FOX NEWS: ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’ Inspires Women to Leave Churches
- Posted by: Todd
- Posted on: Thu, September 04, 2008
- Viewed 60
- (17) comments so far
“Young women tend to express egalitarian values and dislike the traditionalism and hierarchies they imagine are integral to the church.”
Her research cites an English Church census which found that more than a million women worshippers have left churches since 1989, and that women have been leaving churches at twice the rate of men.
Here’s a link to the article...
What do you think?
OK... the title is intriguing. The article reads: "More than 50,000 women a year have deserted their congregations over the past two decades because they feel church is not relevant to their lives, according to a British academic study — and shows like "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" have played a role in the exodus.
The research, published in a new book called "Women and Religion in the West," says TV shows like "Buffy" offer women an appealing message of female empowerment while the old-fashioned attitudes and hierarchies of churches are causing a steep decline in the number of female worshippers.
"In short, women are abandoning the church," writes Kristin Aune, a sociologist at the University of Derby. "Because of its focus on female empowerment, young women are attracted by [the pagan religion] Wicca, popularized by the TV series 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer.'
Comments
if you want a Globally Recognized Avatar (the images next to your profile) get them here. Once you sign up, they will displayed on any website that supports them.
Peter Hamm on Thu, September 04, 2008
Well, regardless of whether you’re an egalitarian or not, Jesus showed respect to women like NOBODY else in his time. The church (I think some women fell) tells them that the Bible teaches them to just say “yes dear” to anything their husbands ask of them.
That’s NOT what the Bible is talking about. Time to reclaim the Bible’s respect for people and their dignity regardless of what their sex or nationality… And it’s time to be KNOWN for this!
Jan on Thu, September 04, 2008
Wasn’t the big discussion recently about how church was made to appeal to women, not men?
I think the culture as a whole encourages sin plain and simple, whether that’s “empowerment” or sexual immorality.
And church as an organization is seen with disdain by both men and women in our culture.
Not sure if Buffy has that much influence.
CS on Thu, September 04, 2008
“More than 50,000 women a year have deserted their congregations over the past two decades because they feel church is not relevant to their lives”
And…
““In short, women are abandoning the church,” writes Kristin Aune, a sociologist at the University of Derby. “Because of its focus on female empowerment, young women are attracted by [the pagan religion] Wicca, popularized by the TV series ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer.’”
So because women don’t think church is relevant, they decide to go become witches to mimic characters in a horror-related drama? Am I the only one who sees the huge lack of logic here?
What do they say to their pastors? “I’m sorry, your sermon about Jesus atoning for my sins doesn’t apply to my life, so I’m going to leave and prance nude in the forests because a popular TV show about Sarah Michelle-Gellar inspired me!”
If people are leaving the church and becoming wiccans, I think that speaks more about (1) the nature of those churches from which they left, and (2) the nature of their own hearts.
—
CS
Nora Beerline on Thu, September 04, 2008
Jan,
I agree—I really don’t think “Buffy” is as big a factor as is being claimed here.
CS,
“I’m sorry, your sermon about Jesus atoning for my sins doesn’t apply to my life, so I’m going to leave and prance nude in the forests because a popular TV show about Sarah Michelle-Gellar inspired me!”
That may be simplifying the point just a teeny bit, but it is funny! http://www.mondaymorninginsight.com/images/smileys/smile.gif
Nora
Peter Hamm on Thu, September 04, 2008
CS,
People aren’t rejecting theology over an illogical argument, I don’t think.
Instead, people are making choices about what to take seriously and what worldview to consider based on whether or not, on the surface, it seems that women are being marginalized.
Jesus did not marginalize women. On the contrary. The church should do likewise.
In short, women don’t think church seems relevant, so perhaps they aren’t even INVESTIGATING it. This is true of MANY young people, not just young woman.
Fredrick on Thu, September 04, 2008
Jesus didn’t marginalize women, but the modern church does.
To tell a woman that, sure your contributions are valued, but you’ll never hold the highest place in the hierarchy, is to marginalize.
Not to mention the parts about obeying your husband as the head of the household.
