tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29493438.post115708692210684671..comments2023-07-28T09:17:44.526-05:00Comments on The Psaltery: Our Insults Are Showing (and telling)Psalmisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12844681463669483309noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29493438.post-1158558570487265912006-09-18T00:49:00.000-05:002006-09-18T00:49:00.000-05:00Hi Psalms,This is one of my pet peeves, too. I wo...Hi Psalms,<BR/><BR/>This is one of my pet peeves, too. I wonder if they understand that teachers throughout history have expected boys to behave in a civilized fashion while in school? Also, should we really expect our boys and men to sit still during church? Isn't this feminizing them? The reason why people are trying to come up with excuses why boys are doing poorly in school compared to girls is that girls are NEVER to do anything better than boys save give birth and take care of the home and cook and do hair. Girls were denied an education for much of history. Now the playing fields are leveled and the colleges have more girls in them and the boys that are in college are doing worse than the girls and somehow it is the fault of females? Huh? It is all so illogical. <BR/><BR/>How is expecting boys to act in a respectful, decent, orderly, quiet fashion during school making them feminized? They still get recess, right? They still have gym class, right? They still go home and play outside, right? I don't know one male teacher that allows for horse-play and "boys will be boys" behavior in the classroom. <BR/><BR/>Have we all gone mad? Where is this all coming from? And why in the world are godly Christians referring to everything bad as "feminine" when God pronounced, after creating Eve, that everything He made was VERY GOOD!<BR/><BR/>Kindness, compassion, love, are not the stuff of "manful" religion. Yes, that was a word that a pastor used on a forum in response to a woman who took another man to task for being rude, harsh and overly judgmental.<BR/><BR/>And, really, how many females just overlook sin? I don't know of too many. When they do point out sin, they are accused of "trying to wear the pants". <BR/><BR/>All this stuff just keeps the wordly, ungodly stereotypes going.Corriehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13771878099332439981noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29493438.post-1157376940045722352006-09-04T08:35:00.000-05:002006-09-04T08:35:00.000-05:00I think I know the blog whereof you speak, PS, and...I think I know the blog whereof you speak, PS, and if I'm correct, that's a doozie! She accused Christians for Biblical Equality some time back of being goddess worshipers, new age, and a few other false charges I forget right now. All without any foundation in fact. Very sensational style. Am I thinking of the same one? (I forget her name; it's not one I consult regularly!)Psalmisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12844681463669483309noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29493438.post-1157326470979774292006-09-03T18:34:00.000-05:002006-09-03T18:34:00.000-05:00There is a popular blog that I check on now and th...There is a popular blog that I check on now and then to see what part of the American Christian church she is currently demeaning. Why? because I'm always hoping to find some constructive or rational criticism; I'm usually disappointed. The commentary is usually nasty. <BR/><BR/>But this time I really paid attention, after reading your blog. The woman was commenting on several of the prominent (Christian?) preachers of our time who are, in the opinion of many, into entertainment and/or building up the self-esteem of their listeners, rather then preaching the actual Gospel. This woman blogger called these preachers effeminent because they refuse to make strong statements about sin.<BR/><BR/>This is a rather unusual argument, isn't it? If the men are too feminine to make a strong statement, does that make this blogger masculine because she does make very strong, harsh statements? <BR/><BR/>It is unlikely that the blogger you are talking about is the same one I'm mentioning because the one I read has her computer set to reject comments from people who don't agree with her.LoieJhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08083454353846306345noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29493438.post-1157143569350148792006-09-01T15:46:00.000-05:002006-09-01T15:46:00.000-05:00Good point, April. Yes, I do think that people wh...Good point, April. Yes, I do think that people who promote the "gender roles" theory are trying to be faithful. I do wish they would tend their own gardens without trying to sow in their neighbors', though. ;)Psalmisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12844681463669483309noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29493438.post-1157142568430983662006-09-01T15:29:00.000-05:002006-09-01T15:29:00.000-05:00Thank you for your comments, April, Carolanne, and...Thank you for your comments, April, Carolanne, and P.S. April, your mention of "P.C." is very appropriate. That's one of those loaded terms that deflects discussion of this issue! When you really get after what "P.C." is, though, it's an attempt (often somewhat failed) to place others' feelings ahead of our own. I think *that* is something that makes some conservative Christians madder than all get-out! How DARE anyone challenge their thoughtless word preferences?! That's why I left it at the question and a "thank you" for the answer concerning the "feminized men" comment elsewhere. I think the conversation is quite uncomfortable, more for that participant than for anyone else, and there have been several thoughtless, demeaning comments from her about people who don't conform to her preferences. Overall, that blog is such a safe place for people to express themselves, that I don't want to push things there any more than I already have. I love the growth I see that is being expressed there. I need to trust that God will continue that process on the exactly perfect timetable each person needs.