2022 Retreat
- Outline
- Day 1 Introductory Topic: Truth
- Day 1 Station 2: Biblical View of Homosexuality
- Day 1 Station 4: Holiness in Marriage
- Day 2 Introductory Topic: Feminism
- Day 2 Station 2: Does Feminism fulfill God's Will? (Abortion)
- Day 2 Station 2: Mock Trial Script
- Day 2 Station 3: Is Feminism fair to everyone?
- Day 2 Station 4: Does Feminism Build Society
Outline
Key Verse
“If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
(John 8:31-32)
Goals
- Give them an opportunity to discuss, vent, and ask questions related to the modern day push of homosexuality, transgenderism, abortion, etc.
- Day 1
- Provide a structure of defense against the issue of homosexuality in society
- Provide some answers about where homosexuality comes from, the history and negative social effects
- Address Current Events (e.g. House Bill 1557 "Don't say Gay Bill", Disney Supporting it, Schools Protesting it, etc.)
- Day 2
- Clearly detail the role of men and women and their equality in God's eyes and in the Church
- Provide a structure of defense against the issue of abortion in society
- Address Current Events (e.g. Roe v Wade overturning)
Day 1 - Homosexuality
Resources
- 2022 SMF College book
- HG Bishop Youssef on Truth
- Truth - HG Bishop Youssef
- Very systematic lecture about the Truth, how the Truth is defined, how to deal with someone sick with homosexuality, etc.
- HG Bishop Youssef on Homosexuality
- Homosexuality - HG Bishop Youssef
- Listen to Synodical Committee Seminar for Addiction Prevention & Psychological Health ~ Lecture & QA (Arabic), a playlist by HE Metropolitan Youssef ~ عظات نيافة الانبا يوسف on #SoundCloud
https://on.soundcloud.com/K9UJ2
- Fr Antony Paul on Homosexuality
- https://stbasil.net/the-st-basil-podcast/2015/10/30/homosexuality-and-the-orthodox-church
- This lecture has a discussion on the role of "Nature" vs "Nurture" in homosexuality (among many other things)
- Dr Julie Harren Hamilton
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C54CIxm-w44
- This lecture discusses the psychological aspects of why someone may develop homosexual tendencies. How does genetics play a role (i.e. only in the sense that your genetics may make you more sensitive). How does early childhood development play a role? Etc.
- Voddie Baucham
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZkL3lT95vOU
- Dr Voddie Baucham is a Protestant Pastor who has been outspoken about the harm of Homosexuality, the fact that it is sin, and spoken against Christians who accept it
- This lecture is about the political side of the argument, and why Christians should not support them, and more importantly HOW TO ANSWER the common arguments that come from that side
- Voddie Baucham
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SJG9CtaBXeM
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F2nPRV8dmOk
- These two videos are about how homosexuality harms society, children/families, persons practicing it, etc.
- Serving the Lost Sheep (STLS) 2019 Convention Material
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FHD5sSnvcwQ
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9oySpetaj6c
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UMuFjGPZg18
- https://www.dropbox.com/s/n6s88x23hazmtip/Understanding%20Same-Sex%20Attraction-STLS.pdf?dl=0
- Fr Makary Ibrahim (may the Lord repose his pure soul) presented these slides at the convention
Outline
- Introductory Topic: Truth
- Responsible Servants: Morcous
- What is Truth? What is Absolute Truth? Where do we get Truth?
- What about "that's just your opinion"?
- The goal is not to convince you that homosexuality is a sin - most of you are already convinced of that. The goal is to equip you with the tools and information needed to support your stance and to give a defense for your faith.
- Outline of the Day
- Station 1: Where does Homosexuality Come From?
- Responsible Servants: Lisa, Maria, Andrew
- Nature vs Nurture
- How does genetics play a role?
- How does the role of parents play a role?
- How does society and the media play a role?
- Is there a spectrum of sexuality?
- Don't forget to include Bisexuality and Transgenderism in this discussion
- Station 2: Biblical View of Homosexuality
- Responsible Servants: Morcous, Christy, Mark
- What is Sin?
- Homosexuality in the Old Testament
- A common argument is that Christians "pick and choose" from the Old Testament. HG Bishop Youssef addresses this in the "Truth" Q&A and Voddie Baucham in his lecture
- A common argument is that Christians "pick and choose" from the Old Testament. HG Bishop Youssef addresses this in the "Truth" Q&A and Voddie Baucham in his lecture
- How is it addressed in the New Testament?
- A common argument is that the New Testament Greek words for homosexuality are a bad translation and should be "pedagogy" or "paedophilia"
- A common argument is that the New Testament Greek words for homosexuality are a bad translation and should be "pedagogy" or "paedophilia"
- Station 3: Social Effects of Homosexuality
- Responsible Servants: Mina, Reham
- Many people use the argument now of "it's not hurting you"
-
- Homosexuality DOES hurt everyone; it hurts the person practicing it, it hurts the children and families (homosexuals and heterosexuals), and it hurts the whole society.
- Homosexuality harms the person practicing it (check SMF college book)
- Spiritual harms
- Social harms
- Physical harms
- Homosexuality harms children and families
- Distorting the meaning of a family
- Many homosexuals end up alone or without a family due to their lifestyle
- Preventing children from having the benefit of Father and Mother
- Imparts homosexuality in the minds of their children
- Homosexuality harms society
- Oversexualizing society and pushing their agenda
- When the idea of a family is distorted, moral values are also distorted
- Advocating and enticing many to sin under the idea of "finding their identity"
-
- Now that we know the harms of homosexuality .... what should we do?
- How do I hate the sin and love the sinner?
- How about supporting the sin? (Romans 1)
- By not being dragged into the claims that victimizes homosexuals
- There are some ways that we support the sin without knowing (e.g. by putting pronouns on our profiles)
- Marching for causes we do not understand (i.e. school marching against Do not say Gay bill)
- Supporting celebrities/movies/shows with homosexual agenda
- How about supporting the sin? (Romans 1)
- Station 4: The Holiness of Marriage
- Responsible Servants: Jimmy, Mirolla, Ehab
- Definition of Marriage
- Biblical Marriage (Genesis + the Lord quoting Genesis)
- Church Rituals about Marriage
- Closing Topic: Final Debate and the Apologetics of Homosexuality
- Responsible Servants: Susan + All Servants Participation
- Common arguments and fallacies and how to answer them
- Starting at 40:36 in the Voddie Baucham Video
- We should prepare certain questions to ask them and await their response
- If they are unable to answer, then we will give them the answers and the way to respond to them
- How to deal with the ad hominem fallacy
Day 2 - Feminism
Resources
- Feminism and Tradition - Fr Lawrence Farley
- St Mary & St Phoebe Consecrated Sisters
- St Mark ATL Lectures
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-bFj9Nn88kc - The Role of Men and Women
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BRF593rNNtM - St Paul's Attitude Towards Women
- https://youtu.be/4FS5GBExt7U
- Third video to come 5/29
- This is a very good series from St Mark Atlanta titled "The Church has a Woman Problem??"
