carter, or the SBC, is Ok with sin, or as bit likes to focus it, sexual irresponsibility. One would be very unlikely to find a SBC who’ll say that it’s Ok to abort a preborn child, that it’s Ok to abandon a wife and a family, and that it’s Ok to have children out of wedlock. bit doesn’t speak for anyone but himself, but the odds are that one will not find a Southern Baptist who will encourage sexual irresponsibility.
Sexual irresponsibility causes women to be the source of a very lucrative industry – the abortion industry; causes millions of fatherless children with all the negative ramifications that entails; and causes physical and emotional abandonment of women. In real cost it cost the federal government $281B/year to the fastest growing poverty group in the US – single women with children.
The Carters were also the celebrity names and driving force behind Habitat for Humanity. bit hopes this founding of this organization is what people will associate with the Carters.
July 21st, 2009 at 11:06 ambitblt says
Respectfully, you probably don’t understand the ramifications of what you’re saying: If all Christians were like Carter, many of wouldn’t hate Christianity as we do.
I suppose I could have been more clear. Basically I meant that Carter 1) tries to live up to the “love thy brother” command, and 2) doesn’t want laws made based on his beliefs.
Yes, the Baptists believe all those things you mentioned, and as long as they don’t try to push it on others, they can believe whatever they want. Carter doesn’t try to push it on others.
Personally, I’d like to see humans stop clinging to primitive ideas like deities, but if that won’t happen, then we need more people like the Carters.
July 21st, 2009 at 11:20 ambitblt says:
Respectfully, you probably don’t understand the ramifications of what you’re saying: If all Christians were like Carter, many of wouldn’t hate Christianity as we do.
July 21st, 2009 at 11:06 am
progressive homeschooler was perfectly clear — and correct.
July 21st, 2009 at 11:24 amOne small clarification:
Sexual irresponsibility causes women to be the source of a very lucrative industry – the abortion industry; causes millions of fatherless children with all the negative ramifications that entails; and causes physical and emotional abandonment of women.
This treatment is also abuse of women.
July 21st, 2009 at 11:25 amWomen do not need people like you trying to “take care” of us, bitbutt.
F uck off.
July 21st, 2009 at 11:28 amI love how a certain person, who regards its self in the third person, blames sexual irresponsibility on WOMEN!
Okay, we can conclude that
a) it is a “he”.
b) he has grown up in a pseudo-(c)hristian household, that has put blinders and chains on to protect him from the real world.
c) has never experienced the warmth, excitement, and eroticism of a woman (married or not).
DRxJ almost feels sorry for him.
July 21st, 2009 at 11:33 amALMOST!
Zooey says:
Women do not need people like you trying to “take care” of us, bitbutt.
F uck off.
July 21st, 2009 at 11:28 am
Are there women who need the abuse that irresponsible men foist on them?
July 21st, 2009 at 11:38 amDRxJ says:
I love how a certain person, who regards its self in the third person, blames sexual irresponsibility on WOMEN!
Okay, we can conclude that
a) it is a “he”.
b) he has grown up in a pseudo-(c)hristian household, that has put blinders and chains on to protect him from the real world.
c) has never experienced the warmth, excitement, and eroticism of a woman (married or not).
DRxJ almost feels sorry for him.
ALMOST!
July 21st, 2009 at 11:33 am
Looks as if you skill remains identifying pills an putting them in bottles.
If it’s not plain to you, bit holds irresponsible men almost completely responsible. bit doesn’t think women are blameless, but if the men were taking responsible care of the women most of the problems bit has mentioned would disappear.
Your
c) has never experienced the warmth, excitement, and eroticism of a woman (married or not).
does suggest a question?
What’s it worth – in terms of fatherless children and single mothers – to insure that one man is not sexually repressed?
Can you put a number on it?
July 21st, 2009 at 11:50 am7
July 21st, 2009 at 12:08 pmRight on, Brother James.
IMNSHO, Carter was confronted by Nixon’s mess, which Gerald Ford had not quite managed to clean up, and then tried to deal straight up with the crazy hand he was dealt, the Iran hostage crisis being just the last of them. The American voter, being then as puerile and inconstant as they are now, couldn’t handle it and decided to suck up the Reagan Kool-aid instead.
Dang, if Jimmuh had just taken the con/neocon advice and gone to war, we could all be dead by now.
July 21st, 2009 at 12:41 pmbitblt says:
Are there women who need the abuse that irresponsible men foist on them?
July 21st, 2009 at 11:38 am
This comment demonstrates that you don’t even view women as complete humans. You think of women as helpless victims who are constantly at the mercy of horrible men. I’m guessing you think this way because that’s the way you treat women.
Attitudes such as yours enables the socialization of women as second class citizens.
I’m sure you’re proud of that.
July 21st, 2009 at 12:47 pmThis stand by Jimmy Carter is admirable and shows great leadership. If the rest of the world showed this kind of courage, we wouldn’t have the problems with religious repression that we do.
Thank you, Jimmy Carter. Sincerely. You are thinking with your dipstick:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mj5ms9PJDNY
July 21st, 2009 at 1:17 pmWhat do Carter and B.O. (PeeBO)…have in common?
One term and out the freaking door!
What a couple of idiotic losers they are!
Just waste of human sperm
July 21st, 2009 at 3:04 pmSo much for some atheists claim that all Christians think alike.
July 21st, 2009 at 3:24 pmPeople can disagree with Carter’s opinions but they still respect him. Carter does not insist that God has given him a mandate or that his opinions are the only correct ones. That is what separates Carter as an evangelical and the other religious right.
July 21st, 2009 at 3:51 pmWeren’t inflation and mortgage rates at record highs during Carter’s years?
July 21st, 2009 at 4:24 pmRealityCheck says:
Just waste of human sperm
July 21st, 2009 at 3:04 pm
So you do have a hint of self-awareness.
July 21st, 2009 at 6:49 pm#67 – vigor says:
———————————————————-
“Weren’t inflation and mortgage rates at record highs during Carter’s years?”
July 21st, 2009 at 4:24 pm
Yes, they were. Due to the excessive spending of the previous 8 years of Republican rule.
Then again, the Nixon & Ford Administrations spending was due in part to the prevous Kennedy & Johnson Administrations spending. Each time the Administration changes parties, priorities shift, which drives where the federal monies go.
The problem that Pres. Carter faced was his telling the truth about where the economy was going, and our dependence on foregin oil. Pres. Reagan refused to develop our energy dependance on foreign states, but the media refused to report that fact.
July 22nd, 2009 at 10:04 am#64 – RealityCheck says:
———————————————————
“What do Carter and B.O. (PeeBO)…have in common?”
July 21st, 2009 at 3:04 pm
What’s the difference between RC’s opinions, and a 50 pound bag of manure?
The bag.
;-)
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