<BR/><BR/>So when someone wants to read something a lot more "in your face" about Christian equality, they can come to The Psaltery! (wicked grin)Psalmisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12844681463669483309noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29493438.post-1157142191800016582006-09-01T15:23:00.000-05:002006-09-01T15:23:00.000-05:00As I thought more about my above comment, I though...As I thought more about my above comment, I thought I should mention... I know that many people who are struggling with the role of gender in Christian families are simply trying to be faithful. My smarminess doesn't reflect my genuine appreciation of that struggle.<BR/>I do, however, hold the concern that law is MUCH easier to put into action, especially in others, than grace. And the fact that it gives the appearance of being more difficult is all the more insidious...<BR/>Thanks, Psalmist, for getting my brain going today!Aprilhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02803049148666438704noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29493438.post-1157133294559519942006-09-01T12:54:00.000-05:002006-09-01T12:54:00.000-05:00Thanks, Psalmist, for this very thoughtful analysi...Thanks, Psalmist, for this very thoughtful analysis of language. Whether we like it or not, our language is representative of our beliefs. And though some may decry this as PC bullhonky, I think those of us in the Judeo-Christian tradition would be sufficiently warned about the danger of taking our language lightly!<BR/>I've been agitated about this "role" thing since reading the post and have been thinking that there is some attempt to emulate not Christ, who as far as we are told, never really played with guns and certainly was introspective, gentle and compassionate, and equally attentive to male and female, but instead the culture of his time. This disturbs me. If folks are trying to emulate the families addressed by Paul, they are emulating families raised in pagan social structures struggling to live in Christian models.<BR/>ALL of this posturing about the great lack of faithful gender role-players has me thinking again that this is tantamount to one big checklist... Dad goes hunting (check) -- saved. Mom wears an apron and raises junior until he's 13 at which time he's handed a rifle (check) -- saved. <BR/>Ok. I know it's not really like that, but for goodness sake, could salvation be any LESS mysterious? <BR/>I'm ranting now. I best go stop.Aprilhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02803049148666438704noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29493438.post-1157116091504316752006-09-01T08:08:00.000-05:002006-09-01T08:08:00.000-05:00Well said!The other line I hate being used is "You...Well said!<BR/>The other line I hate being used is "You laugh (or cry/or talk) like a girl" as though it's a put down. What's wrong with laughing/crying/playing/ whatever like a girl?<BR/>Sometimes I don't feel so "feminine" but as you've said, God's made us all unique and has given each person gifts, talents and abilities to bring glory to Him. Who made up the gender stereotypes anyway?Carolannehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11948899343901608273noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29493438.post-1157114961030138062006-09-01T07:49:00.000-05:002006-09-01T07:49:00.000-05:00Very good analysis and comments!I can certainly un...Very good analysis and comments!<BR/><BR/>I can certainly understand non-believers buying into this heirarchy and looking down on certain people, but I can't understand why someone who says that they believe that God created man/woman in His own image and who might say that God made "me" who I am, and the various gifts come from God, why that person could look down on the way a person IS. <BR/><BR/>Did God make that person or not? Did God distribute the various gifts and traits or not? <BR/><BR/>Someone who demeans how another person IS, well, isn't that person demeaning God's creation?<BR/><BR/>As you mention, many people simply have not thought about their stereotypes. It does us all good to get a slap upside the head and rethink some things we take for granted.<BR/><BR/>But I am disturbed, as I've mentioned several times in my blog, about the lack of critical thinking shown in the media and other places, and especially, apparently, in the more conservative circles of both politics and religion. I think it reflects a big black hole in our education system. But perhaps, even more so, it reflects the thinking of Follow the Father-figure Leader (meaning a human who tells one what to believe, ie a politician or a person in a priestly role, NOT meaning God.) <BR/><BR/>I posted on my blog a request for sources and blogs representing conservative thinking in Christianity and church practices that expounds on some issues in a calm, rational, clear thinking way, and I haven't yet gotten a suggestion.LoieJhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08083454353846306345noreply@blogger.com