How feminism crept into the Church
In front of me lies a '99 issue of Brio, a Focus On The Family magazine for teenage girls. Now I know that this organisation did a lot of good and is/was doctrinally sound ( I haven't been following them recently so not sure what they are up to now); but they made some sort of a compromise with feminism together with many other Evangelicals which finally led to them losing the current culture war pretty decisively.
Brio on its own was not a bad magazine, at least in those times, and they were really solid on many points but though they addressed things like dating in a Christian context, there was very little advice on marriage preparation, and yet many of their readers were 16-17 and older. They had very little to say about learning how to cook or clean, but quite a bit about learning how to earn money, playing sports and choosing a career. Even Cosmo used to run a recipe column in these days (may be they still do, but, of course, I'm not planning to read it).
Vice versa, the very issue which I'm talking about has an article discouraging early marriage. it is a sad story of two teenagers who fell in love, started a s8xual relationship, got married, got a child and then divorced. The author who was by the way an editor, attributed it to the fact that they didn't really love each other but just "fell in love". So far so good you'll say. You should be careful while choosing your marriage partner and I agree.
However, it goes further than this. While trying to dissuade the bride-to-be, the lady editor says among other things, that she should first go to college and have the experience of "being single" and "living in the dorm". I just wonder where in the Bible young girls are advised to move out of their parental home to some hostel so that they could get an experience of being single? Could somebody please give me the chapter and the verse?
The editor herself, I presumed was in her twenties, but when I looked at her photo she seemed to be more like in her thirties, and yet in the end of the article, she says that she is still waiting for this perfect man right guy whom God will send her, while spending her time traveling, "going out on African safaris", writing books and "hanging out with friends".
Career and travel till your mid-thirties, while waiting for Mr. Right, how is that even different from what secular women were advised to do? At least, she was a virgin, by her admission. But how many girls of that generation followed that disastrous advice and found themselves nearing 40, single and childless?
I'm not of the opinion that everybody should marry or even marry at a certain (young age), but most people don't have a gift of celibacy and most women want to have a family and kids. Well, in this life you get what you are pursuing. If marriage is your goal, you should be proactive, yet girls were taught in some ways to live like men but concerning marriage just wait for a Prince Charming to sweep them off their feet, like some fairy tale princess (in real life, princesses were usual married off by their families at about 15).
To be continued...
Spot on! In the 90s I banned that junk from my house when they put them out at church or we saw them at the Christian bookstore. Yup. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
ReplyDeleteYou are welcome! Glad I'm not the only one...
ReplyDeleteYes. The evangelical church has succumbed to the culture in multiple areas of life.
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to the continuation of your thoughts.
Well, don't they say that when you make a deal with the Devil he will always get his due and more? I'll write Part 2 soon!
ReplyDeleteEven the Christians want to follow a script. If they put some effort, they should be home schooling their kids and finding them suitable mates to work with by the time they are done with that. Better yet, maybe an associates degree and they have a job since a four year in almost anything is a waste these days. Maybe even provide some financial help to the young couple though not necessarily money. But no, it's more important for wifie to have the McMansion and drive a new suburban every two years. The Christians have no one but themselves to blame.
ReplyDeleteAt least in those times they promoted chastity. Several years ago I read a discussion on Boundless where a woman who chose to stay a virgin before marriage was accused of making an idol out of her virginity.
ReplyDeleteBecause, as you say, it's a script. Evangelicals thought they could pick and choose which parts of it to follow, but once you start following this path you soon reach the point of no return.
Our society is extremely consumerist and entertainment-oriented. Just look at all those who only took the vaxx to be able to eat out and go on expensive vacations. We are at bread and circuses stage right now, and Christians are often just as bad if not worse.
I mean, my church used to teach that mothers should stay home, but last time I heard a sermon on this topic, the preacher (an old man) said it's OK for her to work for a mortgage, so that they could buy their dream villa. It was a guest preacher but still. Because if you live in a modest size apartment you are probably a sinner since one of the signs of being elected is material prosperity, apparently.
I'm an agnostic, but I don't make my statements out of contempt for the faith. It's simply my observation that the Christian who complain the most are unwilling to homeschool their kids or use their monstrous worship facilities as schools since they seem to like the free babysitting services. If they would homeschool and encourage their groups to intermarry by the time they are 20 and provide some way to financially assist them while they become self supporting and start families instead of the material stuff, they could increase their numbers. But that would take work and sacrifice, right?
DeleteI was looking at my family tree. It's pretty clear a 100 years ago give or take that most young people were expected to be married by the time they were 25 or so. I had an aunt that missed out and there men to that never married, but on the average, coupling was the norm. Some even married first cousins. You have to wonder about that family conversation.
I think in Northern Europe folks usually married later, especially men. But, they had to get married if they wanted legitimate kids. Nowadays, they often don't bother.
ReplyDeleteChristians still do, though. As for homeschooling, it's very difficult to do it legally in my country, but were it otherwise I doubt many women would go for it. You can't even imagine the gnashing of teeth we were subjected to when the schools were closed during the lockdowns. For the first time in their lives, mothers were expected to actually care for their kids, instead of just dumping them in the government care facilities or with some sitter or with an electronic nanny.
Most states in the US have very few restrictions on homeschooling. I'm in Texas, which is one of the more free about it. It's sad many don't take advantage of the freedom they have here.
DeleteIt's a pity, isn't it? Homeschooling is legal in UK and yet few do it, except some Christians, and probably super wealthy who hire tutors.
ReplyDeleteWhich once again proves that feminism is more about the mindset than the law. According to Turkish laws, women are fully equal and can work anywhere, and even join the army. Yet, many choose to just stay home.
ReplyDelete