Several months ago, the Cornwall Alliance released a DVD curriculum called Resisting the Green Dragon, which demonizes the environmental movement as supposedly anti-Christian. This month, the Cornwall Alliance has released a companion book for the DVD set entitled Resisting the Green Dragon: Dominion, Not Death. In the organization's January 19th newsletter (available at www[dot]cornwallalliance[dot]org/newsletter/issue/newsletter-january-19-2011/), the Cornwall Alliance describes the 309-page book, written by Dr. James A. Wanliss. Conservative Christian news site OneNewsNow posted an article on the book here.
Predictably, the book contains anti-environmentalism content that is similar to the DVD set, as evidenced from the chapter titles. One chapter, "The Church Complicit: How Environmentalism Has Penetrated the Church with Anti-Human and Anti-Christian Ideas," suggests that environmentalism is incompatible with Christian faith. Other chapter titles, such as "Created in the Image of God: Why Humans Are More Special to God than Other Creatures" and "Naked Ape: How Nature Is Not Divine, and Humans Are Spiritually Superior to All Other Creatures" presents an anthropocentric worldview that disdains animals as inferior creatures. Other chapters cast sustainability in a negative light and argue that environmentalism is supposedly detrimental to the poor.
One wonders if the author is familiar with Christian ecotheology and faith-based environmental initiatives, all of which demonstrate that Christianity and environmentalism can be compatible. Also, when the author claims that environmentalism is supposedly detrimental to the poor, one wonders if he is familiar with the environmental justice movement, which addresses the disproportionate ecological burdens (i.e., pollution) faced by poor communities and communities of color. I'm going to try to track down a copy of the book to read it for myself, but I am not optimistic about its content.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
The Cornwall Alliance's January 19th newsletter also comments on progressive commentators' disapproval of the DVD version of Resisting the Green Dragon, citing Right Wing Watch, Mother Jones, and the Huffington Post as examples. The newsletter complains that most of said commentators have relied on Right Wing Watch's version of the promotional video, rather than Cornwall Alliance's own 12-minute promo or the DVD curriculum itself. These voices, it claims, misrepresent Resisting the Green Dragon as promoting a humans-versus-nature worldview, when it actually wants to promote the idea that "human prosperity enables good environmental stewardship."
Below is a shorter promo for the DVD, which can give readers a sense of the curriculum's flavor. I invite readers to judge for themselves.
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Good Reads: THE PURITY MYTH by Jessica Valenti
After infiltrating the Silver Ring Thing last week, I wanted to learn more about Christian purity culture and its ramifications. Jessica Valenti's 2010 book, The Purity Myth: How America's Obsession with Virginity is Hurting Young Women, discusses purity culture and its assumptions about sexuality.
The Purity Myth argues societal obsession with (female) virginity, abstinence-only education, and backlash against women's rights have placed unhealthy and unrealistic sexual expectations on women. By defining women's worth chiefly through their virginity, purity culture objectifies women by reducing them to their sexuality, while devaluing other traits such as honesty and compassion. The essence of virginity culture is that women cannot be trusted with their sexuality. Valenti urges readers to resist virginity culture and construct healthy, egalitarian visions of human sexuality.
Valenti demonstrates that virginity itself is a nebulous concept, with no universal medical definition. Virginity, rather, has been defined by male-dominated institutions as a way of ensuring the patrilineage of offspring and enforcing male ownership of women's bodies. The author observes that the virginity movement usually associated virginal purity with young, white, heterosexual women -- thereby deeming low-income women, women of color, etc. unfit to be placed on a pedestal. Even in this day and age, the virgin/whore dichotomy lives on.
Valenti explores various facets of the virginity movement, including abstinence-only education, abstinence pledges, and purity balls, many of which have a conservative Christian slant. Too often, the virginity movement promotes stereotypical gender roles, misinformation about sex, and outright antipathy toward feminism, all to the detriment of young women.
