Weekly Newsletter - August 3, 2016
From Christian Vegetarian Association (CVA)

  1. Activist Report
  2. Reflection on Genesis 3:16
  3. This Week’s Sermon from Rev. Frank and Mary Hoffman

1. Activist Report

Nelli, who leafleted at the Love Welcome to NRC on 7/17, distributed about 300 “Joyful, Compassionate Eating” booklets to a receptive crowd. She writes, “Thank you for the literature.”

Upcoming Activist Opportunities:

Leafletting

08/07/2016 VA, Richmond Third Day with Steven Curtis Chapman
08/12/2016 FL, Miami Outcry
08/17/2016 NC, Raleigh Needtobreathe
08/18/2016 PA, Reading Third Day with Steven Curtis Chapman
8/19-20/16 OH, Columbus Belong Tour 2016
08/19/2016 AR, Little Rock Outcry
08/20/2016 CA, San Francisco Matthew West
08/21/2016 TX, Dallas Outcry
08/24/2016 AZ, Phoenix Outcry
08/25/2016 CA, San Diego Outcry
08/25/2016 OH, Columbus Needtobreathe
08/26/2016 OH, Cincinnati Needtobreathe
08/26/2016 AZ, Phoenix Matthew West
08/26/2016 NV, Las Vegas Outcry
08/27/2016 IN, Indianapolis Needtobreathe
08/28/2016 CA, Anaheim TobyMac
09/08/2016 CA, San Jose Needtobreathe
09/10/2016 CA, Los Angeles Needtobreathe
09/11/2016 CA, San Diego Needtobreathe
9/16-17/16 PA, Philadelphia Belong Tour 2016
09/18/2016 GA, Atlanta Matthew West
09/18/2016 CT, Stamford Jeremy Camp
09/24/2016 GA, Duluth Third Day
9/23-24-16 CO, Denver Belong Tour 2016 (Loveland, CO)
09/29/2016 MO, St. Louis Love Life 2016 Women’s Conference
09/30/2016 TX, Dallas Belong Tour 2016
09/30/2016 TX, San Antonio Women of Joy
09/30/2016 VA, Roanoke Extraordinary Women Ministries
10/01/2016 TX, Dallas Belong Tour 2016
10/7-8/2016 CA, San Jose Belong Tour 2016
10/14-15/16 FL, Florida Belong Tour 2016
10/21-22/16 MN, St. Paul Belong Tour 2016
12/16/2016 TX, Dallas MercyMe
01/02-04/17 GA, Atlanta Passion 2017

Tabling

09/24/2016 DC, Washington DC VegFest
10/02/2016 NJ, Morristown New Jersey VegFest
10/08/2016 CA, San Francisco World Vegan Festival
10/22-23/16 OR, Portland Portland VegFest
10/22/2016 TX, Dallas Texas Veggie Fair 2016
11/12/2016 GA, Atlanta Atlanta Vegfest 2016
11/12/2026 FL, Tampa Tampa Bay Veg Fest 2016
12/03/2016 FL, Fort Lauderdale South Florida Veg Fest
12/11/2016 OR, Portland Portland: Green Festival

Contact Lorena at lorenaValenziVeg@gmail.com if you can help. Remember – the CVA donates $20/hr for leafleting and $15/hr for tabling to the animal advocacy or veg. group of your choice.

2. Reflection on Genesis 3:16

After Adam and Eve were expelled from the Garden of Eden, Genesis 3:16 relates that God told Eve “he [her husband] shall rule over you.” Historically, many Christians have understood this to be a model of a husband’s relationship with his wife. It has been my impression and understanding that, when this model is put into practice, it rarely produces a happy marriage.

The marriage might be stable and functional, but it generally is not mutually satisfying. Every long-term relationship has issues of conflict, and common sources of tension include finances, sexual activities, and how to raise the children. When these conflicts are not respectfully discussed and negotiated (and renegotiated as needed over time), there is almost always resentment. Frequently, there is violence to enforce the dictates of the head of household.

Many Christians no longer take Genesis 3:16 as a literal prescription for marriage. At first glance, this might seem surprising. Men are generally stronger than women and are capable of enforcing relationships that resemble slavery. Why would men relinquish the opportunity to have sex whenever they wanted, to have control over household finances, and to enjoy other prerogatives?

I think there are likely many reasons. For one thing, women do have some power. For example, they can resist sexual demands by claiming illness (and often the symptoms become very real to them); they can gossip about their husband’s bad behavior, which can hurt his reputation (though doing so risks angering the husband to the point of violence); and in some countries they can enlist the assistance of law enforcement. A second reason is that men might be inspired to treat their partners respectfully out of a sense of justice, which itself is inspired by factors including biblical passages encouraging universal justice as well as secular enlightenment thought. A third reason is that respectful relationships can be much more gratifying that domineering ones. Benefits can include much better sex, wiser use of finances, and less tension and anger in the household.

Next week, I want to turn to Genesis 1:25, in which Adam was given “dominion” over the animals. While many Christians have found ways to reinterpret Genesis 3:16 in ways that encourage respectful husband-wife relations, most resist reinterpreting passages that seem to endorse harmful exploitation of nonhumans. Next week, I’ll start to consider how the three reasons husbands might want to engage in mutually respectful relations with wives can apply to human relations with nonhumans.

Stephen R. Kaufman, M.D.

3. This Week’s Sermon from Rev. Frank and Mary Hoffman

Heavenly Thinking

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