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Five Aspects Of Woman
1 SOFTCOVER BOOK (oversize)
- GenresChristianityNonfiction
Paperback
Published January 1, 1995
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February 19, 2023
It took my THIRD time through this massive resource to realize -------- while there are many good and true illustrations and points in 5 Aspects of Woman, I do not recommend it because it is hermeneutically flawed in its premise.
Barbara Mouser states she asks this question as she waded through each biblical passage that mentions a female: “what does this teach us about womanhood?” However, not every passage in Scripture that talks about a woman is necessarily teaching us a universal principle about gender.
That is a flawed way to approach Scripture, as any Bible student would know. We can’t go to the text assuming it answers the question we bring to it. You can not force an answer on a passage. She uses eisegesis (using things other than the biblical passage's original context to determine the meaning) to make all the verses fit into her “5 aspect” structure.
One of her aspects “Glory of Man” is based on one verse she plucked from I Corinthians 11 (which is a controversial chapter), and she struggles to keep the same definition of glory throughout her own chapter.
She makes a very big deal about studying Eve, and how things were originally, making that the starting basis/even motivation for searching out our identity as women. While this is important, she overemphasizes it. Christ is our supreme example and where our identity is found.
Barbara Mouser creates her own definitions, and changes how she means them throughout the study (at least in the young woman’s version). She put a lot of thoughts on what the image of God means, defining it in a way the Bible never does. She tried to compare attributes of God to characteristics of humans. (I. e. He is immutable = like how we have character stability, etc.) pg 4, "5 Aspects of Femininity for Young Women."
Mouser claims that masculinity is rooted in God (eternal), and femininity is rooted in creation (mortal), which, in my opinion, she was unable to adequately back up Scripturally and this raises a host of logical and biblical problems in our understanding of Scripture. She also wanted to pull gender absolutes from the fact that Wisdom is personified as a lady in Prov 8. Mouser claims wisdom as the first feminine instead of Eve? I would propose Proverbs 8 simply personifies an attribute OF GOD.
She often uses her own observations about general revelation to interpret Scripture. Pg 96 in the teacher's manual:
“The personification of the “glory of man—created” deliberately focuses on the creation (not on grace), and on general revelation (not special revelation). Some have found this passage excessively secular and not “spiritual” enough. It must be remembered that Five Aspects attempts to provide a framework for all of gender, not only as we find it in the Bible, but also as we find it in the world.”
This study repeatedly brought about confusion instead of clarity on the precious truths and topics she brings up, without giving good context.
Praise God that Scripture does contain encouraging truths about womanhood and gender and gives us instruction and clear commands. And Barbara highlighted many good and important things about our worth, roles, and equality as image-bearers.
But the Word of God chooses not to completely answer the question -- “What is the essence of masculinity and femininity?” and we should tread cautiously if we set out to speak as an authority on things God leaves as mysteries. Barbara puts a LOT of words on things that aren’t explicitly proclaimed in the Bible, using philosophy and personal observations rather than accurate hermeneutics.
Barbara Mouser states she asks this question as she waded through each biblical passage that mentions a female: “what does this teach us about womanhood?” However, not every passage in Scripture that talks about a woman is necessarily teaching us a universal principle about gender.
That is a flawed way to approach Scripture, as any Bible student would know. We can’t go to the text assuming it answers the question we bring to it. You can not force an answer on a passage. She uses eisegesis (using things other than the biblical passage's original context to determine the meaning) to make all the verses fit into her “5 aspect” structure.
One of her aspects “Glory of Man” is based on one verse she plucked from I Corinthians 11 (which is a controversial chapter), and she struggles to keep the same definition of glory throughout her own chapter.
She makes a very big deal about studying Eve, and how things were originally, making that the starting basis/even motivation for searching out our identity as women. While this is important, she overemphasizes it. Christ is our supreme example and where our identity is found.
Barbara Mouser creates her own definitions, and changes how she means them throughout the study (at least in the young woman’s version). She put a lot of thoughts on what the image of God means, defining it in a way the Bible never does. She tried to compare attributes of God to characteristics of humans. (I. e. He is immutable = like how we have character stability, etc.) pg 4, "5 Aspects of Femininity for Young Women."