- It is very basic about the equality of honor and dignity, and the difference in roles
- Stephanie Gray
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RGPudL_GQ3Y
- Abortion Apologist
- Most Anti-Abortion arguments center around the fact that the Embryo is a living human being and terminating him/her is murder. Unfortunately, now many pro-abortion people are saying "yes the Embryo is a living person, but the right for bodily autonomy is more important" - how do we answer that? - Stephanie Gray addresses that here
Outline
- Introductory Topic: Introduction to Feminism
- Responsible Servants: Morcous
- Relate Homosexuality to Feminism via Transgenderism - many feminists are supporting Transgenderism even to the point of not being able to "define woman"
- What is Feminism
- Feminism is defined as "Advocacy for women's rights" and yet it has devolved to oppressing women...
- They want men who call themselves women to use girls bathrooms, to play in girls' and women's sports, etc.
- They want abortion and argue that it is a fundamental right and they can't function without it
- Importance of studying the topic of Feminism for Boys and for Girls
- Outline of the day
- Station 1: Does it fight for women's rights?
- Responsible Servants: Lisa, Mark, Mina
- God made man and woman
- The role and equality of man and woman designed by God in the church
- Priesthood only for men?! Deaconship only for men?!?!?
- The apostles would go to St. Mary for prayers and blessings, but St. Mary would go to them for Eucharist. I feel that if the servants and the youth have this concept clear in their minds, it's a good door for the rest of the topic
- And this is the equality God has for us. And equality doesn't delete the fact that women has a role as well as men. No person on earth was/is greater than St. Mary, but she was never a priest, never administered any sacraments. The apostles also know and appreciate St. Mary so much that they would go for her opinion/blessings/prayers. St. John never left Jerusalem until her body's assumption.
- God picked men to be the apostles, but also the women to anointed his body.
But He also picked EVERYONE to be His disciple (you mentioned this part)
- Similarities and differences in men and women
- Station 2: Does it fulfill God's will?
- Responsible Servants: Morcous, Mirolla, Andrew
- Feminism is the advocacy of women, and God's will is for the equality of men and women... so is feminism fulfilling God's will?
- This station should focus on the topic of Abortion
- Some believe that abortion is fundamental to the functioning of a woman... (e.g. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yZYQpge1W5s 12:00 "I think abortion rights are fundamental to women being able to function as full humans in society") and they call this feminism
- Some people ask why do we let a person live without a father? abortion is a solution for this. Why would someone that got raped live with a baby that she didn't want? abortion is a solution
The real answer for these is that God has a plan (even if it seems unclear)
- Station 3: Is it fair to everyone?
- Responsible Servants: Rafeek, Maivel, Maria
- Historically, Christianity was the first institution in the world to be openly for women and liberating to women...
- Jesus accepted women to be His disciples, they had a very specific ministry (i.e. Luke 8) in providing financial support, meals, etc. He appeared to them first after His Resurrection
- Christianity was open about accepting women and this attracted many women to join the faith in the Early Church
- "There is neither male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus" (Galatians 3:28)
- The feminist movement disregards all of this and calls the Church unfair to women and oppressive to women
- The feminist movement is unfair in its judgmental attitude towards the church
- Station 4: Does it help build society?
- Responsible Servants: Jimmy, Christy, Ehab
- Promotion of independence and individuality
- Closing Topic: Final Debate
- Responsible Servants: Susan + All Servants Participation
Day 1 Introductory Topic: Truth
Visual Aid
- See Attachments on the Left
Convention Introduction
- Welcome to our second annual HS & MS Youth Summer Apologetics Convention
- As we said last year, we will hold this convention every year in June with a focus on Apologetics
- Can anyone remind me of what the word "Apologetics" means? To give a defense
- And this comes from Scripture in 1 Peter 3:15 - "But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear" - give a defense in Greek is ἀπολογία - "Apologia" - the root of the word Apologetics
- Last year we took a very high level and a very classical apologetics approach - We discussed Evolution, Big Bang Theory, the Resurrection, Authenticity of the Bible, etc.
- Many of you, since that time, have had one or two interactions with people where you were called to give a defense - maybe more, maybe less.
- Probably the most fundamental concept in all of Apologetics is Truth. The Truth.
The Truth
- Is there such thing as Truth?
- Many people today will say something like "well tell me YOUR truth" or "MY truth is this or that"
- https://www.youtube.com/shorts/yVnfS2m2VbA
- What is the Truth?
- Truth is reality - what is real
- The Lord Jesus Christ said "I am the way, the truth and the life"
- What does this mean?
- It means that all of His Words are True - all of His Teachings, His promises about the Kingdom, His Promise about the Second Coming, His Judgment - are all true.
- It means that if we want to know the Truth, we should seek Him and seek the truth through Him
- "And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." (John 8:32)
- What the Truth is NOT
- Truth is NOT whatever works
- The ends don't justify the means
- If I don't want to get in trouble, so I lie to my parents and they believe me, and I don't get in trouble... my plan worked! But that doesn't make it Truth. Still, whatever I told my parents was a lie. Just because it worked doesn't make it true.
- Truth is NOT what is understandable
- We don't understand how the human brain works - but that doesn't mean it's not true.
- We don't understand the Trinity and how can Three in One and One in Three - that doesn't mean it's not true.
- We don't understand how the bread and wine becomes Body and Blood - that doesn't mean it's not true.
- Truth is NOT what makes people feel good
- Bad news can be the truth
- If I come and tell you that your grandmother has departed - you won't feel good... but it's the truth.
- If you get a bad grade on a math test, you won't feel good... but it's the truth
- "Facts don't care about your feelings"
- Truth is NOT whatever the majority says
- In the time of Noah, when everyone reached the conclusion that there is no flood - they were wrong.
- In the time of Lot, when everyone stayed in Sodom and Gomorrah - they were wrong.
- In the time of Nazi Germany, the majority of people in Germany contributed to the persecution of Jews - they were wrong.
- Truth is NOT what is intended
- Those who support homosexuality always think they are doing it "out of love" - they might have good intentions but they are uninformed. No matter how good their intentions, it doesn't make it true.
