Implications         It is most important to remember why the bible was written and what the texts were really about.  "...the earliest Jewish & Christian communities used Genesis as they used many other parts of the already ancient & sacred literature of Israel, to help them deal with their own sociological and theological concerns." (Myers 72)  This does not mean that as women today we have to reject the stories and morals that came out of that time.  We should embrace them and learn from the lessons they teach us.  However, as modern women we need to realize that the culture these women lived in was so radically different from our own that we need to take a step back from our theological beliefs, take our learning, and come to new conclusions as to how God would want us to live now in our world.     The women in Ancient Israel were limited in their sexuality and role choices because of lack of birth control, lack of education, and the environment in which they lived.  A woman in Ancient Israel had to produce at least 5 live births to ensure the survival of the next generation. (Carr 50)  Today women do not need to have any children at all if they do not want them.  Since there was no public life in Ancient Israel, there was no opportunity for women to work outside the home and expand her horizons beyond her family.  Modern conveniences have also changed how much time we have to spend in the kitchen preparing food, and stores allow us to buy most of the things we need to live instead of making them ourselves.      We also need to remember that the written history of the bible that has been passed down to us over the centuries has been colored by the people who have interpreted and translated it.  To truly understand the women of the bible, and their roles, "the barrier caused by Judeo-Christian tradition must be identified & removed before the original force of the texts can speak in a voice uncomplicated by later voices." ( Myers 74)  As we have seen evidenced by many of the authors, multiple biblical texts have been misunderstood because of the differences between our culture and the culture of Israel, and the ways in which patriarchy has interpreted the stories.  Carr, Labowitz and others remind us that despite centuries of people claiming sex as an evil act, the bible presents us with many wonderfully erotic passages such as the Song of Songs.  If we look closely enough we will see that sex was a gift from God, to humans, and that it should be embraced and nurtured to encourage the healthy growth of our spiritual selves. (Carr 37)      Finally, as emphasized by the 4th step in the Jewish tradition of translation, interpreting the written biblical text to determine the meaning for our selves is a vital step in understanding and learning from the word of God.  We need to take the text we have been given and ask, "What did I learn, or what have I gained from this text?"  It is very possible that every human being who reads the story of Genesis could come up with their own interpretation.  What is important is that you decide for yourself what the bible means to you and how you feel it should apply to your life.       Conclusions    After conducting my research I believe that the biblical writings and theological teachings can be valuable resources to see how women have lived throughout history.  However, since our cultures are so radically different in every way, many of the teachings of the bible are outdated.  For Christians and those of the Jewish tradition, I encourage you to reclaim the bible for yourself and read the wonderful things it has to say about women and sexuality.   Embrace the history of the women that have brought you the tradition in which you believe.  However, you should take that basic knowledge of what God is, and is about, and develop your own conclusions as to how you think gender roles should be assigned.  Consider whether or not the laws of sexuality in the bible are actually the word of God, or the result of a society struggling to survive.    For those of other faith traditions or those who have no faith tradition, these values still affect your lives.   In America, the country which is supposed to be separated from the church, many of the values we hold today are from the Judeo-Christian tradition.  This is true not only of the United States but many countries in Europe, Africa, and South America.  It is important for women of all faiths and persuasions to address these issues, since they are at the heart of many people in power in this country and others.  If we can change the way in which the bible was translated, and the way it is taught to our children, we can make a difference by liberating women from gender roles that are antiquated and do away with sexual stigmas that are no longer relevant because of modern advances.     Diversity feminism calls us, as women, to recognize the differences among ourselves.  Not all women are alike, the women of Africa and China have very different lifestyles and identities than do women in the United States.  It calls us to celebrate our differences, remember the past, and learn from one another.  We do not all have to be alike to be called women, therefore, what defined womanhood centuries ago in Ancient Israel does not have to mean what it means to be a Christian or Jewish woman today.  Instead it means that we should embrace our traditional past, and admire the women as they were, while we define for ourselves that it means to be women in the 21st century.

Sexuality, Gender Roles, & the Bible	Ancient Israel in Context	Translations & Reinterpretations
The Bible, Sexuality & Some New Ideas	Implications & Conclusions	Works Consulted

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