Mouser claims that masculinity is rooted in God (eternal), and femininity is rooted in creation (mortal), which, in my opinion, she was unable to adequately back up Scripturally and this raises a host of logical and biblical problems in our understanding of Scripture. She also wanted to pull gender absolutes from the fact that Wisdom is personified as a lady in Prov 8. Mouser claims wisdom as the first feminine instead of Eve? I would propose Proverbs 8 simply personifies an attribute OF GOD.
She often uses her own observations about general revelation to interpret Scripture. Pg 96 in the teacher's manual:
“The personification of the “glory of man—created” deliberately focuses on the creation (not on grace), and on general revelation (not special revelation). Some have found this passage excessively secular and not “spiritual” enough. It must be remembered that Five Aspects attempts to provide a framework for all of gender, not only as we find it in the Bible, but also as we find it in the world.”
This study repeatedly brought about confusion instead of clarity on the precious truths and topics she brings up, without giving good context.
Praise God that Scripture does contain encouraging truths about womanhood and gender and gives us instruction and clear commands. And Barbara highlighted many good and important things about our worth, roles, and equality as image-bearers.
But the Word of God chooses not to completely answer the question -- “What is the essence of masculinity and femininity?” and we should tread cautiously if we set out to speak as an authority on things God leaves as mysteries. Barbara puts a LOT of words on things that aren’t explicitly proclaimed in the Bible, using philosophy and personal observations rather than accurate hermeneutics.
January 11, 2012
One-Star review because I did not agree with the basic presupposition of the study.
I have looked for a Review of the Five Aspects study online but never found one that really dealt with its unique teachings.
When I took the 5 Aspects class, I was eager to learn. I wanted a tool on my bookshelf to teach to my children. My goal was to get to know the other women in the class. But most of all, I was excited to be learning about God with other women.
In the first 6 weeks, I had many questions. The way that Scripture was being applied and interpreted was confusing me. I often asked myself and the teacher, “But… why…does it say that?” At one point, when I asked about one of the teachings, it was suggested that I should continue in the study and it would all make more sense in the end.
By the 7th week, I began to see one idea emerging. I took notes at home to help organize what I was reading in the Bible study. I asked questions in class that clarified for me that the 5 aspects teaches that: Femininity pictures creation and Masculinity pictures God. At that point, I gave a long, emotional letter to the teacher, which I had already given to our Pastors as well.
This was a disrespectful thing to do (not go to my sister directly first), if my goal was to hurt my sister in Christ. However, this teaching was affecting how I read many passages of scripture and I feared that if it were not true, it would be a tangled mess to remove from my mind. I didn’t agree with it, so I brought my messy, unorganized thoughts to my spiritual leaders. I wanted to sort out what to believe. My heart has never been to attack anyone’s dearly held beliefs.
Since that time in 2009, I have read the book multiple times. After not looking at it for about 1 year, now I have come to the point where I want to explain this teaching with others. My purpose is to obey God. I feel that He wants us to talk about Him and learn more about Him. So I want to open a discussion about God. This is not just a discussion about an author or a Bible Study.
It is about God.
So I will explain what I learned from the 5 Aspects, asking you to consider whether it is Biblical. If you accept it as unBiblical, it will affect the way you interpret His Word. If you accept is as Biblical, it will do the same.
The problematic teaching:
God is Masculine. He is Masculine from before creation. There is no femininity in God, femininity is a created thing. Therefore the earth is feminine, just as earthly women are feminine. The teaching is that God is Masculine. He is a Masculine Spirit. (312).
This teaching is applied throughout the 5 aspects of both Man and Women studies is to define Masculinity of Men by linking all the aspects (roles) of men to God. The word "imitating" is used of men about God. At the same time, the Femininity of Women is linked to the creation.
Using this belief about God, the 5 aspects of man and women describe men and women. Men are spoken of as "saviors" and "lords". The aspects of men point them to God, imitating Him. In the diagrams that introduce each aspect, men are pictured with a shadow of a triangle behind them just as God is pictured. Women have a circle behind them showing that they are imitating creation.