- Those who support abortion always think they are doing it "to liberate women" - they might have good intentions but they are uninformed. No matter how good their intentions, it doesn't make it true.
- Truth is NOT what is believed
- Someone can sincerely believe a lie
- If you have a key in your hand and you sincerely believe it's the right key for the door. You have no doubt in your mind. But it's the wrong key... No matter how sincerely you believe it's the right key, it's not the truth.
- If you have a bottle of poison and you sincerely believe it's juice. No matter how sincere your belief, if you drink it you will die. That's the truth.
- Someone can sincerely believe a lie
- Truth is NOT what is publicly proved
- For example, I have the password to my computer at work. I am the only one in the world who knows what it is. And yet, it is true.
- The location of a hidden treasure... it doesn't have to be public knowledge to be true.
- Truth is NOT whatever works
- Attacks on the Truth
- You will be accused of being narrow-minded
- The math teacher who holds the belief that 2+2=4 - is he narrow minded?
- To be open minded, does he have to say that 2+2 can be 5 or 8?
- The Truth is the Truth.
- You will be called arrogant
- Is the math teacher who then INSISTS that there's only one right answer to 2+2 - is he arrogant?
- The Truth is the Truth.
- You will be accused of excluding people
- If the math teacher doesn't allow another teacher in his class to come and teach that 2+2=5 - is he excluding people?
- The Truth is the Truth.
- You will be accused of being offensive and divisive
- I took this video from a portion of this new documentary about Transgenderism called "What is a Woman?"
- Lisa and I were watching it and this part had me completely dumbfounded so I wanted to share it with you.
- The interviewer is Matt Walsh who is a talk show host, and he's interviewing a College Professor of Gender Studies.
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e77nDWpq3eQ
- You will be accused of being narrow-minded
- The Truth has Consequences
- If I take the wrong amount of medication, it could kill me
- If I choose the wrong investment, it could make me poor
- If I board the wrong plane, I will end up in the wrong destination
- If I follow a lie, or support a lie, or participate in a lie... I risk my eternal life.
Why Discuss Homosexuality?
- When I was in Middle School, there was no such thing as gay. We didn't know about homosexuality. We didn't hear about it anywhere - not even at church. Not a single person in my school was a homosexual. And I didn't live in Egypt. I didn't live out in the country or in the midwest... I went to Meadow Woods Middle School and my brother and sister went to South Creek Middle School. The same Middle Schools that some of you went to or go to.
- When I was in High School, we had one homosexual in our school who had "come out" and two more who were "in the closet."
- We're not talking about 50 years ago. That was just 13 years ago. Now raise your hand here if you have seen homosexuality in your school.
- How did a change this big happen? How did those who are against the Truth, convince so many people to believe in a lie?
- The Scriptures told us that this would happen.
- In St Paul's Epistle to the Romans, he mentions many sins and homosexuality is one of them, but he summarizes them as: "who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen." (Romans 1:25)
How did Homosexuality Become so Prevalent in our Society?
- If Homosexuality is so wrong, why do so many people follow or support it? Why is the majority behind it? How could this happen?
- In 1987, an article called "The Overhauling of Straight America" was published in a magazine
- https://library.gayhomeland.org/0018/EN/EN_Overhauling_Straight.htm
- The article had 6 points
- Talk about gays and gayness as loudly and as often as possible
- Portray gays as victims, not as aggressive challengers
- Give protectors a just cause
- Make gays look good
- Make the victimizers look bad
- Solicit funds
- The article talks about how to get into politics, how to get into advertising, how to put favorable gay characters in movies and shows, how to convince celebrities and athletes to come out as homosexual, how to compare those who are against homosexuality to Nazis or KKK, how to present a commercial, etc. All of this is written down in an article from 1987 - before I was born! Before any of it actually happened.
- In 1989, a book was published called "After the Ball: How America Will Conquer its Fear and Hatred of Gays in the 90s"
- It took all of those points and dropped them into three categories
- Desensitization
- Jamming
- Conversion
- And this is exactly how it played out in the 90s and 2000s
Desensitization
- "Inundate them in a continuous flood of gay-related advertising presented in the least offensive fashion possible. If straights can't shut off the shower, they may at least get used to being wet."
- Prevalence in Hollywood
- Movies, TV Shows, Commercials
- Every movie nowadays needs to have at least one homosexual character or it gets attacked
- Many shows that ran for a long time all of a sudden have a gay character
- TV Shows are showing men with men or women with women
- Homosexual character in the Movie/TV Show is always the best dressed, smartest, wittiest, funniest, doesn't make a mistake, etc.
- Athletes and Actors who "come out" - they become the image of the movement
- When you see a gay character on a show, maybe you don't even get offended anymore. It's just there.
- Hollywood is lying to us. They are not saying the Truth.
- Raise your hand if you've seen homosexuality in movies and shows.
- Prevalence on Social Media
- All over TikTok there are videos of people talking about "well my pronouns are they and them or ze and zer" and "I'm pansexual" or "I'm asexual" or whatever
- The videos usually have someone who has modified his or her body - lots of piercings, crazy hair coloring, tattoos, tons of makeup... someone who no longer looks human.
- The algorithm works to push these things to the top and to flood your feed with them
- All of this is a lie! It is not the Truth
- Raise your hand if you've seen homosexuality on social media.
- By shoving homosexuality down our throats, we start to become desensitized. Desensitization.
Jamming
- Accuse religious people
- Portray anti-gay institutions as "backwards" and "antiquated" and "out of step with the times"
- Take two contradictory images and juxtapose them
- Christians hate Nazis and Skinheads and KKK
- You portray people against same-sex marriage as being akin to Nazis, Skinheads and KKK
- Since no one wants to be accused of being a Nazi, Skinhead or KKK - eventually, no one will want to be accused of being against same-sex marriage
- Prevalence in the Press
- In March of 2022, Ron DeSantis, Governor of Florida signed a bill called House Bill 1557 - Parental Rights in Education
- The Bill did many things:
- Prohibits Classroom introduction on sexual orientation and gender identity for students in KG through 3rd Grade. After 3rd Grade, the conversations need to be age-appropriate.
- Requires schools to notify parents about any healthcare services that the school provides and gives them the right to decline it for their children
- Requires any questionnaires or health screenings given to students in KG-G3 to be given to the parents FIRST
- Does anyone here think that this is unreasonable? That this is harmful? Would anyone disagree with this bill? Do you think that this bill is anti-gay or anti-trans?