Troubling messages about female sexuality also pervade the surrounding culture. For example, Valenti devotes a chapter to commercial pornography, arguing that both pornography and the virginity movement depict female sexuality as passive and subservient. Another chapter on legislation discusses how right-wing laws restricting abortion, emergency contraception, and reproductive technologies reflect paternalistic views that women can't be trusted with their sexuality (and are frequently punitive toward sexually active women). The Purity Myth's chapter on sexual violence demonstrates how rape myths blame women who do not fit society's image of "pure". A chapter on masculinity discusses how stereotypical masculinity is entwined with fear and disdain for women, from television commercials to Religious Right rhetoric. Valenti argues that as long as men are disconnected from women, and taught to define their masculinity through the use and abuse of women's bodies, the purity myth will persist.
The last chapters of The Purity Myth offer a plan of action for transforming sexual attitudes in society. Valenti provides concrete strategies for challenging mainstream porn culture, critiquing media, promoting pro-woman legislation, and combating abstinence-only sex education. To boot, she offers readers a vision of a post-virginity world where women are trusted with their sexual and reproductive choices and right-wing voices no longer have a monopoly on the language of morality.
While not about the Religious Right per se, The Purity Myth offers profound insights into how many right-wing Christians understand sexuality. The model of sexuality critiqued in the book is precisely the model found in many Christian abstinence-only curricula and virginity pledges -- one that conflates virginity with morality, condemns sexual expression outside of marriage as impure, promotes sexist gender roles, and erases LGBT sexuality. For critics of the the Religious Right, as well as anyone in favor of a healthy and just sexual ethic, The Purity Myth is a must-read.
For additional commentary on The Purity Myth, visit the following links.
Jezebel: The Purity Myth's Jessica Valenti Talks Virginity, Weddings & Miss California
Marie Claire: Jessica Valenti Debunks the Purity Myth
The Book Lady's Blog: The Purity Myth by Jessica Valenti
Spine Creases: Review: The Purity Myth
Brazen Beauties: The Purity Myth: More Than Just a Silver Ring Thing?
The Purity Myth argues societal obsession with (female) virginity, abstinence-only education, and backlash against women's rights have placed unhealthy and unrealistic sexual expectations on women. By defining women's worth chiefly through their virginity, purity culture objectifies women by reducing them to their sexuality, while devaluing other traits such as honesty and compassion. The essence of virginity culture is that women cannot be trusted with their sexuality. Valenti urges readers to resist virginity culture and construct healthy, egalitarian visions of human sexuality.
Valenti demonstrates that virginity itself is a nebulous concept, with no universal medical definition. Virginity, rather, has been defined by male-dominated institutions as a way of ensuring the patrilineage of offspring and enforcing male ownership of women's bodies. The author observes that the virginity movement usually associated virginal purity with young, white, heterosexual women -- thereby deeming low-income women, women of color, etc. unfit to be placed on a pedestal. Even in this day and age, the virgin/whore dichotomy lives on.
Valenti explores various facets of the virginity movement, including abstinence-only education, abstinence pledges, and purity balls, many of which have a conservative Christian slant. Too often, the virginity movement promotes stereotypical gender roles, misinformation about sex, and outright antipathy toward feminism, all to the detriment of young women.
Troubling messages about female sexuality also pervade the surrounding culture. For example, Valenti devotes a chapter to commercial pornography, arguing that both pornography and the virginity movement depict female sexuality as passive and subservient. Another chapter on legislation discusses how right-wing laws restricting abortion, emergency contraception, and reproductive technologies reflect paternalistic views that women can't be trusted with their sexuality (and are frequently punitive toward sexually active women). The Purity Myth's chapter on sexual violence demonstrates how rape myths blame women who do not fit society's image of "pure". A chapter on masculinity discusses how stereotypical masculinity is entwined with fear and disdain for women, from television commercials to Religious Right rhetoric. Valenti argues that as long as men are disconnected from women, and taught to define their masculinity through the use and abuse of women's bodies, the purity myth will persist.
