The Bible And Sexual Violence Against Men

At least 1 in 6 men have experienced some form of sexual violence. The Bible and Sexual Violence Against Men argues that the shame and stigma around male sexual abuse are interwoven with contemporary social and cultural concepts of masculinity, and are also found in the ancient world and biblical texts themselves. This book is interdisciplinary and has three main areas of exploration: #MenToo? Exploring the myths around sexual violence against men Sexual violence against men in the Hebrew Bible Reading Jesus’ enforced nudity at the crucifixion as sexual violence. Given the enduring importance of the Bible in contemporary society, this book explores the biblical texts that depict sexual violence against men. It examines critical approaches from theology, biblical, and religious studies perspectives, while also exploring insights from the fields of sociology, psychology, and criminology as well as referring to legal cases and legislation, charity work, and media-focussed articles. In seeking to serve a number of interested readers, including those who are not familiar with the Bible, short summaries of the biblical texts under discussion are given in each case.

This book explores the Bible’s ongoing relevance in contemporary discussions around rape culture and gender violence. Each chapter considers the ways that biblical texts and themes engage with various forms of gender violence, including the subjective, physical violence of rape, the symbolic violence of misogynistic and heteronormative discourses, and the structural violence of patriarchal power systems. The authors within this volume attempt to name (and shame) the multiple forms of gender violence present within the biblical traditions, contesting the erasure of this violence within both the biblical texts themselves and their interpretive traditions. They also consider the complex connections between biblical gender violence and the perpetuation and validation of rape culture in contemporary popular culture. This volume invites new and ongoing conversations about the Bible’s complicity in rape-supportive cultures and practices, challenging readers to read these texts in light of the global crisis of gender violence.

Throughout history, we have exalted and theologised about men like Adam or David to the point where we have become oblivious to the fact that they are far from perfect role models for Christian manhood. Failing to read scripture properly, we have used it to shape a distorted understanding of masculinity. Stretching from issues of violence, emotional and sexual abuse, the desire for power, homophobia, and the suppression of emotions, Will Moore draws from scholarship, personal stories, and popular culture to offer an honest and accessible insight into the toxic myths which frame how w e read scripture. Only when we expose these myths, he argues, can we start to see the authentic men staring straight back at us from the pages of our bibles, and be able to reshape the way in which we produce Christian men today, tackling the violence that is being done by men to themselves and others.

Promote effective partnerships between men and women to end domestic violence! Men's Work in Preventing Violence Against Women examines the experiences of 12 practicing counselors who call on their religious training to form partnerships between men and women that promote an end to domestic violence. In both religious and secular settings, the bulk of the work done to end violence against women is done by women—survivors who have become activists and advocates who have been touched by the witness of survivors. Motivating and educating men to share the everyday work of domestic violence shelters, rape crisis counseling, and abuse prevention is essential. This book challenges traditional images of masculinity, exploring effective—and ineffective—methods of helping men face their own sexism and change their behavior toward the goal of ending domestic violence. Each contributor to Men's Work in Preventing Violence Against Women approached the concept of man/woman partnerships working to end domestic violence and sexual assault with the following questions in mind: In your experience and social world have you seen creative partnerships between men and women that made a difference? Have you seen men in counseling struggle to change their views on gender in order to become reliable allies in the fight to end violence against women? How can religion become a resource for men working to become allies with women? What strategies can men use to help end violence against women? Men's Work in Preventing Violence Against Women includes contributions from Paul Kivel, cofounder of the Oakland Men's Project and of Gvarim: Bay Area Jewish Men Against Violence; David Livingston, author of Healing Violent Men: A Model for Christian Communities; Al Miles, author of Domestic Violence: What Every Pastor Should Know; and Richard Wallace Jr., editor of the Journal of Ministry in Addiction & Recovery (Haworth). Each essay presents practical and theoretical ideas, guidelines for partnerships, and insightful information on sexual and domestic violence. Topics addressed include: Jewish male violence holding Christian men accountable for domestic violence shared experiences of batterers and the people who treat them premarital preparation the dynamics of power in pastoral care engaging Scripture with male abusers helping men become pro-feminist Men's Work in Preventing Violence Against Women is an essential resource for counselors, social workers, clergy, laypersons, and anyone else working to end domestic violence and sexual abuse against women.

Was the stripping and exposure of Jesus a form of sexual abuse? If so, why does such a reading of Jesus’ suffering matter? The combined impact of the #MeToo movement and a further wave of global revelations on church sexual abuse have given renewed significance to recent work naming Jesus as a victim of sexual abuse. Timely and provocative "When did we see you naked?" presents the arguments for reading Christ as an abuse victim, as well as exploring how the position might be critiqued, and what implications and applications it might offer to the Church.

#MeToo. #ChurchToo. #GodToo? What if survivors of sexualized violence experience the Bible as a powerful spiritual resource rather than an oppressive tool in the hands of those seeking to dismiss or justify abuse? Bible scholar Susannah Larry leads fellow survivors and those who care for them in a journey toward reclaiming the Bible amid the trauma of sexualized violence. Leaving Silence: Sexualized Violence, the Bible, and Standing with Survivors is an unflinching examination of sexualized violence in the Bible and the God who stands steadfastly with survivors. Larry addresses biblical experiences of coercion, familial betrayal, and self-blame while also illuminating God’s constant care and concern. ​By centering the experiences of survivors in Scripture, Larry opens new insights into some of the Bible’s most difficult texts and releases its ancient stories to serve as a powerful healing witness to the God who has shared in the experience of sexualized violence. Under Larry’s skillful guidance, readers will rediscover the God who is present in experiences of trauma and who desires ultimate wholeness for survivors.

Helps adult victims of sexual assault move from brokenness to healing. This book outlines a theology or redemption and includes an application of how the disgrace of the cross can lead victims toward grace.

Rape Culture in the House of David: A Company of Men describes a biblical rape culture sustained and maintained by Yhwh and a host of men—from royal kings and princes to their relatives, counselors, generals, and servants. This volume reveals that sexual violence in the house of David is not simply perpetrated by its most powerful men. Rather, in the pursuit of power, status, authority, and honor, men form alliances and networks that support the use and abuse of women’s bodies and valorize sexualized violence against other men. The man who is most capable of sexual violence is Israel’s ideal king. Barbara Thiede deftly addresses the power and contemporary relevance of these narratives and argues that exposing and naming rape culture in biblical literature is essential—in social, economic, and political realms. This is a meaningful feminist intervention in the field of biblical studies and is of great benefit to graduate students and scholars of religion, gender studies, and masculinity studies.