- Let's look at how the Media reported on this Bill
- They called it "Don't say gay"
- They called it "Cruel and Dangerous"
- They claimed LGBTQ Students are being "Terrorized" and this Bill would make it worse
- The Media is lying. The Media did not say the Truth.
- Raise your hand if you've read about this or heard about this
Conversion
- "It isn't enough that anti-gay should be confused or even indifferent about us. We are safest in the long run when we can actively make them like us."
- Prevalence in Corporation
- In June every year, we see lots of companies - restaurants, home shops, credit card companies, military contractors, even the US Armed Forces change their logos and post about "Pride" and do a bunch of random things to "Support" the LGBTQ movement
- Those same companies, on their Middle East branches would never dare to do that
- The companies post about Love and #LoveWins and talk about Pride being a good thing
- They put Pride stickers on their doors and say "it can bring more customers"
- The Companies are lying. The Companies are not saying the Truth.
- Raise your hand if you've seen homosexuality in companies
- We find ourselves in a society that is caught off guard. Converted by a radical ideology. Conversion.
Conclusion
- So we see Homosexuality become prevalent in our society in the last 20 years because of a conscious attack in our country through three steps that were outlined and defined 30 years ago:
- Desensitization through the Media and Hollywood
- Jamming by attacking those who oppose it
- Conversion
- So why are we discussing Homosexuality?
- Because it is an attack on the Truth. And we care about the Truth.
- It is a lie that is being exchanged for the truth of God, that is indoctrinating our society and our youth and children and desensitizing us to what sin is. And we care about our Youth and Children.
- Because you all have asked about it and discussed it and seen it with your eyes
- Our Purpose in Life is to Know God and to make God known to others. So our Goal in the next two days is for you to:
- We want you to KNOW the Truth - that Homosexuality is sin. No matter what the majority or the media try to teach us. No matter what makes people feel good. No matter what the intentions are. Sin is sin.
- We want to equip you with the answers to be able to give a defense.
- We want to help you show the love of God and be a light in the world even when surrounded by all this darkness
- What does it mean to hate the sin and love the sinner?
- How can I love the person who is struggling with homosexuality?
- How can I practically SHOW this love?
- How can I "speak the truth in love" (Ephesians 4:15)
Day 1 Outline
- On the first day, we will have four stations that answer four questions:
- Where does Homosexuality come from?
- What does the Bible really say about Homosexuality?
- Why do we care so much about Homosexuality if it's not hurting us?
- What is God's intention for sexuality?
- Where does Homosexuality come from?
- At the end of the day, we will have a section for a Final Debate - we'll pose the arguments to you in the way that we see them - at work, in the media, on the internet, etc. and YOU will have to give a defense. You will become the Apologist.
Day 1 Station 2: Biblical View of Homosexuality
Visual Aid:
- See attachments on left side
Goals:
- To make a convincing argument that Homosexuality is sin according to the word of God
- To answer common arguments against the Old and New Testament verses pertaining to homosexuality
- Old Testament: Many people accuse Christians of "picking and choosing" especially from Leviticus
- New Testament: Many say the Greek word used for homosexuality is a "bad translation" and should really be "pedagogy" or "paedophilia"
- To address "supporting the sin" according to Romans 1
What is Sin?
- A very easy and straightforward question, right?
- What is sin? Explain it to me
- What is sin
- Sin is doing something against the law of God
- Sin is separation from God
- Sin is death
- If God is life, and sin is separation from God, then sin is death
- This is why when God warned Adam and Eve about eating the fruit, He said "You shall surely die" and indeed they did
- Sin is falling short of the glory of God
- Why does God classify some things as sin and others as not?
- All of God's commandments and laws come from His love for us
- Because God loves us, He doesn't want us to get hurt or to hurt others - so He gives us commandments for the things that would hurt us
- Things that are incompatible with God and God is love - so anything that is incompatible with the love of God, with loving the Lord our God, or with loving our neighbor - is sin.
- Which is ironic because Homosexuality is advertised as being born out of "love"
- How do we know if something is a sin?
- God reveals it to us through the Scripture or the Church Tradition
- Today we will examine the Biblical Evidence against Homosexuality
- Then we will see what TikTok has to say about it
- And then we will answer the claims being made on TikTok
- We will see what GOD says about the sin of homosexuality
Homosexuality in the Old Testament
Biblical Evidence 1: Leviticus
- "You shall not lie with a male as with a woman. It is an abomination" (Leviticus 18:22)
- "If a man lies with a male as he lies with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination. They shall surely be put to death. Their blood shall be upon them. " (Leviticus 20:13)
Argument 1: Hebrew Word Lost in Translation
- https://www.tiktok.com/@lindsaywhtmrsh/video/6919317480296975622
- Let's look at the Hebrew: https://biblehub.com/interlinear/leviticus/18-22.htm
- It's a weak argument because the Interlinear is very clear - it doesn't mention paedophilia or even homosexuality. It just says "don't lie with a male as with a woman"
- This is an uncommon argument that I only found in this one video - I think this TikToker confused Argument 4 (we'll see in a few minutes) with this verse
Biblical Evidence 2: Sodom and Gomorrah
- 5 And they called to Lot and said to him, “Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us that we may know them carnally.” 6 So Lot went out to them through the doorway, shut the door behind him, 7 and said, “Please, my brethren, do not do so wickedly! 8 See now, I have two daughters who have not known a man; please, let me bring them out to you, and you may do to them as you wish; only do nothing to these men, since this is the reason they have come under the shadow of my roof.” ... 24 Then the Lord rained brimstone and fire on Sodom and Gomorrah, from the Lord out of the heavens. (Genesis 19:5-7, 24)
- 7 as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities around them in a similar manner to these, having given themselves over to sexual immorality and gone after strange flesh, are set forth as an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire. (Jude 7)
Argument 2: Sodom and Gomorrah Didn't Practice Homosexuality
- https://www.tiktok.com/@revbrandanrobertson/video/6886934123395534086
- This is a very common argument - Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed because of their inhospitality. And Ezekiel 16:49 is always quoted
- 49 Look, this was the iniquity of your sister Sodom: She and her daughter had pride, fullness of food, and abundance of idleness; neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy.
- Seems legit... until you read THE VERY NEXT VERSE
- 50 And they were haughty and committed abomination before Me; therefore I took them away as I saw fit.
- AND they committed an abomination... what is the abomination? Well, we read it in Leviticus 18.
Argument 3: Picking and Choosing Verses
- https://www.tiktok.com/@finnkobler/video/6900741130174893317?_t=8TK99Z7p1f4&_r=1
- Edited this video to blur out the "pulling out" part
- This is a common attack to Christians - "you're picking and choosing verses" - "You run over to Leviticus and you pick this verse, but you eat shellfish, you cut your beard, you eat honey and pork" etc.
