I'm on a journey, hello. :)

[Thomas]

I'm keeping this in mind as part of a "keeping-an-open-mind" exercise ...

Good for you.

It gets problematic when critics, atheists, non-believers, etc., etc,. wade in with their own opinions, especially the 'Christianity is to blame for everything' school of thought, or the tendency to look back and judge the past ... simply put: in dialogue try and discern what's politics and what's prejudice, and put those to one side.

I have read the full bible in King James, American Standard, New International, English Standard, and New Living Translation. I read a chronological version in NLT (I think).

I wouldn't get too caught up in versions, unless you're going into text criticism, and then you'd be better learning Hebrew and Greek and reading from the original texts? Saints and sages didn't have half the resources we have, but then maybe they didn't get caught up in technicalities, and had more time to contemplate the meaning of the text?

Again, I would invite a tirade of criticism if I were to attempt to whitewash the Catholic church's none-too-spotless history as far as womenfolk are concerned ... nevertheless, it has produced female doctors, saints, mystics, sages, and it might be worth trying to track down their views on such issues, although I doubt you'll find much out there.

But have you looked at women writers?

 

[Nicholas Weeks]

Honestly, I'm trying to decide if Christianity as I know it is compatible with being female. That may sound ridiculous if you're male, but I have heard some very harmful things about femininity and female-ness my whole life that were conveyed to me as "biblical." I pushed back against these messages from a young age, but that doesn't mean they weren't damaging. I'm trying to process what I was taught with what I've learned from reading and studying on my own.

I'm also interested in the history of the bible, Christianity, and religion as a whole...ancient belief and practice, etc. Those are long-held interests and not necessarily related.

Many Xtians and preachers thereof stay too close to the words of the Bible, thus missing much hidden depth & overvaluing the literal. So if those ancient males identified too much with their sex and did not value or understand women enough, do not fall into that trap yourself by being prejudiced against that Book because you identify too closely with your sex.

Glad to see your interest in 'religion as a whole...ancient belief and practice, etc' Much wisdom in the old ways.

Welcome to this site, hope it helps you.