gender - Strahan, aliens and strangers Flashcards
1
Q
lecture notes
A
- Focus = what people actually believe and how they negotiate their belief with wider society
- Tolerance is a very complex issue – something that comes up almost daily in the news
- Our specific consideration in this lecture is the conservative evangelical group, and the broad opinion that evangelicals are intolerant.
2
Q
welby, intro
A
- Justin Welby stated: ‘We have seen changes in the ideas about sexuality, sexual behaviour, which quite simply [mean that] we have to face the fact that the vast majority of people under 35 think not only that what we are saying [in opposing the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill] is incomprehensible, but also think that we are plain wrong and wicked and equate it to racism and other forms of gross and atrocious injustice’ (Church Times 2013). (p.4)
o In his post he has faced strong opposition from almost every wing of the Anglican Church in seeking to find a path on this sort of issue - Strhan’s study looks at members of such churches, to see what they actually believe, and how they negotiate their identity in the modern world.
3
Q
focus of book
A
- Focus of book = ‘a member of a conservative evangelical church in a largely secular metropolitan context in which their teachings are increasingly at odds with broader cultural norms, and to explore what matters to its members.’
o Church = white, middle class. London - Evangelicals are often labelled intolerant re. gender and sexuality
- ‘My central argument is that conservative evangelicals develop a response to the fluidity and fragmentation of late modernity that is shaped by their focus on the personality of God as coherent, which leads them both to desire coherence and to become conscious of subjective fragmentation within themselves.’ (7)
- wants to understand the ‘relative importance’ of issues such as same sex marriage for individuals (8)
4
Q
Strhan and view of church
A
- St John’s Church, London
o Homosexuality and relationships outside marriage = sinful
o Does not allow women bishops - Strhan found that the more time she spent with the church, the more she began to ‘understand the logic of their faith as patterned through their simultaneously being shaped as modern, urban subjects according to ethical norms internalized outside the church and their development through participation in the church of moral and temporal orientations that rubbed up against these.’ (14)
5
Q
st john’s modesty
A
- ‘As I walked towards St John’s one late November evening, a young couple walked ahead of me into the church, the man wearing a warm-looking winter jacket and jeans, and the woman wearing a short skirt, nude tights, and knee-high, high- heeled boots. I was by that point used to the fact that women at St John’s do not necessarily dress especially modestly for church, but nevertheless, her outfit struck me as somewhat insubstantial for the late autumn weather. The theme for that service turned out to be sex, or more specifically, as Freddie explained at the beginning of the sermon, ‘sexual immorality and sexual temptation’.’ (2)
6
Q
values of st johns
A
- Church is not identified, referred to as ‘St John’s’ – most of the members are white and middle class
- Evangelicals are encouraged to speak about their faith to others
- The values promoted in their churches clash with what are now regarded in norms in British society:
o Generally we eschew talking about God very much
o The views that many evangelicals have on gender and sexuality are not shared by many members of British society
7
Q
church relationship with faith and gospel
A
- Lying at the heart of evangelical conviction is that individuals are redeemed through faith in God – espoused most clearly by the Reformation ideal of ‘justification by faith’
- This requires, also, a clear and coherent expression of the Gospel message in preaching, which even in church services are geared towards people who are not members of the church, and are not Christians (at least not Christians as understood by the evangelical group).
8
Q
evangelical activism in social projects
A
- Evangelicals are active in social projects and other campaigns
o Whilst it may not be the primary aim, such projects are understood to contribute to the broad goal of evangelising people
o Evangelicals were very active in campaigns like ‘Make Poverty History’ – a long tradition of social action and political involvement goes back at least to William Wilberforce and the campaign against slavery
o For many, however, ‘preaching the gospel’ is not accomplished by active social and political engagement, it needs verbal expression – and a necessary discussion of justification by faith
o More Charismatic elements (which is Justin Welby’s background) have a broader vision for transforming society – bringing a Christian outlook to many areas of life
9
Q
relationship with non-xians
A
- Conservative evangelicals strongly differentiate themselves from ‘non- Christians’ and from other Christians who have less emphasis on verbal proclamation – including others who identify as ‘evangelical’
- The proclamation of religion is not illegal in the UK, but generally people disapprove of it
- Members in the study are encouraged to understand their engagement as a ‘battle’
o Part of a cosmic struggle between good and evil
o ‘Warfare’ might also be used – and announcing Christ’s ‘victory on the Cross, and the defeat of Satan’ - Lying behind is also an understanding that the ‘battle’ has already been won
- Members of the congregation are to take this ‘battle’ to their office, school, etc.
- Each member must have their own plan to engage in the ‘battle’
10
Q
battle and sexuality
A
- This ‘war’ and ‘battle’ outlook is also behind the issues of sexuality and gender that we are trying to think about
o Opposition is to be expected
o Contrary views are understood as opposition
o Opposition is taken to be a validation of the message - As Strhan finds, however
o This is not from a dogged determination to oppose
o Rather it comes from a motivation that people need God
o Opposition is understood to demonstrate the people have not yet understood this
11
Q
public proclamation
A
o Members are to have a part in the ‘army’ in the ‘war’
o Their part is to proclaim the gospel outside the church
o Anywhere is the right place to do this e.g. bus, at work
o Anyone who does not (or even might not) know the words of Jesus are to hear them
o The Holy Spirit is a power agent in this
o The voice = one to be heard in the public sphere
- Strhan suggests that the need for public proclamation is, according to Casanova (Professor of Sociology at the New School for Social Research in New York City), a response to the privitization of religion – what do you think?
o Lecturer = not so convinced as evangelicals have always had this outlook
12
Q
encouragement of countercultural behaviour
A
- Members of the church in the study are encouraged to be countercultural
o Matters of the roles of women, and sexual orientation are then also part of this war
o Need to break down traditional prejudice against roles for women etc.
o The ‘revealed’ message of the Bible is seen as different from the ‘universalising modern norms’
o Conservative evangelicals will oppose them, and expect opposition
o The new norms are also understood to be a threat to religious freedom, because they imply strongly that evangelicals are ‘intolerant’ and ‘out of date’
o One respondent expressed, ‘this country careers away from its Christian heritage’
o Important to understand is that opposition, marginalisation, and other outcomes of this position are to be expected – within the narrative of war
13
Q
secularism as creating persecution
A
o For this group ‘multicultural, liberal diversity’ translates in the speakers words to be equivalent to ‘totalitarian’
o Translates also to a war narrative within the Church of England - David would oppose using his church as a multi-faith space, and oppose performing the blessing of a gay civil partnership
o The counter to the ‘hatred’ experienced because of this stance is that the apostles also faced this when they spoke the words of Jesus
14
Q
internalisation of ideas
A
o Motivation comes from understanding that someone’s eternal destiny may be affected by sharing the gospel
o Individuals admitted that they were embarrassed in talking about their faith – but this was confessed as sin, and understood as something to overcome
15
Q
clara - backround
A
- Organises a Christian group at her firm, leads a weekly Bible study at church, writes reviews for a Christian magazine, serves on Church a Christian lawyer’s committees
- She is involved in an evangelism project council estates
- Work is supportive – allowed to have Christian meetings at work, put up posters, invite speakers to the office
- She appears to be doing what is expected
- She admits that she has not had opportunity to share the gospel with colleagues (over 6 years) although her faith is public
- On council estates she is happy to knock on doors and speak out about her faith with people she has never met
o Strhan suggests this difference is due to an ‘uneven privatising/deprivatising process in her life’
