Why does God think women are worse sinners than men and why are women punished more harshly in the Bible than men?

Answer 1

Religious View

The God of The Bible does not see sin the same way we humans do. For God, there is no consideration for sex, color or belief. Sin is the transgression of the Law - or lawlessness as 1 John 3:4 in the NIV clearly states: "Everyone who sins breaks the law; in fact, sin is lawlessness." Therefore, in the eyes of Scripture, women aren't worse sinners than men.

We must try to remember what the Bible says and not what one particular Church may interpret it to say. Overall, God wants us to practice forgiveness. (Suggest reading Acts 10:43 and all of Ephesians 5).

Non-Religious View

I'm sorry for the pain that your religion seems to be causing you. Unfortunately, the answers you're looking for are not the kind that can be found on Answers.com. The answers we deal with here are matters of fact, not philosophy or theology (although they may include facts about various philosophies and theologies.)

I'm sure there are people here (but not I) who could cite chapter and verse the supposed justifications for the harsher treatment of women. And some of them could cite the historical interpretations and misinterpretations of scripture that allegedly led to such treatment of women by their fellow human beings. But I don't think that's what you're asking. If you want to know why - what are the original motives of God and Man to say such things and act in such ways - then I'm afraid you must look elsewhere.

Personally, I am a nonbeliever. But I can tell you with certainty that there are many members of the clergy and many congregations in any religion you would name that are more enlightened in their treatment of women that it would seem that yours is (though I can only guess.) The best thing you can do, imo, is seek them out. If your church* abuses you, leave it. If your marriage is abusive, leave it. I know these are both easier said than done, and all can do is wish you luck and bid you find support from better people.

* "Church" in its most general sense of any organization of worship.

Sociological & Legal View

Observations by social scientists and sociologists have actually, multiple times, concluded that the bible seems to suit the man and downgrade the woman. Because of this, the bible is considered by many as patriarchal. Meaning dominated by men.

It's no big secret that the bible we know of today is not original and that it has been edited time and time again. Plenty of times by kings or powerful people of ancients who wanted to make themselves seem far more glorious than their actual real life or remove slander about them and cover them with conspiracy stories.

Many Christian feminist social scientists and sociologists have chosen to ignore the bible and worship their God without it, knowing that the bible is patriarchal literature which has been over-edited to suit the desires of man and man alone.

You don't need a questionable article of literature in order to follow your beliefs.

In recent modern times, most strongly in Europe, the Christian church (as well as other religions such as Islam) are being ordered by governments to end their sexist and discriminative views against women and homosexuality for example. Threatening criminal prosecution for human rights violations. Churches in the United Kingdom for example have been warned by the British government to accept female Bishops or face criminal prosecution for discrimination.

Recently North Alabama, USA, have also welcomed their first female Bishop.

To answer your question, I am sure your God does not see women as bigger sinners than men. Only the men and patriarchal dominations of the past who wrote and edited the bible felt so. In modern times, opinions are rapidly changing, through moral acceptance or through pressure from governments.

Jewish answer:

The question (at least from a Jewish standpoint) is mistaken. The punishment for a male who sins, compared to a female, is precisely the same (Talmud, Kidushin 35a).