May 24, 2022·edited May 27, 2022Liked by Christine Greenwald
Christine, this article is a tour de force. You challenge the illogic of the evangelical interpretation of “salvation,” the dangerous assumptions of the Garden story, and provide an eye-opening alternative interpretation that it is a story of the natural process of growth and individuation. I love that alternative view that lauds growth over the fantasy desire to remain childlike. Most importantly, you have raised and answered the most crucial question—why do evangelicals not trust women to make their own and society’s moral choices according to their own values and situations? Answer: their world view, which is distinctly in the minority now, paints women as incapable, needing the protection of a male partner and by extension, a patriarchal society. Yet, as you point out, women often make better, more compassionate moral choices than men, individually, and socially. Our society needs the balance that it could have if women shared equally in power and leadership. And as you also point out, using force to “stop” abortion will not stop it. It will simply move into the shadows where great harm to women is done in a multitude of ways. I am certain that if women who hold the majority view had control of this issue and of society at large, we would see an array of compassionate social services enacted to care for women and families during and after a pregnancy. And if such services were enacted to ensure not only safe abortion, but also necessary supportive followup benefits--free birth control, childcare, paid parental leave, universal healthcare (to ensure parents/kids/everyone has adequate healthcare including mental healthcare), a UBI with added benefits for parents and kids, and free education through college or trade school--we would see safer and fewer abortions and more children growing up well-cared for, happy, and well-educated, all of which is good for individuals, families, and society.
Christine, this article is a tour de force. You challenge the illogic of the evangelical interpretation of “salvation,” the dangerous assumptions of the Garden story, and provide an eye-opening alternative interpretation that it is a story of the natural process of growth and individuation. I love that alternative view that lauds growth over the fantasy desire to remain childlike. Most importantly, you have raised and answered the most crucial question—why do evangelicals not trust women to make their own and society’s moral choices according to their own values and situations? Answer: their world view, which is distinctly in the minority now, paints women as incapable, needing the protection of a male partner and by extension, a patriarchal society. Yet, as you point out, women often make better, more compassionate moral choices than men, individually, and socially. Our society needs the balance that it could have if women shared equally in power and leadership. And as you also point out, using force to “stop” abortion will not stop it. It will simply move into the shadows where great harm to women is done in a multitude of ways. I am certain that if women who hold the majority view had control of this issue and of society at large, we would see an array of compassionate social services enacted to care for women and families during and after a pregnancy. And if such services were enacted to ensure not only safe abortion, but also necessary supportive followup benefits--free birth control, childcare, paid parental leave, universal healthcare (to ensure parents/kids/everyone has adequate healthcare including mental healthcare), a UBI with added benefits for parents and kids, and free education through college or trade school--we would see safer and fewer abortions and more children growing up well-cared for, happy, and well-educated, all of which is good for individuals, families, and society.