April 8 1996

ARTICLE TOOLS

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HAS THE SECULAR FEMINIST MOVEMENT INFLUENCED WOMEN TO ASSERT THEMSELVES MORE IN THE CHURCH?

Briscoe: I think what drives the secular women's movement, to be fair to them, is the notion that women are people. And you can't argue with that. That's something I share as a Christian. In the way that works itself out, of course, I would differ with them. But I think those issues ought to be raised in the church. How many of us refer to the "pastor's wife"? You don't say the "garbage collector's wife" or the "engineer's wife" when you're introduced. She has a name. She is a person. And I see a lot of Christian women struggling with that.

Thompson: Some of the issues that the feminist groups have brought up have been very good and needed to be addressed. Some have wanted simply to help women gain basic rights, and God has used these gains in the church. But a philosophy has also crept in that, if you are at home with your children, then you're enslaved—and we're going to free you. Women are being taught that if the child is an inconvenience to you, get rid of it. Take care of you, no matter what.

That's not all feminists, of course. But some, I believe, desire to destroy the family. That's where the church needs to step in and affirm women who choose to bear children, and then help them if they need help.

Kassian: There have been advances in opening up different professions and arenas for women as a result of secular feminism. But I also think that there has been a destructive backlash, and you see horrific crimes against women now to a greater extent than ever before. And men are not protecting women as they used to. December 6 was the sixth anniversary for a horrendous slaying at the University of Montreal. A fellow who had been denied ...