I would never attend a church where my daughter was taught to obey her husband. And she’d hear some severe parental criticism if she ever brought home such a guy who believed that his decisions overruled hers.
The church is a male-dominated institution where men make the ultimate decisions, and it seeks to keep that a part of our culture.
50 years from now we will look at the banning of women from senior pastorship (or lower levels of leadership, depending upon the church) as a sin equivalent to slavery.
DanielR on Thu, September 04, 2008
For many, Wicca is viewed by it’s practitioners as very empowering, especially women. Wicca appeals to many because they feel like it places special value on them and empowers them.
And Peter’s right, many women do feel marginalized by the church today, especially in England. Right here on this very blog I recently saw a comment from a male commenter that be believed women are “saved” thru childbearing IAW 1Timothy 2:15. I’m a man and am the first to admit I don’t understand women, but even I can understand how that statement would make women feel marginalized, i.e. men are saved thru faith in Christ but women are saved thru childbearing, and faith in Christ.
I think a lot of women feel marginalized by the expectation of complementarian roles; i.e. the man is expected to go and do, be the breadwinner, defend the castle, and lead the family and the church, while women are expected to stay home, to bear children, to be silent in church and deferential at home, able to lead neither family nor church.
I’m not saying these roles are not proper or not biblical, just that I can see how some of these expectations may make women feel marginalized. And why Wicca may be very appealing to those who feel marginalized or disillusioned by the church.
Jim in NJ on Thu, September 04, 2008
After 40 years, my wife and I were re-united with her first daughter whom she was forced (by her father when she was a teenager) to give up for adoption. It was a God thing. As we tried to get to know each other, we found out she was a Wiccan. From what she told us, one of the reasons was that she had been verbally assaulted by some of our right-intentioned, wrong-in-practice Christian brothers and sisters who confronted her with the fact that she was going to Hell in a very unloving manner. Not the greatest way to open a conversation. In fact, she was very wary of the fact that we were born-again Christians and told us, “If you want to convert me, then our relationship is over now.” Rather we have tried to show her and her family unconditional love and build a relationship. From time to time, mother and daughter have even shared their beliefs. We continue to pray for them and hope we can build a trusting relationship where we can share more of the gospel in love.
Jan on Thu, September 04, 2008
In Southern California I got to know several women who were pagans through a homeschool organization.
Sadly, Jim, my experience was the same. I would venture to say that many of them had first been burned by the church before turning to Wicca and Paganism.
And even sadder were the believers that I knew that shunned them regularly, further reinforcing their general belief about Christians.
One day while sitting with a group of Wiccan women, while our kids played on the swing sets, one proceeded to tell me how she just hated Christians (not realizing that I was one) Her dialogue consisted of how they told you they loved Jesus and loved like He did, but when it really comes down to it, they don’t want anything to do with people who aren’t like them. I had to agree and I apologized right there for my Christian brothers and sisters and asked them to let me know if I ever treated them like that.
From that day on, the relationships there just clicked.
Because I befriended them, I was asked to teach their children and also to speak at the State secular homeschool convention, where I essentially taught Christian principles. They were hungry for truth and I had the opportunity to speak it and they were willing to listen.
I think Christians are afraid of them, so, when uncomfortable what do we do? Retreat, and hunker down.
I don’t think any of them watched Buffy. http://www.mondaymorninginsight.com/images/smileys/smile.gif
Hieyeglasses on Tue, September 09, 2008
If this is the case, then Buffy, and similar shows would not have a big effect if the church corrects itself.
El Chiflon on Mon, October 06, 2008
I don’t think Buffy has that much influence ,to what people are today. And I’m sure they don’t don’t have these bad intentions to the viewers too.
-M from Mexico
sexshop on Fri, November 07, 2008
Buffy, and similar shows would not have a big effect if the church
arkadas on Fri, November 21, 2008
thanks very.
sex shop on Fri, November 28, 2008
thanks my friend
sexshop on Fri, November 28, 2008
thanks for all
Page 1 of 2 pages 1 2 >
Post a Comment