- How do we answer this?
- You also pick and choose verses - but the difference is, I KNOW why I'm picking and choosing. And I KNOW what I'm picking and choosing
- There are three types of Laws in the Old Testament
- Moral Law - meant to teach right and wrong. In the New Testament, this was ELEVATED by the Lord Jesus Christ.
- "You have heard it said you shall not murder, but I say to you don't even get angry"
- "You have heard it said you shall not commit adultery, but I say to you don't even look at a woman with lust"
- "You have heard it said you shall not murder, but I say to you don't even get angry"
- Ceremonial Law - meant to be symbolic of what is to come.
- Circumcision pointed to Baptism.
- Sacrifices pointed to the Cross and the Eucharist. Etc.
- Civil Law - civil laws were meant to practically aid the Israelites but also gave a spiritual purpose
- These laws were to prevent the Israelites from becoming like the nations around them
- Many of these laws are incorporated into our nations' civil laws
- Who decides what to follow? The Church and the Holy Tradition.
- Moral Law - meant to teach right and wrong. In the New Testament, this was ELEVATED by the Lord Jesus Christ.
- You also pick and choose verses - but the difference is, I KNOW why I'm picking and choosing. And I KNOW what I'm picking and choosing
Homosexuality in the New Testament
Biblical Evidence 3: St. Paul
- "27 Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due." (Romans 1:27)
- "Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God." (1 Cor 6:9-11)
Argument 4: Greek Translation Error
- https://www.tiktok.com/@princessserveen/video/6658434612181601542
- https://www.tiktok.com/@scottywartooth/video/6975179984969174277
- This one is easily seen in looking at Interlinear Bible
- Indeed, the word arsenokotai was coined by St Paul... but he used it to directly refer to Leviticus 18. He combined the two words for "man" (arseno) and the word for "lying with" (koitai) to tell his readers - "Remember what it said not to do in Leviticus 18:22 and 20:13?? Don't do that"
Conclusion: Biblical Interpretation
- All of these false doctrines and beliefs stem from a personal interpretation of the Scripture. But as Orthodox Christians, we reject the notion of a personal interpretation. Scripture is interpreted for us by the Church Fathers before us and the Holy Tradition
- The rejection of Homosexuality is not a new thing - no matter how many claims that "it wasn't in English translations until 1940s" - it was in other languages and it's prevalent in the writings of the Church Fathers
Day 1 Station 4: Holiness in Marriage
Day 2 Introductory Topic: Feminism
Visual Aid
- See Attachments on the Left
Introduction
- I'll remind you that our theme for this convention is TRUTH. We started by defining the truth and saying what the Truth is NOT. We talked about some attacks on the Truth. We talked about why we care about the Truth, and the consequences of following a lie.
- And then we talked about Homosexuality, Same-Sex Marriage and the LGBT Movement - a Lie that is widespread in our society, permeating our schools, workplaces, politics and social media. An Aberration. We heard many lies about Homosexuality - common lies presented as arguments - and we learned how to replied to them
- "Homosexuality is genetic - I was born this way"
- "Homosexuality doesn't hurt anyone or harm society"
- "Homosexuality was never prohibited in the Bible it's a mistranslation!"
- "Homosexuality is prohibited in the Old Testament so it can be ignored"
- "If you oppose homosexuality you're a bigot"
- We heard all of these lies yesterday and we learned how to respond to them
- Today, we will talk about another lie that is widespread in our society, permeating our schools, workplaces, politics and social media - Feminism
What is Feminism?
- It is very important for us to nail down our definition of Feminism early on
- Feminism is defined as "advocacy for women's rights"
- Feminism pushes for "equality of the sexes"
- Feminism is what got women the right to vote, the right to a college education, the right to own property, the right to sign contracts, the right to serve the country in the military.
- Does this sound bad to anyone? Of course not!
- But unfortunately, the Feminist movement has become something else completely... we'll discuss the history of feminism, and the important topics coming up within feminist movements
History of Feminism
- The Feminism Movement is easy to follow historically because it came in stages and the stages have easy names...
- First Wave Feminism
- Second Wave Feminism
- Third Wave Feminism
- Fourth Wave Feminism
- We also have nowadays, many people who disagree with Fourth Wave Feminism, and who have started two other movements
- New Feminism
- Neo-feminism
- First Wave Feminism
- This started in the 1800s and ended in 1920.
- The point of first-wave feminism is providing equal opportunities for men and women
- The right to vote, the right to a higher education, the right to serve in the military, the right to work and own property
- Second Wave Feminism
- Started in the 1960s
- Between the 1920s and the 1960s, there was the Great Depression followed by World War II and then the country (and world) recovering from the war. There wasn't time for any movements...
- Roe v Wade
- Ended in the early 1980s
- Also called the Sexual Revolution
- Started in the 1960s
- Third Wave Feminism
- Started in the 1990s and continued until the early 2010s
Why Discuss Feminism?
- Current Events
- Roe v Wade was overturned on June 24 - it was a Supreme Court case that allowed abortion in the United States during the first two trimesters of pregnancy
- Swimmer who goes by Lia Thomas is a transgender - a man who identifies as a woman. He has been swimming against women and winning first place every time
- The arguments are very convincing
Lies Told by the Feminist Movement
- Women were oppressed and depressed before the Feminist Movement
- Men and Women are fundamentally the same
- Women don't need men; men don't need women
- Every woman is the same; every man is the same
- Being Feminine is Weak
- Christianity oppresses women
- A woman cannot fully function in society if she can't have an abortion
- Women get paid less than men simply because they are women
Conclusion
- So why are we discussing Feminism?
- It is an attack on the Truth and we care about the Truth
- It is a lie that is being exchanged for the truth of God, that is indoctrinating our society and our youth and children and desensitizing us to what sin is. And we care about our Youth and Children.
- Because you see it on social media and you have asked us questions about it
Convention Outline
- On the second day, we will have four stations that answer four questions:
- Does feminism really fight for women's rights?
- Does feminism fulfill God's will?
- Is feminism fair?
- Does feminism help build society?
- At the end of the day, we will have a section for a Final Debate - we'll pose the arguments to you in the way that we see them - at work, in the media, on the internet, etc. and YOU will have to give a defense. You will become the Apologist.
Day 2 Station 2: Does Feminism fulfill God's Will? (Abortion)
Method of Delivery:
- This lesson will be presented as a case in a court of law. One servant will dress and act as the Judge, the prosecutor will make the arguments from the Feminist side, and the defense will make the argument from the Apologist side
- The judge should give an introduction concerning which Law we are following (the Scriptures)
- The judge should give a conclusion related to "who is the Final Judge"
Visual Aid:
- Script : https://service.strebekahorlando.org/books/ms-hs-summer-youth-retreat/page/day-2-station-2-script/
- Visual Aid is in the attachments on that page
Introduction
- The question that we want to answer here is whether or not modern feminism fulfills God's will
- In the interest of time, we will focus on one facet of Feminism which is Abortion.
- What is Abortion?
- The killing of a newborn
- What is the world saying about Abortion?
- Some say it's okay to even do it in the third trimester
- How did this come about?
- Result of the sexual revolution and promotion of sex outside of marriage without consequences
- We'll focus on four arguments that feminists give for Abortion:
- It's not a baby it's a fetus
- What about if the child will be born with a medical condition? Mental or Physical disability? Down Syndrome or Autism or without legs. It's not the woman's fault OR the child's fault... it would be cruel to put them through that
- What about rape? It's not the woman's fault if she was raped. It is cruel to her to put her through that
- So we'll look at these four arguments, and how are they related to God's will?
- Anyone who takes a life (through abortion or any means) is putting themselves in the place of God.
- "The Lord kills and makes alive; He brings down to the grave and brings up." (1 Samuel 2:6)
Argument 1: It's not a baby, it's a fetus
- The Scripture tells us that the Lord formed us and created us, even BEFORE we were in our mother's womb
- "For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be." (Psalms 139:13-16)
- “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.” (Jeremiah 1:5)
- "From birth I was cast on you; from my mother’s womb you have been my God." (Psalms 22:10)
- "For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be." (Psalms 139:13-16)
- We see many times in the Scripture that a baby was announced or prophesied before their birth... even before the mother was pregnant. Did God not, then, create them before the pregnancy?
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j0tQZhEisaE
- Dr Anthony Levatino - board certified obstetrician and gynecologist. He has practiced obstetrics and gynecology in both private and university settings.
- Cut video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sshxz4H8aMM
- Dr Anthony Levatino - board certified obstetrician and gynecologist. He has practiced obstetrics and gynecology in both private and university settings.
- Many abortionists now claim that human life is the result of conception, but that a baby does not possess personhood
- Undermines human equality - how can you say there's such a thing as a human who is not a person?
- What traits make a human a person? Abortionists will reply with things like:
- Consciousness
- But should we kill someone who is in a temporary coma?
- Immediate capacity for self-awareness
- So should we kill anyone with dementia?
- Should we kill someone who is asleep?
- Ability to feel pain
- Should we
- Consciousness
- Why are these traits the ones that give us value?
- None of us share these traits equally - does that mean that those with more have a greater right to life than those with less? If that's the case, there's no such thing as human equality.
- "The rich and the poor have this in common, The Lord is the maker of them all." (Proverbs 22:2)
- "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus." (Galatians 3:28)
-
"For there is no partiality with God." (Romans 2:11)
Argument 2: It is cruel to bring a child into a world where they will suffer
- In 2017 an article came out that the country of Iceland had nearly eradicated Down Syndrome. How is that?
- Turns out almost 100% of the time, when parents found out through genetic screening that their child was going to have Down Syndrome, they got an abortion
- Turns out almost 100% of the time, when parents found out through genetic screening that their child was going to have Down Syndrome, they got an abortion
- If we wouldn't kill an adult who has the condition, then we shouldn't kill a baby who has it. What's the difference? Their age.
- The human right to life is grounded in our humanity not in our age
- The human right to life is grounded in our humanity not in our age
- Just societies care for the most vulnerable
- How much does the world speak out about bullying? Many campaigns are out there about those who are stronger picking on those who are weaker; those who are able picking on those who are disabled.
- Somehow in abortion, we abandon that and say "they'll be better off dead"
- Killing people is not the right way to stop suffering
- Life is hard - some people have a more difficult journey than others
- Despite our challenges and conditions, each of us is forced to deal with challenges
- A physical challenge does not guarantee a poor quality of life - we know people who have physical limitations and have a higher quality of life than those without
- Life is a gift - even with its challenges
Argument 3: What about rape and incest?
- Rape and Incense represent a tiny fraction of abortions
- Pregnancies as a result of rape make up 0.06 percent of all pregnancies. Even if we allowed abortion in those cases, we would still save the majority of the 1.8 million babies who die annually in America through Abortion
- Arguing for abortion on demand because of the rape cases is like arguing "We should get rid of traffic laws completely because 0.06% of the time, when someone is rushing their child to the hospital, they'll have to run the red light"
- Pregnancies as a result of rape make up 0.06 percent of all pregnancies. Even if we allowed abortion in those cases, we would still save the majority of the 1.8 million babies who die annually in America through Abortion
- Abortion in the cases of rape punishes an innocent party
- There are three parties:
- The rapist
- The woman
- The child
- Which of these three parties is guilty and deserves punishment? The woman and child did nothing wrong... and yet, we are punishing the child with a punishment that not even the guilty rapist will receive.
- Would we justify killing a born child who was conceived in rape?
- Would we justify punishing a child for any sin that his parents did?
- Does that child not have value? Does God not bring about good things from evil circumstances?
- "Joseph said to them, 'Do not be afraid, for am I in the place of God? But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.' (Genesis 50:19-20)
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i3_bXUBgy_w
- Cut video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TrENlbau-mA
- Cut video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TrENlbau-mA
- There are three parties:
- Abortion will not change what happened.
- It may seem like it will make it easier to deal with... but it doesn't. It only adds to the sorrow
- Abortion doesn't make the woman less of a victim - it adds another victim
Day 2 Station 2: Mock Trial Script
Visual Aid:
See Attachments on Left Side
All Rise!
The Honorable Judge is now presiding. Court is now in session
Scene
A desk is prepared for the judge - it contains scales, the Scriptures, and a gavel.
Two stands are prepared for each of the attorneys. A Jury box is also prepared for the jury. A TV is present in full view of the jury.
Opening Statements
Judge:
You may be seated. Let me begin by reminding everyone here that we are in a Court of Law.
[ Gavel ]
But this is not a United States Court of Law - our concern here is not the Constitution or the Law of the Land. Our Concern here is for the Law and Commandments found here, in this Book. Our goal today is to determine whether or not Feminism fulfills the will of God. For today's arguments, the counselors will focus on one small facet of that argument - abortion. And since our concern is the will of God, we will let God be the judge. We will begin with Opening statements from each of the two parties here, and then we will give them an opportunity to present witnesses, evidence, and testimony.
