Dispatches from the Colonies

Well, much amusement was had this weekend at the expense of these folks (the video may be long, but is worth watching). The Purity Ball is

a memorable ceremony for fathers to sign commitments to be responsible men of integrity in all areas of purity. The commitment also includes their vow to protect their daughters in their choices for purity. The daughters silently commit to live pure lives before God through the symbol of laying down a white rose at the cross.

I particularly like the fathers’ pledge. I am, accordingly, titling myself “High Priest of the Apartment”.

In contrast to this astonishing rubbish, I’ve coincidentally read a number of interesting articles/blog posts recently about the role of women in the Church and in Christian teaching. Now obviously, not being a Christian, not even believing in God, makes me less involved in this discussion than otherwise. Nevertheless, the grotesquery of fathers, qua men, claiming control over their daughters’ sex lives, qua women, got me to pay more attention than usual to translations of particular Hebrew words in Genesis. Actually, any attention at all. So here for your delectation are a couple of articles on the subject of Adam and Eve. Or, in fact, ‘adam and ‘adam.

You see, it appears that God creates Adam or ‘adam, the human being, and then decides that “it is not good for the ‘adam to be alone” (Genesis 2:18). So he decides to make for it an “‘ezer cenegdo”, or as we’ve come to know the lovely little thing, Eve. In the King James Bible, this phrase is translated as “helpmeet”. This is an indisputably awesome patronising term for women, one Susan will be hearing much of in the coming days - until she kills me. But it is, apparently, a crock of shit as a translation. My Hebrew being somewhat rusty, I have to defer to others on this, but it seems a far more appropriate translation is “power like [it], facing it”. God, realising his creation needs a companion, makes the same thing again. Just with nicer naughty bits.

Adam and Eve are equals, partners, and then, of course, partners in crime. Of course, this doesn’t overcome any of the other, many, misogynistic themes and stories in the Bible. And it may be revisionist gibberish. I’d hope not, though. I’d love to think these “High Priests”, with their controlling “Purity Pledges”, are basing all of it on a deeply flawed understanding of God’s intentions.

Update: I should have mentioned that I was directed to the Purity Ball phenomenon by this post at Feministing. I think “Puke” expresses the same message I’m trying to get out above, just far more succinctly.