G.R.A.C.E. Promotes Feminist's Article

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I am beginning to suspect that the person running GRACE’s FB page may be a member of one of the “do right” groups because I am seeing a lot of these anti-fundamentalist articles that I am seeing on these other groups first and then making their way to the GRACE FB page.

Today GRACE posted this article about “Being a female body in a Christian college”, and the author is an admitted feminist, and member of Jocelyn Zichtermans IFB Cult Survivor Group

Discussion

How bad is it to be “an admitted feminist”?

I ask because it strikes me that:

  • In Fundamentalist circles the term “feminist” is a code word for “anti-what-the-Bible-teaches-about-women-and-their-appropriate-roles
  • But isn’t there a positive element of being a feminist that is:
    • For suffrage
    • For equal pay
    • Is for self-respect and against harassment and unwanted sexual advances
  • I refer to the wiki article that addresses some of the positive elements of feminism

So in asking this, I wonder, may a spiritual woman be a feminist is this sense?

And if the answer is “yes”, then perhaps one needs to ask what kind of feminist the author is?

Re the “member of Jocelyn Zichtermans IFB Cult Survivor Group”. I actually did not follow the link to pursue that angle but I think it (while not being a fan of JZ) excess to call it a cult.

Jay, it’s a group for people who survive cults. JZ is calling IFB a cult.

Also, I agree that the label “feminist” is hardly alarming and used in the OP merely as a scare word.

And I think “Dr” James Ach’s conspiracy theories are wildly inappropriate.

My Blog: http://dearreaderblog.com

Cor meum tibi offero Domine prompte et sincere. ~ John Calvin

More on my view of women’s rights:

  • I view that a woman ought to be paid based upon ability and work performance and not be paid less (or more) because of gender
  • While I wish women would generally vote more like I vote I do support their right to vote. I hope every Christian feels this way.
  • I would hope that a woman would be treated respectfully in the workplace and not be viewed as sex objects and potential conquests. I’ve been in the secular workplace since 1973 (with a 16 year break as a Pastor) and I recognize in my earlier experience at work, women were often mistreated. And if a man needed a cup a coffee it was often appropriate to ask a woman to bring to him

I don’t see any of my own views at odds with the teachings of the Scriptures.

in this case “cult” modifies IFB and Survivor, not the group in question.

Hoping to shed more light than heat..

Charlie wrote: “Also, I agree that the label “feminist” is hardly alarming…”

If feminism doesn’t “alarm” you as a Christian, I’m afraid to ask what does.

The author I listed for that article made a difference between her “Christian faith” and secular “feminism”. She admittedly belongs to the BGSU Woman’s Group, and here is a list of some of the groups that participate in that:

*Trans Awareness Group - TAG-TAG is the Trans Awareness Group for BGSU students who identify as Trans, Genderqueer, Gender non-conforming, and Allies. TAG meets every Tuesday at 8 pm in room 107 in Hanna Hall.

*Vision-The undergraduate Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, Questioning, and Straight Supportive (GLBTQIQSS) student organization. One of Vision’s goals is to provide a supportive and friendly environment for the GLBTQIQSS community here at Bowling Green.

Did you read any of her other articles? How about the one where she calls King David a rapist. (ignore that picture of the naked cartoon). Or her position on the Christian view of abortion and virginity. Sarah’s article on “So, What About the Men” she offers a list of men silenced by “gender roles” one of them being “[r] oles which completely ignore same-sex relationships”.

Some of the blogs she recommends: The Anarchist Reverend, a pro trans-gender LGBT advocate, and Naked Pastor, a proponent of progressive Christianity.

I didn’t spell out everything that I read because I assumed that any educated Christians that gave a cursory perusal of her material would have figured it out. My bad for assuming.

Charlie wrote: “….and used in the OP merely as a scare word.” “And I think “Dr” James Ach’s conspiracy theories are wildly inappropriate.”

So you can just recklessly claim that I used the term “feminism” as a “scare word” and have the nerve to call ME a conspiracy theorist! LOL. Perhaps I should have embellished my plot by adding “the chem-trails of feminism” (which, for the record, I don’t believe in).

The only thing in that every short post that you could possibly allude to as a “conspiracy theory”, which itself is quite a stretch, is my assumption that somebody from a Do Right group may be running the FB page. Is that so absurd? There are many in those groups who claim to be certified and or licensed counselors, psychotherapists, and victim advocates with degrees in those fields. It’s possible that an FB page may not rank as high on the priority list of other undertakings of GRACE’s ministry and someone from one these groups with such credentials could have volunteered to run that page.

But I did not just make that assumption based on that one post. I have seen several articles posted on the GRACE FB page that target fundamentalism specifically that I saw posted first on JZ’s page or on another “Do Right” page, and the fact that Sarah’s article was posted on GRACE’s page and the author is a member of JZ’s group is more than enough to assume that there may be some merit to what I alleged without it being relegated to a conspiracy theory (after you opined with your “conspiracy theory” about my intentions with the term ‘feminism’).

So just to give you the benefit of the doubt, I’m going to throw another “conspiracy theory” and suggest that perhaps you haven’t studied much on feminism, at least to the point where their philosophies and beliefs would be “alarming” to a Bible believing Christian.

PS. If you read some of the comments on the GRACE FB page, I wasn’t the only one that found the post offensive coming from a Christian organization. There are a few other “conspiracy theorists” on there, too :)

Dr James Ach

What Kills You Makes You Stronger Rom 8:13; 7:24-25

Do Right Christians, and Calvinisms Other Side

I would refer you to the response I gave to Charlie regarding some of the points you made about what you think feminism could imply.

I reject feminism as a whole, but for context, my OP is targeting Sarah’s view of feminism and her other associations. Feminism goes beyond mere defense of women’s rights in the workplace. Sarah is attempting to embrace a type of syncretism amalgamating some from of Christian faith to secular feminism. However, even if it espoused as “Christian” feminism (such as the brand of Katherine Bushnell) it is no more Christian than Atheists for Jesus. It is an unchristian egalitarian system that rejects Biblical gender roles and sexuality and traditional views of marriage and family.

And the cult name is the name JZ gave to her group which I think Rob Fall addressed.

Dr James Ach

What Kills You Makes You Stronger Rom 8:13; 7:24-25

Do Right Christians, and Calvinisms Other Side

Jim — I read your blanket acceptance of feminism with a smile on my face. You would be a total radical — if this was the early decades of the 20th Century.

Modern Feminism has very little to do with suffrage, equal pay and eliminating harassment — it’s about the elimination of any type of thought, speech or action that would allow men to have a position of power over a female.

Whether that’s a good thing or not - I can’t say.

I’m a man.

What do I know.

I am a feminist and a member of BGSU’s Organization for Women’s Issues. I am passionate about reconciling my Christian faith with feminism, and about helping to make the church a better place for women everywhere.

The phrasing of that particular sentence struck me as interesting when I read it. Just figured that I’d note that.

The tagline on Sarah’s blog is “Working My Way From Fundamentalism to Freedom Without Losing My Mind”. That seems to fit nicely with the theme of Zichterman’s anti-religion FB group. Now why anyone would expect to find ‘healing’ in that group of bitter and self-righteous wackos is beyond me.

That being said, the behavior of the principal figures in her blog entry is reprehensible, demeaning, and wicked. I would hope that the administrator’s husband and the chapel speaker were disciplined. Why a Christian College would allow the husband of a residence hall supervisor to meet with the women in the dorm is a little confusing to me too - I’m fairly sure that could not have occured at the college/grad schools that I attended.

"Our task today is to tell people — who no longer know what sin is...no longer see themselves as sinners, and no longer have room for these categories — that Christ died for sins of which they do not think they’re guilty." - David Wells

Obviously, as men, we can’t speak for or even understand feminism — so let’s get back to the original topic:

I am beginning to suspect that the person running GRACE’s FB page may be a member of one of the “do right” groups because I am seeing a lot of these anti-fundamentalist articles that I am seeing on these other groups first and then making their way to the GRACE FB page.

“Anti-fundamentalist” — I don’t believe GRACE (as an organization) has ever been perceived as or ever claimed to be “fundamentalist”. I believe GRACE would fall on the “progressive” side of Christianity and not the conservative “fundamentalist” side. I could be wrong, but I thought BJU’s recent employment of the more progressive (non-fundamentalist) GRACE organization was intentional. An attempt by the University to find an investigatory organization that is not in lock-step with all of BJU’s past beliefs and standards so that BJU could use the GRACE findings to implement appropriate change in future policy.