Your job, as the jury, is to take in the information and the arguments. These arguments are commonly heard in the outside world - you'll hear them at school, at work, on social media, in TV and Movies. It is common in a court of law for the jury to maintain silence. However, in this specific case we've organized a provision - you will be allowed to ask questions provided you raise your hand and are called upon by the judge.
[ Gavel ]
The Prosecution may now proceed with their opening statements.
Prosecutor:
Thank you, your honor. And thank you to the members of the jury for joining us today in this very important case.
Today my goal is to convince you that there's no problem with abortion! It's not murder! It's simply a woman's right to choose - it's her body! Why should any of us make that choice for her? There's something growing in her body - and make no mistake, it's not a baby! It's a fetus. What if she doesn't want it there? And why bring a baby into this cruel world in the first place? Would you force a woman who was raped to carry the baby as a reminder of the sexual assault?
Your honor, I could go days talking about the benefits of abortion. The fact of the matter is that women cannot fully function in society without access to abortion.
Judge:
Thank you, counsel. The Defense may now proceed with their opening statement.
Defense:
Thank you, your honor. Thank you members of the jury for your presence today.
I'd like to start by asking a very simple question - what is abortion? The Prosecution throws the word around without any thought to it - but the word itself is very simple! It's the killing of a baby boy or girl. There's no question about it.
Your honor, what we see in the world today is totally and completely reprehensible - we see Washington DC and several other states allowing Abortions even in the third trimester! We've got the governor of Virginia and other politicians saying that when the baby comes out of the womb, the mother can decide if she wants it to live and die. Even outside of the womb! Where do we draw the line?
Members of the jury - for many people, abortion is just an easy way out. It was born of the sexual revolution to give women this false idea that having sex whenever you want is fine and there aren't any consequences. But it's not. What it is, is a grave sin - one that cannot be undone.
I'd venture to assert that anyone - ANYONE - who takes the life of another, puts themselves in the place of God. And I'll remind you that in the Law that sits before you on the stand, Your Honor, it is clear - "The Lord kills and makes alive; He brings down to the grave and brings up." (1 Samuel 2:6)
Prosecutor:
Objection! Your honor, he's testifying
Judge:
Sustained
Defense:
No matter, your honor - I've made my point, and that concludes my opening statement.
Argument 1 - Not a Baby; A Fetus
Judge:
Thank you, counsel. The Prosecution may now present their first Argument.
Prosecutor:
Your honor, the first point that I'd like to put forth is to directly refute what the Defense stated in their opening argument. Abortion is NOT killing of a baby boy or girl. It's not killing at all! There's no baby involved. Simply a cluster of cells - a zygote. An embryo. A fetus at best. How could you call it killing if it's not a human in the womb?
Defense:
I'd like to call my first witness. Dr Anthony Levatino is a board certified obstetrician and gynecologist (OB/GYN). He has practiced obstetrics and gynecology for several decades in both private and university settings. I'd like to call him to the stand where he will describe for us exactly what goes on in an abortion. Then we'll see if it's really a human or not. And please, Dr Levatino - no more than five minutes when addressing the committee!
Witness 1: Dr. Anthony Levatino
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sshxz4H8aMM
Defense:
It's brutal and sad, your honor, that this is happening to so many children every day. But it's also clear - abortion is murder.
Prosecutor:
Arms and legs - even animals have arms and legs. That may be what makes someone human, but it's NOT what makes them a person. Your honor, members of the jury, we're not arguing about humanity here - we're arguing about personhood. Even if you posit that life begins at conception, the baby does not possess personhood. Personhood comes from consciousness, from self-awareness, from the ability to feel pain. This is what MAKES us human and MAKES us people!
Defense:
So if someone is knocked unconscious, they're no longer a human? Or if they're in a coma, is their life less important? Would it be okay to kill someone simply because they're unconscious? And what about self-awareness? Would you kill someone because they have dementia or Alzheimer's? Does that make them less of a human? Is self-awareness what gives them value? Even if someone is asleep, they're not self-aware! They're barely conscious? Would the Prosecution also argue that it should be legal to kill them? Did not God create us all equal, in His image, according to His likeness?
I present to the court my first piece of evidence DIRECTLY from the Source.
- "The rich and the poor have this in common, The Lord is the maker of them all." (Proverbs 22:2)
- "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus." (Galatians 3:28)
-
"For there is no partiality with God." (Romans 2:11)
Prosecutor:
I can stand with you on Equality of Human Life. But we can't stand here and say that this human life exists in any capacity before birth!
Defense:
In that case, your honor, I'll present to the court my next piece of evidence also DIRECTLY from the Source.
- "For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be." (Psalms 139:13-16)
- “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.” (Jeremiah 1:5)
- "From birth I was cast on you; from my mother’s womb you have been my God." (Psalms 22:10)
Members of the jury, even throughout the Scripture we see many times that a baby was announced or prophesied before their birth... even before their mother was pregnant! Did God not create them before the pregnancy? Did God not form them, even in their mother's womb?
I think that I have sufficiently proven here that the Lord formed us and created us, even BEFORE we were in our mother's womb - even before conception. I rest my case on this matter.
Judge:
Thank you, counselors. Here, I'd like to open the floor to the jury for any questions. Please refer all questions to me and if it so pleases the court, I will refer them to the appropriate counsel.
Argument 2 - It is cruel to bring a child into the world where they will suffer
Judge:
The Prosecution may now present their second Argument.
Prosecutor:
Your honor, we have come a long way in the fields of Genetics - we can now screen the fetus and make sure it's getting everything that it needs to become a human.
Defense:
Objection! Your honor, didn't we JUST agree that it's not a fetus it's a baby? And that it's already a human?
Judge:
Sustained. Watch yourself, counselor!
Prosecutor:
Fine. Even if we come to agree that the fetus is human life and has personhood, wouldn't it be better to ease their suffering early on? As I was saying, we have come a long way in the fields of genetics - we can now screen the BABY and make sure it's getting everything that it needs. But we can also find out very early on if a baby will be born to suffer. A baby who is born with Down Syndrome. A baby who will be born without arms or legs. A baby who will be born with diabetes or Autism. Why subject them to a life of suffering? Wouldn't it be easier on them, and on their parents, and on society, if they didn't have to go through that?
Defense:
I'd like to tell a story to the members of the jury. In 2017, the Republic of Iceland came out with statistics showing that they had eradicated Down Syndrome. It turns out they were just killing any babies with Down Syndrome (via abortion) almost 100% of the time.
