Reddit mentions of Goddesses, Whores, Wives, and Slaves

Thanks for your interpretation. I majored in Latin, but I never got around to learning any Greek, which is unfortunate. But when most of the other writers (collective or others) of the NT raise very few misogynistic/feminist questions, and Paul seems to raise so many, it's hard for me to believe that Paul was so egalitarian. I know many Christians who take the Bible literally think that if one thing in the Bible is incorrect/not right, then everything in the Bible should be questioned, and I disagree with that; if Paul does exhibit misogynistic tendencies, I think we should admit that, but it doesn't null and void everything else he got right.

I don't know all your academic/scholastic background, but I do urge you to read more about Classical women and their roles. You seem to attribute Athenian society (which was quite misogynistic) to all of Hellenistic society (which ranged in its treatment of women); the ancient Greek polis-states were quite independent in culture and governments, and once most of the Greek polis-states were under Roman control (around the time of Paul), Roman women were gaining legal and economic status (though some Roman writers and politicians longed for the "good old days" of the Republic when women didn't have as many rights). I highly recommend Sarah B. Pomprey's "Goddesses, Whores, Wives and Slaves" to anyone interested in Classical women and their changing roles.

Additionally, I'm not sure if your first example is apt. I was always told that Christianity appealed mostly to the lower class (for obvious reasons, as I'm sure you know), and it was only the richest Athenian families who could afford to sequester their women as you describe.