If you put these verses into context you would see that the intent is not to discriminate against women.
The second half of 1 Corinthians 15 tells how a church should be orderly. Before said verse it says that only one or two people should speak at a time. It was the culture at the time for women to avoid any confrontations, especially with men. In fact, in most Middle Eastern culture that is still true.
The quote does not say women cannot think and question, but that they should not do it in church, where it would be disruptive and "disorderly." You are mistaking a simple paragraph explaining how a church should conduct itself into discrimination against women.
The second quote, 1 Timothy, is again taken out of context. This passage is about a churches conduct in worship, and that the men should "lift up holy hands in prayer, without anger or disputing." (1 Timothy 2:8) Women should be quiet for the above reasons, it would cause a disturbance.
For a women to even do these things was miraculous, the Christian church gave more rights to women then they have ever had before in that culture's history.
As for Adam and Eve, it is not saying that Eve was the fault of the fall, but that they are held in equal responsiblity. There is an important "But" in the last verse. The fact that Adam and Eve were BOTH punished means they are held equal. God is not holding either gender above the other, and neither is Timothy. These are simply rules and regulations, the Bible can be very simple and clear cut at times.
Third quote from Genesis. Again, both men and women are punished. Women had to be subserviant to their husbands (as seen all over the world still) and men had to work hard to stay alive. Women were sentenced to obey, men were sentenced to work hard. The way I see it men get the tougher side of it, but that is probably my male bias coming out.
Look at Rahab, a prostitute that became one of the holiest female figures. Correct me if I am wrong, but I believe King David descended from her bloodline, therefore so did Jesus. Look at Ruth, she is also an important figure.
Main point it, you cannot mistake their way of life as anything but that, their way of life. Again,the Christian church gave women many rights and freedoms they had never had before. Compared to America today, it seems like slavery. Back then they were more free then ever before. |