When did violence, even the passive institutional violence of keeping women from being ordained, become a tool for proclaiming holiness?
Perhaps you have read it in the news. The BBC recently reported that Malala Yousafzai has been released from the hospital. She is the courageous young woman who insists on being educated. In response, the Taliban in her native Pakistan shot her in the head for, as the BBC reported, “encouraging secularism.”
I keep thinking about men and violence, and I find myself asking the question, “Did men do this?” Is there something in how men are raised, taught, lauded, upheld, or in how men respond to an absence of power that insists on a violent response? I don’t know. It’s tempting to say “yes,” but I think that would be a mistake. Certainly, a man did this. He did it as a particularly male action, but did men do this? Is this us? I’ve been following the story of this incredible young woman for quite some time. I find her situation heartbreaking. I find her courage inspiring. She also has me questioning about the rationale (a generous term) of the violence that some men commit in order to maintain dominance … especially dominance disguised as religious holiness.
In the United States you can find more subtle forms of religious violence against women in theologies about sexual ethics, conception, and even the ordination practices of many traditions including my own Baptist tradition. We’re finding ways to keep women “in their place” all the time proclaiming “holiness” or some such virtue. When did violence, even the passive institutional violence of keeping women from being ordained, become a tool for proclaiming holiness? Did men do this?
This is a working question for me … a way to wrestle with what I have inherited as a middle-aged, white, male, Southern, and Baptist religious leader. Did men do this? Did I have some hand in this?
Of course violence does not belong to one gender more than another. Of course not. But as I sit here in awareness of the privilege I enjoy historically and contemporaneously in regards to my gender, I cannot help but wonder if I did this … if I still do this without even recognizing it.
Today I celebrate Malala’s courage, and I give thanks for her recovery, the skill of the doctors and nurses. I will pray for her safety and for the men who did this, that their hearts might be relieved of this terrible burden of violence. And I will ask God to relieve me of the same burden … to relieve me of the fear that causes me to confuse holiness with oppression and violence.
In interests of full disclosure, not a massive fan of religion (including Christianity, before the old “it’s not a religion, it’s a relationship/philosophy” chestnut comes up), but you have no reason to feel guilty because of your gender over what other men have done.
You are only responsible for what you yourself have done, and anyone who tries to make you feel personally responsible or guilty for the actions of others on the basis of either your religion or your gender is, simply put, a bigot.
Agreed. Unless you were involved in the attack, somehow contributed to facilitating the attack (as in your commited actions/inactions that created the opportunity for the attack to happen, and/or somehow are contributing to the facilitation of the attack possibly happening again then no you, or “men” did not do this. I think it goes back to a question that’s already been brought up. Why are men only considered a collective when some of us do bad things? Are we citing the men that are helping her recover (which probably outnumber the number of men that attacked her) and asking “did… Read more »
Think of things this way. Jesus was a man. Jesus taught people to serve others and help the poor. When people give or help in Jesus’ name, did men do that? If you can’t attribute the good that men do to their gender, why would you feel that it is appropriate to attribute the bad?
Short answer is yes.
Did men do this? No You can say that this was done by a part of what we collectively call masculinity perhaps, but the act of violence wasn’t committed by men. Let me ask it like this. When it comes to the showing of support and love for this young girl, are people going around and asking, “Are men doing this?”. No they recognize just as there are parts of masculinity that embrace violence their are parts that embrace love and care. The problem is the loving and caring parts are actively denied in favor of the violent parts, hence… Read more »
In the US, religious affiliation is a matter of free association. Women who don’t like a particular denomination’s views are free to find another. They won’t even be killed for it.
So…women’s continued membership in such denominations means they don’t see the problem as sufficiently bad to move.
Heard from some women who left the PCUSA–one of the declining Sideline Protestant churches–for a Presby denom which does not ordain women. “We are being fed,” they said, when asked. IOW, the ordination of women was less of an issue than the preaching, which they appreciated.
I think the support of her family especially her dad should also be mentioned since he has continued defending her and allowing her to get educated despite also having been threatened with death for not controlling his daughter. At 14 its hard to change the world yourself but the support of your family especially your parents makes it easier. We should remember greatness doesn’t come from a vaccuum usually its taught in some way.
What a beautiful reply DJ. “We should remember greatness doesn’t come from a vaccuum usually its taught in some way.” Thank you.