This week’s #metoo campaign on social media has been a powerful and sad reminder of how many of us have experienced sexual abuse, assault, or harassment. If you missed it, the point was for women who have been sexually harassed or assaulted to write “Me too” as a Facebook status […]
Category: A Tale of Two Sinners
No More Looking the Other Way
[Trigger warning: The topic of this post is adults who ignore signs of child sexual abuse.] Not again. Not another one, please. But there it is: “Rotherham sex abuse scandal:1,400 children exploited by Asian gangs while authorities turned a blind eye” reads the terrible headline in last Tuesday’s issue […]
A problem we can’t ignore…
My sisters, this is real and is happening right here in the USA.
Those ‘Monsters’ Have Victims
In the May 2012 issue of Christianity Today, the editors were appalled to learn that a former co-worker at the magazine was arrested for sexually assaulting two of his foster children. On the heels of this story came the revelation that a Wheaton College Christian education professor was arrested for […]
“Thank You” or “Please Forgive Me”? Pondering the Prostitute’s Purpose
Was she there to beg his forgiveness or to worship him for a cleansing already received? This was the question that sparked all the Bible study I’ve invested in the subject of Jesus and women over the years. (God may have possibly had something to do with this, as well.) […]
Protecting God’s Daughters
Yesterday, my daughter Jessi and I attended a conference on violence against women at the UVA Nursing School. We learned more about the emotional and physical tolls of abuse on its victims, about interventions to protect victims and aid in their recovery, and about efforts here and abroad aimed at […]
Women of Notable Faith
Jesus explicitly mentions the faith of only three women in the Gospels. Can you guess who they are? His mother maybe? Mary Magdalene? Mary and Martha, the sisters of Lazarus? Nope. These women may have possessed notable faith, but the Gospel writers never mentioned it. The faith Jesus commented on […]
Compassion Is Never Wasted
File this under the category “You can never predict what effect your actions will have.” In Week 9 of The Gentle Savior Bible study, I mention a local newspaper article reporting the arrest of seven women on charges of prostitution. That was the only time in our 11 years in […]
No Good Reason to Use the Word Slut
slut [sluht] A word used by women to demean other females for their perceived provocative style of dress or behavior around men. A word used by teenagers to mar the reputation of a girl they want to hurt. A word used by parents to shame their young daughters when otherwise […]
RAINN Day
Here’s a little public service announcement for all my sisters. Thursday, September 22, is RAINN Day, an annual campaign by the Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network to raise awareness and educate students against sexual violence on college campuses. There are a number of helpful resources on RAINN’s website at […]