Conversation Ends

It all looked very interesting but at some point I must have crossed the line because it has been some time now since I have heard from my friend John. I knew as we were corresponding that the concepts of equality and mutual submission were very challenging to him personally and his sense of masculine self worth so we'll leave him to ponder for a while longer on those thoughts.

In the meantime our daughter-in-law Julie mentioned that she was doing a teen girls study group and had suggested that the girls choose a book from a catalogue that they could discuss together. The girls chose 'Datable Rules' so Julie asked Liz and I if we had come across this book and if so, what it was like.

We had to tell her that there is currently a conversation going on on the CBE blog, the Scroll, on the issue of Christian books that are available for the dating scene and that this one came in for a good deal of criticism. She was quite taken back so we explained why it is that we felt that the book was harmful, mostly that it was very culturally and religiously biassed in favour of female submission. For example, young women were encouraged to yield to their male dating partner's God given right to lead and should always encourage him to initiate. It is suggested that to be truly feminine and honour God a young lady should practice learning how to submit so that they were then ready for marriage.

Since that conversation Julie has looked at the book herself and was quite horrified at the blatant gender stereotyping and explicit instructions (read 'rules') young women were encouraged to observe in order to be attractive dating partners. Consequently Julie would like to suggest the girls study something else.

We encouraged her to have a look on the Scroll and consider using some of the books that are given a more positive wrap so that she and the girls of the study group have a more profitable time of it.