The last chapters of The Purity Myth offer a plan of action for transforming sexual attitudes in society. Valenti provides concrete strategies for challenging mainstream porn culture, critiquing media, promoting pro-woman legislation, and combating abstinence-only sex education. To boot, she offers readers a vision of a post-virginity world where women are trusted with their sexual and reproductive choices and right-wing voices no longer have a monopoly on the language of morality.
While not about the Religious Right per se, The Purity Myth offers profound insights into how many right-wing Christians understand sexuality. The model of sexuality critiqued in the book is precisely the model found in many Christian abstinence-only curricula and virginity pledges -- one that conflates virginity with morality, condemns sexual expression outside of marriage as impure, promotes sexist gender roles, and erases LGBT sexuality. For critics of the the Religious Right, as well as anyone in favor of a healthy and just sexual ethic, The Purity Myth is a must-read.
For additional commentary on The Purity Myth, visit the following links.
Jezebel: The Purity Myth's Jessica Valenti Talks Virginity, Weddings & Miss California
Marie Claire: Jessica Valenti Debunks the Purity Myth
The Book Lady's Blog: The Purity Myth by Jessica Valenti
Spine Creases: Review: The Purity Myth
Brazen Beauties: The Purity Myth: More Than Just a Silver Ring Thing?
Friday, January 28, 2011
News Tidbits
MSNBC: 13 percent of biology teachers back creationism
Minnesota
Minnesota Independent: Pawlenty: America
WRBL News 3: House of Mercy Holds Ground, Gay Pastor Stands Up
Daily Mail Online: Second gay couple sue B&B after being turned away by owner who said her 'convictions' didn't allow two men to share a bed
Mother Jones: The House GOP’s Plan to Redefine Rape
Commentary Tidbits
The Dassler Diaries: The Truth About Abortion
Religion Dispatches: Michele Bachmann Launches Constitutional Fundamentalist Seminars
Right Wing Watch: Donohue Defends Museum Censorship, Blames “Gay Activists” and “Bathhouses” for Artist’s Death
Right Wing Watch: Land and Dobson Blame Feminism For the Fact That Nobody Wants to Marry Their Awesome Daughters
Nicholas Kristof at the New York Times: Tussling Over Jesus
Advocatus Atheist: Because the Truth Matters or Darwin vs. the Holy Flaming Snowflake of God!
Huffington Post: What Is the Role of Theology in the Abortion Debate?
(Hat tip to A Feather Adrift for the last article)
Thursday, January 27, 2011
LGBT Advocate David Kato Murdered in Uganda (UPDATED)
On Wednesday, January 28th, Ugandan LGBT advocate David Kato was beaten to death in his home in the Mukono district outside of Kampala. Kato, advocacy officer for Sexual Minorities Uganda (SMUG), was one of several LGBT people targeted by the Ugandan tabloid Rolling Stone (no relation to the American entertainment magazine) under a headline that read "Hang Them." According to the Irish Times, Kato's murder comes just weeks after his successful court case against the tabloid.
Kato had been a vocal opponent of a proposed anti-gay bill in Uganda that has stoked controversy around the globe. The bill, authored by Ugandan MP David Bahati, would make homosexual activity punishable by life imprisonment, mandating the death penalty for repeat offenders.
The bill was introduced months after an anti-gay conference in Kampala in March 2009, featuring Scott Lively, Don Schmierer of Exodus International, and "ex-gay" counselor Caleb Brundidge. According to the New York Times, Schmierer claimed that he had nothing to do with Kato's killing and lamented that he is being "bludgeoned" by opponents. Evangelical preacher Lou Engle has also received criticism for promoting anti-gay attitudes in Uganda, as depicted in the documentary Missionaries of Hate.
Human Rights Watch has urged Ugandan authorities to conduct a prompt and impartial investigation of Kato's murder, beseeching the Ugandan government to protect LGBT citizens from violence. Amnesty International is also calling on authorities to ensure a "credible investigation" of the killing. The Advocate reports that President Obama and Secretary of State Clinton have condemned the murder, emphasizing the importance of human rights for LGBT persons.
