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Edited on Wed Jul-11-07 11:53 PM by bliss_eternal
...so in a manner of speaking, yes. I believe many rw fundie women to be brainwashed. Everything in church (that I recall) is a major mindfuck (excuse me). They tell you to focus on "godly things":eyes: --reading the bible, watching religious television only,they tell you not to watch the news, etc. :crazy:
Christianity (and most western religions derivative of it) teach obedience and deferment to authority. Authority figures in most cases are men--church figures--priests, reverends, deacons, etc. Why do you think in most church structures women play a support role and are usually not allowed to be reverends, priests, etc.?
There was a huge brouhaha over the episcopal church allowing women to be priests. :eyes:
Churches regularly point out scriptures and biblical parables that speak to the perils of "disobedience" and defying one's "role" in life. How someone faced ruin because they disobeyed god's laws. (Yep--the bible is used to guilt trip and instill fear).
As one that has sat through my fair share of church sermons/lectures there were quite a few that featured "women's role" as helpmate, caregiver, etc. I recall one in particular that stuck with me for years and probably added to my reluctance refusal to return to traditional "christian churches." This speech featured comments such as, "good christian women, know what's important in life. Jobs, careers and money can fade--but family is always there. This is what a good, christian woman nurtures in her life." :puke:
In other words, those women that pursue careers are evil and soul-less. Women that nurture husbands and families will have the blessings of the lord. :eyes: (yes, you can vomit now).
Such a bunch of crap.
I know of too many "good, christian women" that were left by their husbands or traded in for "younger models." :eyes: But no one talks about that. What about the women that spent their entire lives giving to their families only to wake up one day with nothing--the kids grew up and left, husbands died or left....they had no career, no interests, no hobbies, etc. :shrug:
Or the way such women are usually shunned(or ignored) by the church when it happens. They're told to "pray" their feelings away when they have every right to be angry and depressed.
Oh and 'familY' is NOT a constant in a woman's life, no matter how "good", faithful or giving a woman is to them. Families can (and do)fail people. People are fallible and capable of betrayal whether blood related or not. Telling women to pour everything into a family no matter what--is a not so subtle form of brainwashing, as far as I'm concerned. It sets so many women up for disappointment, disillusionment and heartache.
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