Frankly, I’m not surprised or alarmed by GRACE’s perceived “anti-fundamentalist” FB posts.

What does surprise and alarm me is when well-known fundamentalist pastors (unfortunately a BJ grad, as well) refer to all abuse survivors/victims as “psychos”…

That is somewhat non sequitur to the post since I didn’t make the connection between GRACE and why BJU hired them, but for arguments sake I’ll respond to the second paragraph.

The anti-fundamentalist would surprise me since they have a team of professionals (that include lawyers) investigating claims of abuse, and claim to do so under the guise of a Godly response, so I would think they would take a neutral stand or at least a NON fundamentalist stand so as to avoid any appearance of partiality.

I don’t know that GRACE adopts a progressive Christianity philosophy, I could be wrong. Liberal compared to fundamentalism perhaps, but in terms of the popular progressive movement, I have not seen any substantial evidence of that. If they are progressives, then I would not be alarmed because progs tend to tolerate everyone but fundamentalists. I would still be offended by the content, but would have possibly withheld my scrutiny (depending on if I’d read the post before or after coffee).

You know, you should have taken credit for those videos because it appears that Pope Disa F. Fected was about to absolve you of all of your “lies” and “crimes” you posted about him/them.

Dr James Ach

What Kills You Makes You Stronger Rom 8:13; 7:24-25

Do Right Christians, and Calvinisms Other Side

Did not want to make this about BJU — just trying to stay on topic.

I am only familiar with GRACE through BJU - that’s the only reason I mentioned the University.

I did finally get a response from GRACE, but it didn’t really address my concern and was somewhat neutral.

“Consistent with our agreement with BJU, the GRACE Team employs several venues in an attempt to identify and understand a range of perspectives and viewpoints, especially from individuals with complaints or grievances. Third party postings and comments on our Facebook page therefore do not necessarily represent our endorsement of a particular viewpoint or theological perspective.”

My complaint was that the post was generated BY GRACE, not a third party. I also gave them details about the other postings the third party website made that showed support for abortion, homosexual rights, support of anti-Christian websites, and even down to articles that referred to King David as a rapist, and I don’t think that response was very adequate.

I’m quite disappointed in that response and the post is still on their FB page.

I can still view their involvement with BJU or AWBE or any other organizations the way I would view a secular investigative team. However, what was initially encouraging to me when GRACE became involved with these organizations was that I presumed that their work ethics were solidly Christian. That may not be as important to anyone else, but a Christian agency to me should be less likely to have an axe to grind with another Christian institution and skew the results of the investigation. I’m not saying that that will happen, but it does give me cause for concern when they post articles from those who are members of anti-fundamentalist groups who themselves have made it clear that regardless of the outcome of the GRACE investigation into BJU or anyone else, any church or college that deems itself as a fundamentalist institution is a cult, and I would have thought that GRACE would want to distance itself from any such groups to avoid the appearance of partiality and impropriety.

Dr James Ach

What Kills You Makes You Stronger Rom 8:13; 7:24-25

Do Right Christians, and Calvinisms Other Side

Would it be possible to see the list of articles that you referred to in the letter sent to GRACE? That’s an interesting and ominous development in my mind.

It certainly makes the decision of ABWE to cut off GRACE’s investigation a little more compelling.

"Our task today is to tell people — who no longer know what sin is...no longer see themselves as sinners, and no longer have room for these categories — that Christ died for sins of which they do not think they’re guilty." - David Wells

[Jay]

Would it be possible to see the list of articles that you referred to in the letter sent to GRACE? That’s an interesting and ominous development in my mind.

It certainly makes the decision of ABWE to cut off GRACE’s investigation a little more compelling.

Some of them are listed in the this thread above

I wouldn’t really see that as a compelling reason for ABWE since they hired a non-religious firm to take over the investigation so it would be difficult for ABWE to use that argument ex post facto.

Dr James Ach

What Kills You Makes You Stronger Rom 8:13; 7:24-25

Do Right Christians, and Calvinisms Other Side