Feminism: A New Faith
by Wanda Walker
via Sentry Magazine, Vol. 9, No. 11, November 30, 1983
There are numerous religious organizations in the United States and throughout the world, all claiming to serve God in some fashion or tradition. Their use of the Bible as God's inspired word is minimal. Instead, most of these organizations attempt to set up their own manmade modes of worship in some written statement (a creed). From time to time, these precepts are revised to keep up with "progressive" changes in the world and society. These organizations find God's word insufficient in that the scriptures do not sustain their ungodly liberal goals or inventions of worship. Hence, unscriptural creeds and statements of principle are written and used by men and women who select what suits their selfish purposes.
In Time Magazine, July 27, 1983, the "Religion" section reported on a deliberation in the Unitarian Universalist Congregations. A request had been made to eliminate "any mention of God" from their statement of principles. One church layman protested, "We can never sell this." However, considering the membership makeup of the Unitarian Universalists, this "move toward godlessness" is already sold out. Time titled the article "Deleted Deity: A Rather Radical Proposal." While considered radical, we can see this proposal as only another determined step in the continuing fall away from God, Christ, and the Bible. This results from ungodly influences attracted to and nurtured by this denomination.
In 1961, the Unitarians and the Universalists merged to form the Unitarian Universalist Association. Previous to this time, each group was hard-pressed to explain what, exactly, they believed in. Although thinking of themselves as "Christians," they rejected the worship of Christ and the idea of eternal punishment. Within each group, factions developed. On the one hand, there were "theists" who worshiped a vague or "impersonal god." On the other hand, there were the "humanists" who did not believe in God at all. As a result, when the Unitarians and Universalists merged, a compromise was in order. This eliminated "the name of Jesus" (deletion number one) from the Association's statement of principles. These principles were claimed to be "summarized in the Judeo-Christian heritage as love to God and love to man." Obviously, this statement would seem to be all-encompassing so far as religion is concerned in the selfish minds of these theists and humanists. Mind you, these people consider themselves of great intellect and take much pride in such.
Then, in the 1970s, influenced by the feminist movement, came another change in the "principles." The word "man" (second deletion) was changed to read "humankind." We know, and the feminists know, that in certain usage, the word man is defined as "a human being, as the human race: mankind." This usage obviously includes women. Feminists have also demanded this change in other areas, including references in textbooks and media reporting, in all political and social realms. This, more often than not, borders on the ridiculous. However, these women contend that being included in the definition of man puts them, somehow, in a lesser position of inequality, which denotes servitude to the male.
Again, we find feminists in this denomination behind the recent movement to "delete the Deity." They say, "The word God reeks of old-fashioned chauvinism." That is because God is always referred to in the masculine gender in the Bible. The third deletion, the word "God," is to be replaced "with a statement that the churches 'reflect various forms of Theism, Christianity, Humanism, Feminism and other religious traditions.'" That is quite a mish-mash of society's ills, all brought together in the name of religion. The promotion of feminism "to the status of a new brand of faith" was justified by disgustingly referring to the "origins of feminist theology ... found in the fertile crescent, Egypt, India, China, Greece -- wherever female deities were honored." The Apostle Paul said of these (Acts 17:24-25) that God "dwelleth not in temples made with hand; neither is he served by men's hands..." This kind of teaching prompted Demetrius the Silversmith to call a meeting of craftsmen to salvage his business of building shrines of the pagan goddess Diana. Demetrius, while stirring up a mob against Paul, said, "Paul hath persuaded and turned away much people, saying that they are no gods that are made with hands; ... there is danger that the temple of the great goddess Diana be made of no account, and that she should even be deposed from the magnifícense whom all Asia and the world worshippeth" (Acts 19:24-27).
All such idols were, indeed, deposed and made of no account by the preaching of the gospel. God commanded the children of Israel in Exodus 20:3-5, "Thou shalt have no other gods before me. Thou shalt not make unto thee a graven image, nor any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: thou shalt not bow down thyself unto them nor serve them." Paul, in I Corinthians 6:9-10, admonishes us to "be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters... shall inherit the kingdom of God." Paul further warns us to "flee from idolatry" (I Corinthians 10:14-22). We read in Revelation 21:8, "Idolaters ... their part shall be in the lake that burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death."
Why, then, do feminists dredge up tales from mythology and idol worship to support themselves as a "new brand of faith"? They certainly can't go to the Bible. Therefore, they must proceed against God and His Word. Doesn't it become apparent that their "new brand of faith" is simply the old form of humanism -- "those who don't believe in God at all" -- those who go about promoting their own selfish interests? God has already been deleted from their lives, and therefore, their principles are worthless. We can find the sinful condition of these people described in Romans 1:18-25.
The Unitarian Universalists long ago departed from the Scriptures and, thus, from God and Christ. Their "anything goes" religion is ripe for feminist domination. Feminists are on the principles committee and are very vocal. They will not, and must not, be offended. The reason we must focus on the ills of this denomination is because feminism is making inroads in every religious field, be it Catholic or Protestant. In every such instance, the authority of God is being repudiated, especially in the God-given roles of men and women in worship and the home. In an article published in Sentry on June 30, 1980, entitled "Courage and Pain—Women Who Love God and Defy Their Churches," we wrote of women from four different religious backgrounds called "feminists of faith." They wanted and demanded "equal" roles with men, serving as priests, rabbis, and ministers. Most of them succeeded. In the Unitarian church, the feminists now consider themselves a "new faith."
To arm ourselves against the feminist movement, we must study the scriptures to determine our God-given roles and stand firm therein. (Consider Matthew 14:34,35; Ephesians 5:22-33; I Timothy 2:8-15; 5:14; Titus 2:1-8; I Peter 2:1-7). God has charged us with teaching our children (Deuteronomy 6:4-7; Ephesians 6:4; Titus 2:4) and being examples to them. We who truly love God will accept the Bible as our only standard and fashion our lives accordingly. No amount of deletions or rewriting of principles can change the Scriptures nor the approaching day of judgment when we will all answer for deeds done in the body (Revelation 20:11-15). As Christians, our lives are centered on Christ and his gospel. The Scriptures need no deletions, corrections, or man-written principles. To attempt such brings anathema upon the offender (Galatians 1:10).