Kato's murder serves as a reminder of the tragic consequences of homophobia. The international community must condemn homophobic violence and take to task those who promote homophobic attitudes.
UPDATE #1: Reuters is reporting that a scuffle broke out at David Kato's funeral in Mukono after the pastor conducting the service made anti-gay comments. (Hat tip to Holy Bullies and Headless Monsters.)
UPDATE #2: The Advocate is reporting that a suspect has been arrested in relation to Kato's murder.
UPDATE #3: Mariana van Zeller, the Vanguard correspondent who reported on Uganda in Missionaries of Hate, issued a statement about the murder of David Kato.
For additional news and commentary, visit the following links.
BBC News: Obituary: Uganda gay activist David Kato
Box Turtle Bulletin: Ugandan LGBT Advocate Murdered; Had Been Named by "Hang Them" Tabloid
Truth Wins Out: Ugandan Gay Activist Murdered in Cold Blood
Holy Bullies and Headless Monsters: Did Scott Lively's Homophobic "Nuclear Bomb" Cause a Death in Uganda
RH Reality Check: Prominent Human Rights Advocate Murdered in Uganda
Religion Dispatches: Recounting (Again) the Role of American Religious Activists in Uganda Anti-Gay Violence
Religion Dispatches: Ugandan Gay Rights Activist Murdered, U.S. Evangelicals Must Take Responsibility
Politics Plus: Supply-Side Jesus Has Death Panels Too!
Kato had been a vocal opponent of a proposed anti-gay bill in Uganda that has stoked controversy around the globe. The bill, authored by Ugandan MP David Bahati, would make homosexual activity punishable by life imprisonment, mandating the death penalty for repeat offenders.
The bill was introduced months after an anti-gay conference in Kampala in March 2009, featuring Scott Lively, Don Schmierer of Exodus International, and "ex-gay" counselor Caleb Brundidge. According to the New York Times, Schmierer claimed that he had nothing to do with Kato's killing and lamented that he is being "bludgeoned" by opponents. Evangelical preacher Lou Engle has also received criticism for promoting anti-gay attitudes in Uganda, as depicted in the documentary Missionaries of Hate.
Human Rights Watch has urged Ugandan authorities to conduct a prompt and impartial investigation of Kato's murder, beseeching the Ugandan government to protect LGBT citizens from violence. Amnesty International is also calling on authorities to ensure a "credible investigation" of the killing. The Advocate reports that President Obama and Secretary of State Clinton have condemned the murder, emphasizing the importance of human rights for LGBT persons.
Kato's murder serves as a reminder of the tragic consequences of homophobia. The international community must condemn homophobic violence and take to task those who promote homophobic attitudes.
UPDATE #1: Reuters is reporting that a scuffle broke out at David Kato's funeral in Mukono after the pastor conducting the service made anti-gay comments. (Hat tip to Holy Bullies and Headless Monsters.)
UPDATE #2: The Advocate is reporting that a suspect has been arrested in relation to Kato's murder.
UPDATE #3: Mariana van Zeller, the Vanguard correspondent who reported on Uganda in Missionaries of Hate, issued a statement about the murder of David Kato.
For additional news and commentary, visit the following links.
BBC News: Obituary: Uganda gay activist David Kato
Box Turtle Bulletin: Ugandan LGBT Advocate Murdered; Had Been Named by "Hang Them" Tabloid
Truth Wins Out: Ugandan Gay Activist Murdered in Cold Blood
Holy Bullies and Headless Monsters: Did Scott Lively's Homophobic "Nuclear Bomb" Cause a Death in Uganda
RH Reality Check: Prominent Human Rights Advocate Murdered in Uganda
Religion Dispatches: Recounting (Again) the Role of American Religious Activists in Uganda Anti-Gay Violence
Religion Dispatches: Ugandan Gay Rights Activist Murdered, U.S. Evangelicals Must Take Responsibility
Politics Plus: Supply-Side Jesus Has Death Panels Too!
