At the end of the 19th century, a young man named Charles Taze (C.T.) Russell left his job managing men's furnishing stores to begin a local Bible study.  He was eighteen years old when the group elected him as their pastor.  Russell continued preaching and then contributing to a small monthly magazine (6000 initial issues) that has grown and become known today as The Watchtower Announcing Jehovah’s Kingdom.  These are the humble beginnings of Jehovah Witnesses, a religion that now prints 17.8 million copies of The Watchtower every month in 106 languages.

It was difficult to discover what kind of beliefs Russell had about women. But several interlibrary loans later, I've unearthed what his contemporaries, well-known newspapers and the courts ruled as they engaged with Russell and saw how he treated the women in his life.

Russell began his marital life with an unusual agreement.  He and Maria Frances Ackley (1850-1938) agreed to marry, but to remain celibate. Their union was for the sake of partnering in the ministry of God's work together.  But Ackley eventually distanced herself from her husband, not only because he failed to equally share the financial goodies with her (as they had agreed upon), but also because of Russell's infidelity.

In their divorce proceedings Maria accused C.T. of a sexual relationship with their foster child, Rose Ball, a teenager at the time who worked as Russell's correspondence secretary.* According to Maria's testimony under oath, Russell had repeatedly molested Rose in 1894, calling her his "little wife." Maria told the jury that when she questioned Rose about this, Rose told Maria that she had not welcomed Russell's advances. Rose responded to him, "I am not your wife," to which C.T. replied, "I will call you daughter, and a daughter has nearly all the privileges of a wife."**

The courts judged C.T.'s behavior towards his wife as "insulting," "domineering" and "improper," enough to make her life intolerable.  Keep in mind that this ruling comes in the early 20th century when divorce was still unusual and rarely sought.  The court's decision in Maria's favor at a time women held little political or social privileges (America did not grant women the right to vote for another 7 years) made me curious as to what else influenced their decision.

The court found that during their marriage Russell had given Maria the silent treatment for months at a time, refusing to speak to her except in letters. Russell had isolated Maria from society, something much easier for a man to do in 1913 than it would be today.  Eventually Russell tried to pronounce his wife insane and put her away. All of this was abusive in light of Maria's own appearance in court, her clarity in judgment and Russell's testimony under oath that Maria was "a woman of high intellectual qualities and perfect moral character."

The courts granted Maria alimony.  Russell was required to pay to support Maria, as their original marital agreement had stated.

But Russell refused.  He quickly transferred his wealth to the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society. The court ruled that these transfers of monies were "against his wife" and violated his agreement with Maria.***  So Russell's friends covered his bills while he fled to another state. He fought this alimony case appealing twice over the course of five years, eventually losing.  In the end his alimony was increased, which seems to confirm, at least if you take the court's view, that Maria was entitled to part of his wealth.

It's unpleasant to dig up private scenes from Russell's home life. But even in the most private moments from Jesus' life we cannot find any behavior toward women that smacks of false accusations, stone-walling, silent treatment or inappropriate management of funds. Even if we assume that Maria was lying under oath, we still have to face Russell's failed marriage. Though Jesus was not married, think of how Jesus was able to engage with women as different as the Samaritan woman and the woman caught in adultery (John 4 & 8). Think on the ways Jesus allows women to banter with him in Scripture (for a good example see Mark 7:27-29).

In our series on the "Treatment of Women," we looked at Buddha, Muhammad, Joseph Smith, C.T. Russell and Jesus.  If you had to choose one of these religious founders to spend time alone with, say your mother, your sister, or your wife, which would you choose?

Perhaps the most refreshing difference to me is that while Jesus had multiple opportunities to take advantage of women, he never took women for granted. Women longed to touch him, to anoint him, to spread their perfume on his feet and support him with their money.  In ancient times a man's weakness for females was winked at as one of the particular rights of spiritual, powerful men.

But throughout his friendships with women, Jesus never uses females.  Nor did Jesus insulate himself from women as if they were wicked distractions. On his long road to the cross Jesus refuses to take a female lover to comfort him, but he still allows women to be near him (Mary and Martha in Bethany for instance). Instead of the two extremes, lewdness or asceticism, the Gospels show Jesus guiding women along with his male disciples.  To Martha he says, "I am the resurrection and the life . . . do you believe this?" (John 11:25-26).  He permits Mary to stay with him and learn the teachings along with his 12 disciples (Luke 10:38-42). To Mary Magdalene he gives the command to preach the good news, "Go to my brothers and tell them, 'I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.'" (John 20:17).  To the woman who anoints his feet he commends, "Your sins are forgiven . . . Your faith has saved you; go in peace" (Luke 7:36-50).

Jesus believed women reflected God's image on earth.  When Jesus reminds the Jewish religious experts, "Haven't you read that at the beginning the Creator 'made them male and female,'" (italics mind, Matt 19:4), he's quoting from the Creation account in Genesis, "So God created human beings in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them" (Gen 1:27).

Of all religious founders Jesus is the only one who puts women on equal standing with men, both in his teachings and in his example. For that reason, among others, I follow his path.

[If you have any questions/comments, simply reply to this email. And don't forget "Ask! LIVE" on Wednesday evenings for questions or puzzling situation.]

© 2008 Dale & Jonalyn Fincher