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How complementarian dynamics mirror coercive control

Paidiske

Clara bonam audax
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Note: this is in the Egalitarian forum.

This is a really useful discussion on how complementarian marriage advice basically mirrors and plays into coercive control. It puts into words a lot of things I've recognised but struggled to articulate.

 

PloverWing

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Thanks so much for posting this. I've only now finished watching the video (it's an hour long, plus my fall semester just started :) ). There is a great deal of truth and wisdom here.

One of the points they made, which I'm going to think a lot about, is the way that "God knows best" is used as a conversation-stopper and thought-stopper. Some church beliefs and practices, including complementarian marriage, harm people, but we're told that "God knows best", and "Lean not unto your own understanding", and "God's ways are higher than your ways", so the conversation ends there -- who can argue with God? Which is itself part of the coercive control.

(On reflection, Abraham argued with God, and so did Job, and Moses, and Jacob had that wrestling match ... )
 
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Paidiske

Clara bonam audax
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(On reflection, Abraham argued with God, and so did Job, and Moses, and Jacob had that wrestling match ... )
And this Sunday we'll have the Syrophoenician woman, too.
 
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RamiC

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I like being part of a church that tolerates both perspectives on women, but I believe it is every Christian's duty to insist that our faith does not justify bullying (gender related or any kind).

Article quoted below, link to whole thing beneath:

I know, too, that Billy Graham, one of the most widely respected and revered Christians during my lifetime, did not understand why women were prevented from being priests and preachers. He said: "Women preach all over the world. It doesn't bother me from my study of the scriptures."

The truth is that male religious leaders have had - and still have - an option to interpret holy teachings either to exalt or subjugate women. They have, for their own selfish ends, overwhelmingly chosen the latter.


The words of God do not justify cruelty to women
 
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