2011 March for Life in Washington D.C. -- Part II
(To return to Part I, click here. To watch the March for Life rally on C-SPAN, click here.)
Brother Paul O'Donnell introduced Bobby Schindler, brother of the late Terri Schiavo. Schindler claimed that euthanasia was taking place in the U.S. and tried to link abortion with euthanasia.
Brother Paul O'Donnell introduced Bobby Schindler, brother of the late Terri Schiavo. Schindler claimed that euthanasia was taking place in the U.S. and tried to link abortion with euthanasia.
"We are all at risk because there is deadly prejudice growing in our nation. Just like the countless number of unborn children that are being killed every day, those with profound brain injuries, the elderly and the chronically sick are also being deliberately killed right now as we speak. Every single one of us need to understand that the same people and the same organizations that are behind the abortion agenda are also responsible for untold number of persons being killed by euthanasia in our nation every single day. We need to fight against euthanasia with the same determination as we do to protect the unborn child."Next, Father John Kowalczyk of the Orthodox Church of America introduced His Beatitude Metropolitan Jonah. Metropolitan Jonah told the audience that they were living in a time of "moral decay" and "decadence," which he attributed to "licentiousness of sexual morality," euthanasia, and abortion. Condemning abortion as an aspect of this "culture of death" and a supposed source of self-hatred and guilt for women, Metropolitan Jonah claimed that Christians provide the means to transform the culture through their message of repentance and forgiveness. Christians, he insisted, must find a means of sharing this message in a "culture that is intoxicated with its own pleasure."
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
2011 March for Life in Washington D.C. -- Part I
On Monday, January 24th, I traveled to Washington D.C. to observe the annual March for Life, a event that draws anti-abortion advocates from across the country. The 2011 event featured a rally at 4th Street and Madison Drive, followed by a march in the vicinity of the Capitol building. The March for Life coincides with the 38th anniversary of the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision that legalized abortion. Abortion has long been a cause of the Religious Right in this country, and the signs and rhetoric I observed at the rally reflected the conservative Christian flavor of the anti-abortion movement.
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Commentary Tidbits
Dispatches from the Culture Wars: Texas BOE Wants Creationist Material in Schools. Again.
RH Reality Check: Illegal Abortion Providers and Anti-Choice Irresponsibility
RH Reality Check: "Sex Traffickers" Target Planned Parenthood in Possible Live Action Films Hoax
Holy Bullies and Headless Monsters: Homophobia of Chick Publications should remind lgbt community of how far we've come
Right Wing Watch: Stemberger Sets Up Legal Defense Fund Backed By Religious Right, Anti-Muslims Activists
Right Wing Watch: Barton: “I Guarantee You They Are Getting Homosexual Indoctrination” in Public Schools
The Cognitive Dissenter: God Hates Phelps
Talk to Action: Billy Graham and the Rise of the Religious Right
Religion Dispatches: Theocracy: “What Would Be So Bad About It?”
Media Matters: Beck: Progressives Have "Tried To Destroy" God
Think Progress Wonk Room: Iowa’s Anti-Marriage Crusader Compares Same-Sex Unions To Polygamy, Rails Against ‘Absolute Tolerance’
Friendly Atheist: I Don’t Want Your Cookie
Showing Christ’s Love: "US Government Under Satanic Control"
RH Reality Check: Illegal Abortion Providers and Anti-Choice Irresponsibility
RH Reality Check: "Sex Traffickers" Target Planned Parenthood in Possible Live Action Films Hoax
Holy Bullies and Headless Monsters: Homophobia of Chick Publications should remind lgbt community of how far we've come
Right Wing Watch: Stemberger Sets Up Legal Defense Fund Backed By Religious Right, Anti-Muslims Activists
Right Wing Watch: Barton: “I Guarantee You They Are Getting Homosexual Indoctrination” in Public Schools
The Cognitive Dissenter: God Hates Phelps
Talk to Action: Billy Graham and the Rise of the Religious Right
Religion Dispatches: Theocracy: “What Would Be So Bad About It?”
