| Some time ago, I decided to conduct a study to | | | | 5. Fundamentalist churches can hardly be called |
| determine if Christian fundamentalist men | | | | bastions of the principles of non-resistance and |
| represented a population with an increased likelihood | | | | non-violence. They don't support a "gentler way." |
| of engaging in domestic violence. I had determined to | | | | 6. Fundamentalists are quick to support coercive and |
| complete a literature review and then proceed to | | | | lethal means of punishment such as corporal |
| interview counselors from a crisis center offering help | | | | punishment for children, punitive civil justice, and, |
| to women experiencing abuse. It seemed like a good | | | | ultimately, the death penalty. |
| "plan of attack," and was straightforward and could | | | | 7. Fundamentalists tend to support a position of civil |
| be easily interpreted. | | | | retributive justice as opposed to distributive or |
| Two problems, however, stood in the way of my | | | | restorative justice. |
| research. I teach at a college and had easy access to | | | | 8. Fundamentalist churches take passages concerning |
| many psychology and sociology databases. The first | | | | a wrathful God at face value. |
| problem I encountered was that the literature was | | | | 9. Many of these principles are preached on a regular |
| sparse and inconclusive at best. In general, little | | | | basis from fundamentalist pulpits. |
| difference could be found in abusive patterns | | | | 10. Sadly, somehow, fundamentalist churches, |
| represented by the liberal religious, the nonreligious, | | | | husbands, boyfriends, and preachers manage to |
| and fundamentalists. Second, what little interviewing I | | | | brainwash women into thinking this system is from |
| did resulted in no "clear cut" pattern of religious | | | | God and that it is in their best interest. |
| affiliation among abusers. In fact, I found that | | | | 11. All of this points to a subculture that is |
| variable often to be unaddressed or indeterminate-i.e. | | | | male-dominant, rigidly authoritarian, obedient to |
| in general, it could only be "guessed at" or inferred. | | | | religious leaders, and fairly accepting of violence as a |
| I found this puzzling, as I could certainly think of a | | | | method of social/personal control. |
| theoretical model of abuse at least somewhat fueled | | | | Taking the above observations as reasonably |
| by fundamentalist belief. The variety of | | | | accurate, it is easy to construct a theoretical model |
| fundamentalism I had in mind was not the more | | | | of wife abuse at the hands of a fundamentalist |
| "cultic" variety, but that represented by many folks' | | | | husband. In fact, a simple example illustrating that |
| neighbors and coworkers-a biblical absolutism and | | | | model can be given in just a few short paragraphs. |
| literalism that lead to an authoritarian and hierarchical | | | | Imagine that a wife doesn't go along with a husband's |
| view of marriage, decidedly male dominated. | | | | decisions. Or, imagine that she stops believing in the |
| Examples of abuse of both children and spouses | | | | male authority point of view. You can see how that |
| already existed in more extreme groups. (For a chilling | | | | might cause a quandary for a fundamentalist husband. |
| account, read Under the Banner of Heaven). Further, | | | | He's been told repeatedly that he is "in charge." He |
| as has been discussed on many on-line forums and in | | | | has been told that this position is given to him directly |
| responses to my blog (where I have posted much of | | | | on the authority of God. Likely, the wife has agreed |
| the evidence gathered from my earlier literature | | | | to be submissive, if the marriage took place when |
| review), as well as support groups and other venues, | | | | they were both fundamentalist adherents. Also, he is |
| there is much anecdotal evidence that supports the | | | | probably getting regular "booster shots" of the |
| prevalence of spousal abuse among fundamentalists. | | | | authoritarian dribble at church and from coreligionists |
| In saying that my literature review produced | | | | on a regular basis. Divorce is taboo, or close to it. |
| inconclusive results, I want to expand on what I think | | | | Might not such a husband become very agitated, |
| "inconclusive" means and doesn't mean. First, my | | | | frustrated, and angry? Additionally, might he not view |
| review DID NOT deal with fundamentalism of the | | | | his anger as a type of righteous indignation? In such a |
| more cultic variety. I think there is little doubt about | | | | case, is it not possible that something just "snaps" |
| that one. As has been stated crazy, sectarian, | | | | and he lashes out at his wife? Perhaps physically, but |
| fundamentalist religious groups (such as polygamous | | | | if not, certainly with all kinds of psychological pressure |
| Mormons) are clearly wife abusers. They seem to be | | | | and abuse? |
| unrepentant about it. They think it's just part of life. | | | | This may be a phenomenon very difficult to |
| Men in such groups seem to believe that they have | | | | document empirically because it depends on |
| the prerogative to abuse women. | | | | self-report regarding both behaviors and religious |
| But, my interest is elsewhere. My work related to | | | | beliefs. I believe that this was the downfall in my |
| fundamentalism has always dealt with fundamentalism | | | | original methodology. Since my original decision to |
| as it is represented in popular culture. My attempt is | | | | study this phenomenon, I have been devising a |
| to paint an accurate picture of everyday, | | | | different way to go about things. It just stands to |
| garden-variety fundamentalism-- like that of the | | | | reason that research to this point would tend to be |
| Christian radio "family life experts," the many popular | | | | inconclusive. It is likely that many men (and women) |
| televangelists, or maybe "the little church down the | | | | would be rather guarded and reticent to "come clean" |
| road" where your next-door neighbors attend. I have | | | | about it all. How much are fundamentalist adherents, |
| always been interested in that population, likely | | | | either abusers or the abused willing to disclose? The |
| because I was once a part of it. | | | | approaches taken thus far have relied, at least in |
| So, here is the evidence, as I know it: | | | | large measure, on precisely on such self-report. |
| 1. In fundamentalism, men are seen as authority | | | | Still, I do know from my history among the |
| figures. | | | | fundamentalists that abusive scenarios have been |
| 2. Women are expected to "submit" to their | | | | played out in tragic scenes spurred on by pathological |
| husbands-- a promise my wife wrote into her vows | | | | religious devotion. I do not say that such abuse is |
| when we were married 32 years ago. | | | | frequent. I do, however, believe that fundamentalist |
| 3. Women are, for all practical purposes, second-class | | | | indoctrination and belief makes domestic violence a |
| citizens. | | | | more likely occurrence. |
| 4. Men are encouraged to "take charge." | | | | |