Regular readers here have not likely heard of John Eldridge, best-selling Christian author and genius behind revolutionary new theory of human (and by human, he mainly means men) development. Normally I remain out of the loop about stuff like this, but several important men in my life have either embraced and/or opened their minds to this misogynistic and paternalistic view of the world--repackaged as a way for men to reassert their "wild hearts" (as the heart of God himself is "wild") while asserting all the benefits of male privilege and the more natural submissive position of women.
You see, the modern church has turned Christian men into a punch of overly sensitive, pussy-whipped sensitivoes like Mr. Rogers, where the true model of a Christian manly man is William Wallace (as portrayed by Mr. Manly himself, Mel Gibson, in Braveheart). Bitchy hairy-legged and overly independent feminists have spoiled everyone's fun---what with their pesky tendency to demand things like control of their own bodies and equal protection under the law. So here are the developmental differences:
Men pass through several bibically based stages in life: 1) boyhood; 2) cowboy; 3) warrior; 4) king; and 5) sage. Women, not surprisingly, want and need to know they are desired. While men want to paint their faces, grunt and tear other men from limb to limb, women want to be pursued and fought for. Men watch "Lord of the Rings" and "Gladiator." Women bond while watching "Sense and Sensibilities" and "Sleepless in Seattle." Women are the ballroom dancer who enjoys following the man's lead, and becomes more beautiful in the process! Like magic! Women are the responder to the man's sexual prowess. A woman's need for control is born out of....you guessed it....fear.
None of this claptrap is new, nor is it limited to a the world view of this particular flavor of Christianity. but I wonder if Mr. Eldridge has actually read the New Testament, in particular the teachings of Jesus?
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment