Power Dynamics in the Bedroom | C. S. Lewis on Politics: The Galli Report

[Also: Bad News from China | 'We Need to Clean Up Some Unforced Errors'] Also: Bad News from China | 'We Need to Clean Up Some Unforced Errors' | [View online]( [ChristianityToday.org]( [The Galli Report newsletter]( Friday, November 24, 2017 [Power Dynamics in the Bedroom]( There's been lots (and lots!) of commentary on explosions of accusations of sexual abuse/assault by men with relative power. Some argue "[this is just the beginning](" of such revelations, others that we're creating a [hysterical Stalinesque atmosphere](. Most commentary assumes a simple narrative of men-with-power-abusing-weak-women. I think feminist matriarch [Camille Paglia's Salon interview]( of a couple of years ago deserves rereading right now: … male sexuality is extremely complicated, and the formation of male identity is very tentative and sensitive—but feminist rhetoric doesn't allow for it. This is why women are having so much trouble dealing with men in the feminist era. They don't understand men, and they demonize men. They accord to men far more power than men actually have in sex. Women control the sexual world in ways that most feminists simply don't understand. Professional women today don't want to think about this or deal with it.The erasure of motherhood from feminist rhetoric has led us to this current politicization of sex talk, which doesn't allow women to recognize their immense power vis-à-vis men. When motherhood was more at the center of culture, you had mothers who understood the fragility of boys and the boy's need for nurturance and for confidence to overcome his weaknesses. More insights follow. One doesn't have to agree with all of Paglia's judgments to see she's on to something. This is not to excuse men's outrageous behavior nor to encourage seeing men as victims. It is to suggest that the power dynamics between men and women are much more psychologically complex than we tend to allow. [C. S. Lewis on Politics]( He didn't talk about it much, as he "held many politicians in disdain and was indeed pessimistic about the potential for political solutions to live up to their advertising." But [when he did write about politics](, he offered (as usual for Lewis) much wisdom. [Bad News from China]( For years I've been an optimist regarding religious freedom in China, arguing that the government is more and more open to letting Christians, even those in illegal house churches, practice their faith in relative freedom. I may have to eat my words if [trends like this]( continue: Thousands of Christian villagers in China have been told to take down displays of Jesus, crosses, and gospel passages from their homes as part of a government propaganda effort to "transform believers in religion into believers in the party." ['We Need to Clean Up Some Unforced Errors']( Fans of comic John Crist will enjoy [this brief video]( of a pastor's press conference about Sunday's worship service, in the style of a football coach's postgame analysis. Grace and peace, [Mark Galli](mailto:GalliReport@christianitytoday.com) [Mark Galli](mailto:GalliReport@christianitytoday.com) [Mark Galli](mailto:GalliReport@christianitytoday.com) Editor in Chief, Christianity Today More from Christianity Today [Community Arts, Visual Artistry, and the Christian Faith]( Leah Samuelson is Associate Lecturer of Art at Wheaton College. [The Dead White Man Who Could Fix Our Race Problem: Oswald Chambers]( As a black woman wrestling with racism in America, I lean on a Scottish theologian's four key insights. [One-on-One with Elmer Towns on His New Paraphrase "The Bible by Jesus"]( An extended sermon in the words of the Savior Follow Us [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [RSS]( [Subscribe to this newsletter]( IN THE MAGAZINE [Current Issue]( [Inside the Museum of the Bible]( [The Truth about Suicide]( [The Promise and Failure of Antibiotics]( [View Full Issue]( [Subscribe Now]( Related CT Newsletters [CT Connection]( The official newsletter of the global media ministry. [Sign Up Now]( [CT Entertainment]( Reviews and perspectives on movies, TV, and music. [Sign Up Now]( //lists.christianitytoday.com/t/550132729/23299277/584566/0/ [The Galli Report]( Delivered via email to subscribers weekly. [Subscribe]( | [Email Preferences]( | [Unsubscribe]( | [Privacy Policy]( | [Advertise]( | [Subscribe to CT]( You are currently subscribed as: {EMAIL} Copyright ©2017 [ChristianityToday.org]( Christianity Today, 465 Gundersen Drive, Carol Stream, IL 60188. All rights reserved.