An excerpt from a Facebook conversation around a post about the current US Supreme Court nomination proceedings where the difficult question was put forward “Are you suggesting Judge Kavanaugh is guilty?”

When I saw the question my heart sunk a little as I considered how the hell does one respond to a loaded genuine question like that? Unlike the anonymous trolling “christian” haters that frequent this blog who often reveal the depth of their dangerous ignorance around their understanding of their own “christian faith” and their limited grasp on reality and what they claim to believe which I have become accustomed to and simply ignore.

Anyways when initially responding the inverse question I wondered within myself even as I replied was should we not also ask whether Dr Blasey Ford then is a very convincing pathological liar?

I thought of the mental well being and health of my daughter as well much through my inner wranglings and occasionally about my sons considering the kind of men and woman I long to see them become.

This is the best I could come up with considering my very limited literary skills with some additions or expansions to what I originally commented on Facebook.

” I obviously don’t really know whether he’s guilty or not I just know there’s a tragic story that plays itself out on a regular basis in society for women and has for decades if not centuries. The kind of old boys club and college alcohol laced culture like that of Fort Lauderdale (spring break) or whatever else goes on where thousands flock to, not to mention just normal life at times it seems on college campuses, in bars, churches ,neighbours, “nice” families etc where young women and girls often need to have phones along pathways, watch their drinks, ask for assistance to go to their vehicles, seek protection in shelters & safe houses for themselves and their children from the one they’ve loved and sacrificed for so many painful years and thought they knew (having been given “pastoral or biblical counsel to remain in such toxic relationships” as well as a myriad of other precautions simply because of these kinds of attacks and disrespect where “ass grabbing”, grinding and other brands of “accepted” assaults seems to be normative. Here are stats from RAINN.

Actions that end up being a precursor for some men to continue down that road to more aggressive forms of sexual assaults, misogyny and ultimately the objectification and serious criminal abuse of women and girls. And for some maybe even many women (and their children) that can often come under the umbrella of the religious evangelical, right wing abhorrent culture of phony chivalrous patriarchal “submission” that continues to be preached to this day as something to be modelled and followed. Something I’ve NEVER “practiced”, cared for, nor expected (maybe for fear 😊) of my wife of almost 25 years other than mutual forgiveness, love and respect for and to each other.

I remember the story a year or two ago about the father who was defending his son regarding an assault that he made against a fellow female student. The father was proposing that his son shouldn’t be facing any charges for a “20 minute action” because of how it may affect his personal and entire future and at the time that smacked of white privilege. Meanwhile for the young woman he assaulted, her mental state is changed for HER entire future because of his actions. Granted that made the news and I suppose there are other fathers of other races who would do the same for their sons for similar reasons, present company excluded.

It’s just unfortunate that Dr. Ford’s incredible account (and that of thousands of women and girls) which isn’t short on detail considering what is known about the psychology of traumatic events and the effects of a significant PTSD event is almost lost and buried in the battle for the recovery of Kavanaugh’s reputation.

What drives me nuts because I’ve watch this unfold about 5 or 6 years ago is that often times it’s people in positions of power who are right-leaning (neoCalvinist/ religious/ ultraevangelical ) conservatives that take advantage of their lauded positions and the respect they (love to) have to crush, humiliate and strategically ostracize anyone who may affect their pristine reputations or jeopardize their livelihoods.

One could provide a list as long as my arm of the number of “senior” or “lead” or “executive” organizational board members and or “pastors” who have been put in their place or finally sent packing after being exposed themselves or giving safe haven to abusers. But not without having decimated the lives of their accusers for years before the victims stories were either finally taken seriously by a good Samaritan, family member, journalist or their stories were made known online which then, when made available and widespread, triggers the memory of others who had faced similar “fates” and thought they were alone and relegated to suffer in silence after quietly (a well orchestrated maneuver) losing behind the scenes to these men and their minions in their power positions. Only to be empowered and emboldened by the power of similar accounts and stories found in blogs and online, the modern day nemesis of long time abusers. The list is long and thankfully is growing of such exposed and uncovered men often too proud (arrogant and mighty in their own estimation) to acknowledge their own “sins” meanwhile as the ruse continues they preach fiery sermons laced with subtle and not so subtle references to issues at hand wishing people would, and I quote from within the same sermon “some people need to know when to shut up!” “and ya can’t shut up”. A convincingly approachable “leadership” climate & aura where serious concerns are to be raised? I think not, I remember the men in that environment well and such dogma is very common in too many patriarchal evengelical (cult)ures.

From previous experiences Kavanaugh’s fiery response is something I’ve seen before from individuals who have sway or some degree of authority or power over others. It’s simply demonstrating “righteous indignation” for all to hear almost in an attempt to intimidate the victim (enter the classic Wizard of Oz scene played out in many organizations by extremely insecure and fearful men) or foster some sort of impassioned support from what often is a doting majority of wilfully blind faithful loyalists who believe such passion could only be “gifted and spirit led”.

