Jesus’ early teachings portrayed women as equals to men. Indeed, many of the earliest converts included women, and females actively participated in important positions in the early Christian church. However, in the first century, male church leaders began limiting women’s roles, paralleling common social standards. As a result, women were banned from holding official posts except in nunneries and other religious all-female establishments. St. Augustine’s book, The Confession, had a powerful impact in shaping the church’s views on gender and sexuality, contributing to the promotion of misogynist views (McKay et. al., 2015). The pope sent missionaries to areas outside of the boundaries of the Roman Empire seeking to extend Christianity and gain converts. Priests and missionaries were highly successful in their tasks, achieving numerous converts among the barbarians residing to the north of the Roman Empire. Among the barbarians, the tribal chieftain determined the religion of his tribesmen. Thus, missionaries focused their efforts on the chieftains, sometimes targeting royal females who would then influence their husbands and their brothers (McKay et. al.,
Jesus’ early teachings portrayed women as equals to men. Indeed, many of the earliest converts included women, and females actively participated in important positions in the early Christian church. However, in the first century, male church leaders began limiting women’s roles, paralleling common social standards. As a result, women were banned from holding official posts except in nunneries and other religious all-female establishments. St. Augustine’s book, The Confession, had a powerful impact in shaping the church’s views on gender and sexuality, contributing to the promotion of misogynist views (McKay et. al., 2015). The pope sent missionaries to areas outside of the boundaries of the Roman Empire seeking to extend Christianity and gain converts. Priests and missionaries were highly successful in their tasks, achieving numerous converts among the barbarians residing to the north of the Roman Empire. Among the barbarians, the tribal chieftain determined the religion of his tribesmen. Thus, missionaries focused their efforts on the chieftains, sometimes targeting royal females who would then influence their husbands and their brothers (McKay et. al.,