Mothers And Fathers

Parental authority and status, given that the parents are not erroneous or sinful either in the sense of mistreating their children or telling them to sin (these would obviously contradict other Biblical doctrines whether or not this is stated in these words) is affirmed over and over in Mosaic Law.  One is to honor, but not universally or emotionalistically obey, one's father and mother (Exodus 20:12, Deuteronomy 5:16, 27:16).  One is to not strike, outside of self-defense, or curse one's parents, mother and father alike (Exodus 21:15, 17, Leviticus 20:9).  In matters of bringing their children before the community to be examined or punished, both parents are involved if living (Deuteronomy 21:18-21, 22:13-17), and together they could act as two witnesses with testimony for or against charges of criminal sin (17:6, 19:15).

Proverbs 30:11 and 17 very plainly acknowledge the equal right of both parents to be respected as people and as parents, though this does not mean that abusive mothers and fathers are to be tolerated, praised, or loved more than any other fool.  None of this follows logically and Mosaic Law already addresses the just response to various forms of abuse, none of which involve partiality or lenience based upon the sinner's parental status.  Earlier in Proverbs, verse 8 of chapter 1 emphasizes listening to one's father and mother when they are in the right--one could not be obligated to submit to them if they are in the wrong.  There is nowhere taught any sexist obligation for a biological parent of one gender or the other to have a greater responsibility in raising their children on any level.  The same is true of the obligation to honor one's parents on the part of sons and daughters.

The verses mentioned so far do not even include the New Testament passages that affirm the equal authority of mothers and fathers (Matthew 15:3-6, Mark 7:9-13, Ephesians 6:1-3) and husbands and wives (Ephesians 5:21, 1 Corinthians 7:3-5).  Though it would not need to reiterate things that have already been established, the New Testament also reiterates in miscellaneous places that obligations are equally held towards fathers and mothers (Romans 1:30, 1 Timothy 1:9).  As parents or fellow spouses, neither mothers/wives nor fathers/husbands are actually said to have special privileges or obligations, moral closeness to God, and so on because they are the mother or the father.  Both are people and both are parents.  As such, it would be logically impossible for them to have gender-specific parenting duties, like cooking, working outside the home, or pushing their children towards philosophical accuracy.

None of these things can only be done because one has a penis or a vagina, and they would thus be morally good, bad, or neutral in themselves for all people.  Men and women are equal bearers of the divine image (Genesis 1:26-27, 5:1-2) and this is not contradicted in any of the parenting obligations of Christianity or childrens' obligations to their parents as stated in the the Torah or elsewhere in the Bible.  As metaphysical equals, there is no special authority a husband or wife has over the other or over any children they might have.  It is not authority of fathers over mothers or mothers over fathers that is taught by the Bible.  It is also not righteous to respect fathers over mothers or vice versa.  Any patriarchal or matriarchal parenting or marriage ideologies are both unbiblical and also irrational separate from Christianity's doctrines and probable veracity.