Elizabeth Cady Stanton

Elizabeth Cady Stanton – The Woman‘sBible Nina Foroozan, Alexander Niemann, Julia Pehl

Elizabeth Cady Stanton • *11-12-1815 †10-26-1902 • first: abolitionist with her husband and cousin • then: focused on women's rights • wanted women to be able to vote leading figure in women's right movement

declined supporting the 14th and 15th Amendment  women's right movement split up because many women did not agree with Stanton's opinions National Woman Suffrage Association (NWSA) (founded by Stanton and Anthony) American Woman Suffrage Association (AWSA) • gap between other leaders and Stanton got wider • Stanton: Christianity leads to an unacceptable female position in society

The Woman‘sBible: Facts and Background • published in 1895 and 1898 • background: Church of England published a Revised Version of the Bible  Stanton was dissatisfied with it committee • committee wanted to proof that the bible is the main source for people believing that women are inferior to men

The Woman‘sBible: Content • Stanton claims that apart from religious institutions, social and political institutionshave the same idea of women being inferior to men: → civil law, state, legislators, all political parties

Some examples of the Women’s position in the Bible: → brought sin and death→ precipitated the fall of race → was arraigned before the judgment seat of heaven → Marriage for her was to be a condition of bondage → Maternity a period of suffering and anguish

Bible made emancipation nearly impossible → protesting women were referred to the Bible • She does not believe that man/historians met and talked to God • Women should not accept this idea → makes emancipation impossible

The Book of Genesis: • equality → “God created man in his own image, male and female” • language can lead to misunderstandings → “he” instead of “they” • no passage that men are superior to women • two different creation stories → Elohistic, Iahoistic

The Book of Deuteronomy: • women were not allowed to take part at special events • no direct communication between God and women • men are allowed to have more than one wife and to “humble” women • concerning to Moses men are the important factors → still impacts that times

The New Testament: • different opinions about marriage → Pythagoreans, Pharisees • according to the Apostle you should not marry unbelievers because this will lead to unholy children • according to Paul (Bachelor) people should not serve the world but God → love God not husband or wife (criticized by Stanton because no one ever loved God) • St. Paul → women were created for men and not the other way around • The Bible can be seen as a big collection of myths and unverified stories • canon law subordinated women in civil law → were not allowed to receive letters of friendship

The Woman‘s Bible: Reactions • many scholars did not want to participate in the Woman's Bible project fearing a loss of professional reputation • suffrages did not want the book to be published as Stanton is a representative of the movement fearing negative impact on their campaign for woman's rights: Association non- sectarian, addressing persons of all religions

after publication: criticized for radicalness of statements: • priests/clergy: accuse Stanton of blasphemy (compare her modification of the Holy Trinity) & condemn Woman's Bible • suffrages: issued a formal denunciation, marginalized Stanton's influence in the Association

Journal Questions • What, according to Stanton, proofs that women are not inferior to men? • Stanton talks about the “new man” and “the new woman”. What is she pointing at, here? • What is the "Word of God", according to Stanton? How do scholars justify their interpretation of the bible? • Does Stanton share ideas with authors we have already read? What in particular is in line with the tradition of American Freethought in her criticism?

Elizabeth Cady Stanton – The Woman‘s Bible