Media Matters: Beck: Progressives Have "Tried To Destroy" God
Think Progress Wonk Room: Iowa’s Anti-Marriage Crusader Compares Same-Sex Unions To Polygamy, Rails Against ‘Absolute Tolerance’
Friendly Atheist: I Don’t Want Your Cookie
Showing Christ’s Love: "US Government Under Satanic Control"
News Tidbits
WDBJ 7: Ten Commandments Goes Back Up in Giles County Schools
Minnesota Independent: At Christian Book-Signing, Pawlenty Says He's "Seriously Considering" 2012 Bid
Beliefnet: Court Says Religious Knowledge Test Improper in Asylum Case
Politico: DeMint Joins CPAC Boycott
Minnesota Independent: At Christian Book-Signing, Pawlenty Says He's "Seriously Considering" 2012 Bid
Beliefnet: Court Says Religious Knowledge Test Improper in Asylum Case
Politico: DeMint Joins CPAC Boycott
The Daily Texan: Conservative Christians divorce more, study says
Pink News: Christian hotel owners to appeal ruling
Ms. Magazine: 38th Anniversary of Roe v. Wade
New York Times: Across Country, Lawmakers Push Abortion Curbs
Sioux City Journal: Free Bibles provided for women in crisis
Google News: Hawaii Senate ends daily chamber prayers
(Hat tip to Godless Girl for the last article)
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Silver Ring Thing, Part II
(Click here to return to Part I)
The central piece of the parents seminar at Silver Ring Thing was a prerecorded video by Silver Ring Thing founder Denny Pattyn. Pattyn reminded parents that they play an important role in teaching sexual values to their children. He lamented the fact that many parents don't talk to their children about sex due to embarrassment, a lack of time, or discomfort over their own sexual histories. Pattyn outlined four goals for parents whose children were adopting abstinence pledges: (1) pray for their children about the decision, (2) become a believer in the abstinence movement, (3) get equipped to support their children's abstinence decision, and (4) become advocates themselves in promoting abstinence among teens.
No argument here, I thought. Parents talking to their children about responsible sexuality and supporting their decision to abstain sounded reasonable. Unfortunately, the video soon took an abrasive turn.
Pattyn lambasted what most people would label comprehensive sex education, claiming that schools want to teach sex education to 4 and 5-year-olds and were telling teens that wearing a condom every time makes sex perfectly safe. He seethed over the way that society is supposedly pushing parental values aside in favor of "children's rights," thereby eroding parental authority. Abortion without parental notification was one example of how parents' authority was being eroded, he claimed. His caricature of comprehensive sex education, combined with his emphasis on parental authority, said volumes about his worldview.
The central piece of the parents seminar at Silver Ring Thing was a prerecorded video by Silver Ring Thing founder Denny Pattyn. Pattyn reminded parents that they play an important role in teaching sexual values to their children. He lamented the fact that many parents don't talk to their children about sex due to embarrassment, a lack of time, or discomfort over their own sexual histories. Pattyn outlined four goals for parents whose children were adopting abstinence pledges: (1) pray for their children about the decision, (2) become a believer in the abstinence movement, (3) get equipped to support their children's abstinence decision, and (4) become advocates themselves in promoting abstinence among teens.
No argument here, I thought. Parents talking to their children about responsible sexuality and supporting their decision to abstain sounded reasonable. Unfortunately, the video soon took an abrasive turn.
Pattyn lambasted what most people would label comprehensive sex education, claiming that schools want to teach sex education to 4 and 5-year-olds and were telling teens that wearing a condom every time makes sex perfectly safe. He seethed over the way that society is supposedly pushing parental values aside in favor of "children's rights," thereby eroding parental authority. Abortion without parental notification was one example of how parents' authority was being eroded, he claimed. His caricature of comprehensive sex education, combined with his emphasis on parental authority, said volumes about his worldview.
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