You Can Keep Your Tale, I'll Take the Truth

It is Sunday, and I normally don't post on Sunday. I try to take this day as a time to be with my family. However, I have really had a burden on my heart for a couple of days about something so I am going to share it now. I may write more on it later, but for now, here it is. 

I am sick of seeing articles that talk about the truth and reality of the Handmaiden's Tale, especially on the Facebook pages of Christian women. I haven't watched the show. I refuse to because I read the book in college while pursuing a minor in women's studies and I know now that it is an attack on the Christian faith. The author of Handmaid's Tale calls it purportedly Christian rather than genuinely Christian however, that didn't stop creators of the show using the song, "Onward Christian Soldiers" as the soundtrack to a graphic and disgusting rape scene. I have to ask, Christians, why are you watching this?!? But lets discuss that another day. For now, lets move on. 

I read an article recently where the author states that The Handmaiden's Tale is the writing on the wall (which is a biblical reference by the way!) for women in the United States of America of what is to come. You can read the full article here.  However, today I want to discuss one paragraph more than anything else. The author writes: 

Today, Atwood’s Tale reads less like speculative fiction and more like an appalling worst-case scenario. How far removed are we, really, from the reduction of women to the status of childbearing vessels, allowed no identity, property, family or passions of our own? After all, just in February an Oklahoma legislator asserted that a pregnant woman is just a “host” for the fetus, thereby losing the right to bodily autonomy.

Lets fact check that shall we? The legislator in question, Rep. Justin Humphrey (R), actually said, 

I understand that they feel like that is their body,” he said of women. “I feel like it is a separate — what I call them is, is you’re a ‘host.’ And you know when you enter into a relationship you’re going to be that host and so, you know, if you pre-know that then take all precautions and don’t get pregnant,” he explained. “So that’s where I’m at. I’m like, hey, your body is your body and be responsible with it. But after you’re irresponsible then don’t claim, well, I can just go and do this with another body, when you’re the host and you invited that in.

To summarize Representative Humphrey is saying, you had sex, the natural biological repercussion of sex is pregnancy. If you engaged in sexual activity, you need to be prepared to deal with the fact that you may very well conceive a human life. If that happens, you DO NOT have the right to end that life. 

THAT IS IT.

And by the way, calling it a fetus instead of a baby doesn't change the fact that you are ending a life. Don't believe me? Check out the definition of a fetus here. You aren't losing your bodily autonomy, you just aren't being allowed to end someone else's bodily autonomy. But that is a talk for another day. 

Now, I want to address the first part of her paragraph. She asks how far removed are we from a society in which women are reduced "to the status of childbearing vessels, allowed no identity, property, family or passions of our own?" 

Let me introduce you to the American military. 

These brave men and women are currently standing between us an ISIS. They get up and go to work every single day at home and abroad knowing that they may have to give their life in service to, and protection of, our country. The United States military stands between us and being forced to cover your entire body and face, from being beaten and raped as an act of war, and being beheaded in the street. 

How far removed are we from having our rights taken away? 

The length of all the servicemen standing between us and ISIS.       

And by the way, of those servicemen, 68% identify as Christian. 

So before you say that Christians are trying to take away the rights and liberties of women, remember who is charging in to the fight to keep the horrors of ISIS from coming here. 

Remember the young men and women facing down the horrors of ISIS so that we don't face them here. 

You can keep your tale, I'll take the truth.