(here i have many pages in my file that I need to delet here for the sake of space and your time)
...
You might say, “Why is this such a big deal to you?” First, as I read the Bible Study, there are passages that are interpreted differently than I would because I do not share this belief about God’s Masculinity. I am not saying that I think that God is feminine. Just that the GODLY ways that a woman or man live are rooted in God himself. Nurturing, discipling, loving, teaching, lifegiving… Gender, for me implies need for the other, male for female, female for male. Without both creation cannot give life. God does not need anything or anyone to create everything. To say that as a man carries out his life he imitates God, but a woman imitates something other than God may not seem wrong. But, first, does the Bible teach us that? Secondly, it will change the way we read passages in the Bible that have to do with men and women. In the beginning pages of 5 Aspects for Women, the author hopes that the study will change the way you “see”.
I am thankful to have read this book. It brought me on an adventure in my walk with God, pleading with Him to help me know who He really is.
My suggestion is that this teaching is important enough that any woman who would be offered this Bible Study should be introduced to this teaching before beginning the study. The authors of the study do not feel the need to do this because they simply believe that it is Biblical. Naturally, they use it to guide their interpretation of Scripture.
I have looked for a Review of the Five Aspects study online but never found one that really dealt with its unique teachings.
When I took the 5 Aspects class, I was eager to learn. I wanted a tool on my bookshelf to teach to my children. My goal was to get to know the other women in the class. But most of all, I was excited to be learning about God with other women.
In the first 6 weeks, I had many questions. The way that Scripture was being applied and interpreted was confusing me. I often asked myself and the teacher, “But… why…does it say that?” At one point, when I asked about one of the teachings, it was suggested that I should continue in the study and it would all make more sense in the end.
By the 7th week, I began to see one idea emerging. I took notes at home to help organize what I was reading in the Bible study. I asked questions in class that clarified for me that the 5 aspects teaches that: Femininity pictures creation and Masculinity pictures God. At that point, I gave a long, emotional letter to the teacher, which I had already given to our Pastors as well.
This was a disrespectful thing to do (not go to my sister directly first), if my goal was to hurt my sister in Christ. However, this teaching was affecting how I read many passages of scripture and I feared that if it were not true, it would be a tangled mess to remove from my mind. I didn’t agree with it, so I brought my messy, unorganized thoughts to my spiritual leaders. I wanted to sort out what to believe. My heart has never been to attack anyone’s dearly held beliefs.
Since that time in 2009, I have read the book multiple times. After not looking at it for about 1 year, now I have come to the point where I want to explain this teaching with others. My purpose is to obey God. I feel that He wants us to talk about Him and learn more about Him. So I want to open a discussion about God. This is not just a discussion about an author or a Bible Study.
It is about God.
So I will explain what I learned from the 5 Aspects, asking you to consider whether it is Biblical. If you accept it as unBiblical, it will affect the way you interpret His Word. If you accept is as Biblical, it will do the same.
The problematic teaching:
God is Masculine. He is Masculine from before creation. There is no femininity in God, femininity is a created thing. Therefore the earth is feminine, just as earthly women are feminine. The teaching is that God is Masculine. He is a Masculine Spirit. (312).
This teaching is applied throughout the 5 aspects of both Man and Women studies is to define Masculinity of Men by linking all the aspects (roles) of men to God. The word "imitating" is used of men about God. At the same time, the Femininity of Women is linked to the creation.
Using this belief about God, the 5 aspects of man and women describe men and women. Men are spoken of as "saviors" and "lords". The aspects of men point them to God, imitating Him. In the diagrams that introduce each aspect, men are pictured with a shadow of a triangle behind them just as God is pictured. Women have a circle behind them showing that they are imitating creation.
(here i have many pages in my file that I need to delet here for the sake of space and your time)
...
You might say, “Why is this such a big deal to you?” First, as I read the Bible Study, there are passages that are interpreted differently than I would because I do not share this belief about God’s Masculinity. I am not saying that I think that God is feminine. Just that the GODLY ways that a woman or man live are rooted in God himself. Nurturing, discipling, loving, teaching, lifegiving… Gender, for me implies need for the other, male for female, female for male. Without both creation cannot give life. God does not need anything or anyone to create everything. To say that as a man carries out his life he imitates God, but a woman imitates something other than God may not seem wrong. But, first, does the Bible teach us that? Secondly, it will change the way we read passages in the Bible that have to do with men and women. In the beginning pages of 5 Aspects for Women, the author hopes that the study will change the way you “see”.