It’s pathetic, and Dr. Ford’s account and literal voice and that of thousands of women like her get drowned out and end up feeling that they shouldn’t say anything because their voice doesn’t matter when up against such impassioned prowess or persuasive power or speech like that of an angry courting peacock displaying his train. Yet whether he and men like him along with their pedestalic followers in positions of such power with so much to lose recognize he puts his pants on one leg at a time like the rest of us is yet to be seen.

Yet not to be naïve and think that this is going to change anytime soon, but the last year or so and as this reckoning progresses I believe it’s an opportunity for great discussions, introspection and truth-telling. Especially for the conservative evangelical world that proposes to know better yet often is no different and as they proclaim the gospel from their pulpits they almost justify actions of any kind through mental gymnastics or psychological escapism theology (a theology of unaccountable cowardice) of having their “sins” already paid for on the cross by Jesus’ death. A true foundation and tenet of the Christian faith misappropriated and highjacked as a cover and defilade to appease the conscience of perpetrators of abuses and corruption of all kinds to have their sins atoned for and their reputation kept in good standing amongst their peers and faithful followers who are easily managed through such teaching & theology while their victims suffer in silence often alone, without help or support sometimes alienated from former friends and their own entrenched families or the so called “church family” . And with such theologies of atoned sin they end up insinuating and deflecting that such accomplished “eternal justice” is the only real required, necessary and sufficient justice “christians” need to concern ourselves with for the many wrongs and “sins” that takes place in this life especially within their camps. Going further to state that even the common societal push for rights and “social justice” are modern day idols that the “secular world” pursues and should not be an idolatrous concern for a “disciple of Christ”. Deceptive statements that present as benign narratives which are easily made within the confines of the faithful collective and unquestioning crowds of their nice Sunday morning audience but would never be repeated in any public setting comprising of vocal thinking individuals whether christians or not. Once again convenient, and cult like ideology yet well accepted in many of today’s contemporary right-wing evangelical congregations that are rarely if ever discerned while sitting in the (pews) slowly warming pot of doctrinal stew but can become cult(ures) that leave victims of abuse feeling trapped and unable to manoeuvre such systems of thought to pursue real world justice when brainwashed to believe there is no need to because of Jesus atonement.

Yet such thought is completely illogical and void of critical thinking that does NOT fit in the category of “the wisdom of God being foolishness to men” but comfortably fits the narrative of environments that harbour individuals with destructive narcissistic behaviours rather than see truth & justice prevail for victims that may rightfully bring down their organization and comfortable salaries. With that quote being one of the many favoured go to references that brings confusion to real injustices. All that is doing is provisioning an environment of the re-victimization and traumatizing of mostly women and children! With that to me and growing numbers of outsiders to these Jesus Camps being an embarrassment to the real Cross of Christ as many right-wing conservatives in positions of power and influence choose to exert their power through angry eloquent speech (much like Kavanaugh not to mention CJ Mahaney, Mark Driscoll and many others in that space) or damage control through people management in order to confound and maintain the status quo rather than listen, empathize, and tell the truth no matter where the axe may fall.

That’s why that song (Tell me why – Phil Collins) speaks so much to me. In no way do I subscribe to blaming God like they like to ascribe to their listeners of the growing who continue to leave their cloistered camps and echo chambers, the blame for the ongoing injustice and abuses that so many face belongs squarely on people and often the religious who hide behind a well designed facade of “upstanding reputations” including those who are complicit through silence of what they know, much like the many (religious) who “took a different way” in the story of the good Samaritan.

As I’ve written about before, the religious ultra-reformed conservative world is ripe for another much needed reformation of all the 21st century indulgences that have crept up like overgrown weeds in today’s conservatist culture. And yes I recognize I’m a “sinner” too, for those who claim from their pulpits that some “ride on their high horses” (which make for convincing theatrics). But I no longer subscribe to the “being the worst of sinners” misappropriated ideology that keeps people suppressed and under a rock only poking their heads out into the outside world for life essentials, “appropriate entertainment choices” or when permitted through “teaching and outreach” for the well designed programmed pretentious culture of creating “relationship evangelism opportunities”. Disingenuous at its core when tied to church attendance and church life and involvement inculcation. All while unjust travesties of all kinds are common in their secluded camps unaccounted for. I hope that makes some degree of sense. 😊 ”

So now more than ever we have an incredible opportunity and privilege in this hopefully changing culture much like the equally incredible Samaritan man in Jesus’ account. And that is to stand powerfully and courageously for change in our places of work, the public marketplace, schools, universities and especially in churches to no longer turn a blind eye to not only blatant and subtle corruption but to the “unbiblical” yet sanctioned patriarchal submissive culture encouraged and sometimes required of women that has the potential affect of dulling intuition, suppressing truth and most importantly removing the edge from the gift of God given autonomous critical thinking that allows and empowers one to remove themselves from difficult toxic environments or from recognizing and report abuses.

Godspeed to much needed change, reckoning and cultural shift that seems well on its way for the sake of our daughters and sons.

Many believe you… and recognize that no woman, young lady, or girl should suffer such anguish in silence nor be subject to re-victimization through being shunned, ostracized, labelled a liar and denied real justice against their perpetrators in the here and now because of the reputation of some middle age ______ man.