I am thankful to have read this book. It brought me on an adventure in my walk with God, pleading with Him to help me know who He really is.
My suggestion is that this teaching is important enough that any woman who would be offered this Bible Study should be introduced to this teaching before beginning the study. The authors of the study do not feel the need to do this because they simply believe that it is Biblical. Naturally, they use it to guide their interpretation of Scripture.
April 18, 2021
A fantastic study! I would definitely recommend it, but keep in mind this is like a highschool study.
She delves deeply into the way God has created women, how sin affected, and how the redemption restores. How they complete and glorify man and God.
At times it seems more like a married women study, but I found many, many lessons to learn. I look forward to studying it again when I get into my next stage of life.
She delves deeply into the way God has created women, how sin affected, and how the redemption restores. How they complete and glorify man and God.
At times it seems more like a married women study, but I found many, many lessons to learn. I look forward to studying it again when I get into my next stage of life.
May 11, 2022
I don't leave reviews for books, but I feel this is an important one to write.
I highly recommend looking up Barbara Mouser and her website before buying or going through this bible study. If you do not agree with what information she shares online, do not do this book.
I am a young adult so I had been put in a bible study group doing the young women edition of the book (a decision I wish I was a part of because I felt very out of place doing the young womens book) so I cannot speak for the much thicker and denser womens study book. Terminology is changed for the young women's book, and much of the reading portions from the women's study are not included.
While I can see how this book might be great for some, it really is a product of its time. In the heat of the feminist movement in the 70s, maybe a book to navigate the uncertainties of sexuality within the church was greatly needed. I can imagine a lot of women wondering what God might have to say about feminism, even just on women in general, during such a large movement. However, times have changed and progressed since then, for better or for worse. And this book is not one that holds up.
If you come from a nonconservative background, don't do it. If you come from a multicultural background, don't do it. If you come from a nonChristian background, don't do it. If you're not a privileged white woman, don't do it. If you're disabled, don't do it. No book on biblical sexuality should be this exclusive- there should only be one requirement, if you are a woman or not, but too much of this study relies on you to be of the same mindset and background as it's author.
I could agree with some of the main ideas of this study, but it is very difficult to get past the way it's presented. There is no room for argument or slightly different opinions in this study- everything is black and white. Men are strong and hate having dainty ankles, women are obsessed with cleaning, being wives, and should never be the breadwinners. Feels a little sexist maybe? And no where in the Bible does it lay out these "rules", because these are not biblical constructs, but old American cultural stereotypes. I agree that the man is the head of his family, much as Christ is the head of the church, because this is written clearly in the Bible. But that doesn't mean a women can't have a career and must be a stay-at-home mother. There are no bible verses on that.
In addition to not loving the content of this study, I did not like needing to do charts and draw lines between two related words every page. I am not 6 years old. Questions were worded in a way that left no room for anything but the answer Barbara clearly wants you to give. Bible verses were used but sometimes the context of the verse was twisted. A lot of what was said in this book would lead girls and young women to believe that they are called to be submissive to every man (not just their husbands, if they even have one) in their life and are born to be wives and mothers. Maybe the womens study book is better with this, because chances are you are married and a mother, so I cannot speak for that, but as a single women this is wrong to say and put in a young womens study.
I wish I could offer a different resource for those looking to study up on what God says about sexuality and femininity, but all I can say is don't do this one. More than feeling like you're learning, you will feel like you are fighting the book and trying to figure out if what she says is biblical or wrong. It was a very frustrating study to go through and there absolutely has to be better books than this one.
I highly recommend looking up Barbara Mouser and her website before buying or going through this bible study. If you do not agree with what information she shares online, do not do this book.
I am a young adult so I had been put in a bible study group doing the young women edition of the book (a decision I wish I was a part of because I felt very out of place doing the young womens book) so I cannot speak for the much thicker and denser womens study book. Terminology is changed for the young women's book, and much of the reading portions from the women's study are not included.
While I can see how this book might be great for some, it really is a product of its time. In the heat of the feminist movement in the 70s, maybe a book to navigate the uncertainties of sexuality within the church was greatly needed. I can imagine a lot of women wondering what God might have to say about feminism, even just on women in general, during such a large movement. However, times have changed and progressed since then, for better or for worse. And this book is not one that holds up.
If you come from a nonconservative background, don't do it. If you come from a multicultural background, don't do it. If you come from a nonChristian background, don't do it. If you're not a privileged white woman, don't do it. If you're disabled, don't do it. No book on biblical sexuality should be this exclusive- there should only be one requirement, if you are a woman or not, but too much of this study relies on you to be of the same mindset and background as it's author.
I could agree with some of the main ideas of this study, but it is very difficult to get past the way it's presented. There is no room for argument or slightly different opinions in this study- everything is black and white. Men are strong and hate having dainty ankles, women are obsessed with cleaning, being wives, and should never be the breadwinners. Feels a little sexist maybe? And no where in the Bible does it lay out these "rules", because these are not biblical constructs, but old American cultural stereotypes. I agree that the man is the head of his family, much as Christ is the head of the church, because this is written clearly in the Bible. But that doesn't mean a women can't have a career and must be a stay-at-home mother. There are no bible verses on that.
In addition to not loving the content of this study, I did not like needing to do charts and draw lines between two related words every page. I am not 6 years old. Questions were worded in a way that left no room for anything but the answer Barbara clearly wants you to give. Bible verses were used but sometimes the context of the verse was twisted. A lot of what was said in this book would lead girls and young women to believe that they are called to be submissive to every man (not just their husbands, if they even have one) in their life and are born to be wives and mothers. Maybe the womens study book is better with this, because chances are you are married and a mother, so I cannot speak for that, but as a single women this is wrong to say and put in a young womens study.
I wish I could offer a different resource for those looking to study up on what God says about sexuality and femininity, but all I can say is don't do this one. More than feeling like you're learning, you will feel like you are fighting the book and trying to figure out if what she says is biblical or wrong. It was a very frustrating study to go through and there absolutely has to be better books than this one.
Read
September 8, 2020Originally I gave this title 5 stars. I am revising my stars to zero.
The reason I am doing so is that since reading this title, several things about my faith journey and expression have changed and I no longer subscribe to evangelical ideologies.
Additionally, I have also come to realize that biblical femininity is actually a degradation of women in the name of God. I see no evidence of this so-called biblical theology in the Bible.
The reason I am doing so is that since reading this title, several things about my faith journey and expression have changed and I no longer subscribe to evangelical ideologies.
Additionally, I have also come to realize that biblical femininity is actually a degradation of women in the name of God. I see no evidence of this so-called biblical theology in the Bible.
April 24, 2020
Rude and judgmental.
February 8, 2017
I would have given this book 4 stars, because of the overall content, but certainly cannnot for editing. Ms. Mouser needs to fix some of the blatant typographical errors throughout this book.
From what I understand, this is a revised edition, but it still needs further revision, as does the accompanying workbook.
That said, Ms. Mouser makes some very good points regarding femininity, and shows distinct strengths in the feminine characters and archetypes in the Bible.
From what I understand, this is a revised edition, but it still needs further revision, as does the accompanying workbook.
That said, Ms. Mouser makes some very good points regarding femininity, and shows distinct strengths in the feminine characters and archetypes in the Bible.
April 10, 2013
I finished the second book today. I enjoyed the clarifications at the end more than the actual study. While there was a great deal I didn't enjoy and/or didn't agree with, it is generally a well researched and thought provoking book. She has a few cracker brained ideas, and some illogical conclusions, so I don't think I would recommend it. But on the whole, it was good for me.
September 10, 2013
I did this study about 15 years ago and it has continued to influence my life. I wanted to go through it again now that I'm married and still thought it was amazing. I wouldn't be surprised if I in another decade or two, I go through it again.
November 16, 2024
Currently re-reading—excited to read with fresh eyes 9 years later
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