I'd like to ask the prosecution: Would you kill an adult who has Down Syndrome?
Prosecutor:
Of course not! Don't slander me!
Defense:
Would you kill a man who didn't have arms or legs?
Prosecutor:
You know my answer - of course I wouldn't! Get to the point.
Defense:
My point is clear. If we wouldn't kill an adult who has the condition, why should we kill a child who has it? What's the difference between the two? Their age! The human right to life is grounded in our humanity, NOT in our age.
Now you say it would be better for society... what society are you talking about? How do you measure whether a society is good or bad? Just or unjust? Just societies care for the most vulnerable. We have all these campaigns out there against bullying, right? Don't pick on people who are weaker than you; don't pick on those who are disabled; etc. But with abortion, that all goes out the window.
I'd like to put forth my next piece of evidence, Your Honor:
- "Open your mouth for the speechless, In the cause of all who are appointed to die. Open your mouth, judge righteously, And plead the cause of the poor and needy." (Proverbs 31:8-9)
- "Defend the poor and fatherless; Do justice to the afflicted and needy. Deliver the poor and needy; Free them from the hand of the wicked." (Psalms 82:3-4)
- "Learn to do good; Seek justice, Rebuke the oppressor; Defend the fatherless, Plead for the widow." (Isaiah 1:17)
Prosecutor:
But they will suffer! Anyone who was in that situation might wish not to be!
Defense:
I'd like to call my next witness, Your Honor. Nick Vujicic was born without arms or legs. Now, he is a public speaker and making a lot of difference in the lives of many people. Let's here his opinion on life, despite living without arms or legs.
Witness 2: Nick Vujicic
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zWiaXFPbdmY
Defense:
Members of the jury - physical or mental challenges do not guarantee a poor quality of life. Life is a gift. Life is hard and some people have harder lives than others. But despite our challenges, each of us is forced to deal with them. Killing people is not the right way to stop suffering. I rest my case on this matter.
Judge:
Thank you, counselors. Here, I'd like to open the floor to the jury for any questions. I'll remind you to please refer all questions to me and if it so pleases the court, I will refer them to the appropriate counsel.
Argument 3 - Rape and Incest
Judge:
The Prosecution may now present their third Argument.
Prosecutor:
Your honor, we've spent the entire time discussing the unborn baby, and how it's not fair to them. But what about the mother? The innocent mother who was raped and found herself pregnant with the child of her rapist. Would you force the mother to carry the child of her attacker? Would you force the mother to see in front of her, the image and reminder of her perpetrator?
Defense:
I'd like to submit into evidence this table that shows the percentage of women reporting their reasons that contributed to their decision to have an abortion. The column on the right is the percentage in a 1987 study. The column on the left is the percentage in a 2004 study. As you can see, the percentage of women that report rape as being their reason is less than 1% (it's rounded up). Even if we allowed abortion in those cases, we would still have a majority of the 1.8 million babies who die annually in America through abortion. But the Prosecution wants to use this small number to justify abortion on demand for anyone at any time. That's like saying we should get rid of traffic laws because 1% of the time when I'm rushing my child to the hospital, I need to run a red light.
Prosecutor:
Objection! Speculation, Your Honor!
Judge:
Overruled!
Defense:
Members of the jury, Abortion is wrong, EVEN in the cases of rape! Don't you see that Abortion punishes the innocent party? In the situation that the Prosecution is describing, there are three parties: The rapist, the woman and the child. Which of these three is guilty? Which deserves punishment? The woman and child did nothing wrong... and yet, we are punishing the child with a punishment that not even the guilty rapist will receive.
Would we justify killing a BORN child who was conceived in rape? Would we justify punishing a child for any sin that his parents did? Does the child not have value? Does God not bring about good things from evil circumstances?
I'd like to submit my last piece of evidence your honor, and then call my last witness to the stand:
-
"Joseph said to them, 'Do not be afraid, for am I in the place of God? But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.' (Genesis 50:19-20)
Witness 3: Sean McDowell
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TrENlbau-mA
Defense:
Members of the jury, rape is a heinous heinous crime, and a sin against God against nature and against humanity. But an Abortion will not change what happened. It may seem like it would make it easier to deal with... but it doesn't. It only adds to the sorrow. Many women who were raped and then had an abortion came back and said that recovering from the abortion was more difficult than recovering from the rape. Rape is not a choice. But Abortion is. Abortion doesn't make the woman - the MOTHER - any less than a victim. But it does add another victim.
The Defense rests its case.
Judge:
Thank you, counselors. Here, for the last time, I'd like to open the floor to the jury for any questions. I'll remind you to please refer all questions to me and if it so pleases the court, I will refer them to the appropriate counsel.
Judge:
members of the jury, it is now up to you to examine the evidence and make a determination of the Truth. You will gather as a group and deliberate over the matters presented here. Juror #1, you will be responsible for providing the verdict in favor of the defense or the prosecution. Please proceed.
jury deliberates
Judge:
the court hereby rules in favor of the defense. The court adjourns
Day 2 Station 3: Is Feminism fair to everyone?
Introduction (10min)
- Key Verse: "There is neither male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus" (Galatians 3:28)
- Historically, women did not hold high positions or work
- Today, we will answer the question "Is Feminism fair to everyone?"
- What does fair mean?
- Merriam Webster: "Marked by impartiality and honesty: free from self-interest, prejudice, or favoritism"
Activity (15min):
Research your assigned female saint and see how God used them to deliver His ministry
- St Mary: called to bear the Christ in her womb (VERY high position)
- Deborah: only female judge (high position)
- Esther: queen, female leader, through her the Jewish people were saved (leader, high position)
- Mary the sister of Martha: did not serve the "traditional female role" but sat with the "others" and listened to Jesus. Although this wasn't traditional, our Lord Jesus Christ accepted for her to sit, and be taught so that later she can use the knowledge she can minister to others
- Judith:
Lesson (20min):
Christianity is the first institution in the world to be open about liberating women
- The Lord Jesus Christ, Himself, held women in high esteem and called them to follow Him and be His disciples.
- "And the twelve were with Him and certain women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities... Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Susanna, and many others who provided for Him from their substance" (Luke 8:1-3)
- The Lord Jesus Christ appeared to the women first (Mary Magdalene) after His Resurrection. This shows great love for them. Not only that, but He sent Mary Magdalene to tell the rest of them, rather than just appearing to them, Himself. He entrusted her and commissioned her with the great news to bring the people to Him.
- Christianity and the apostles were open to stating this as a fact although they knew that women were not taken seriously and were not believed by most.
- The Church was open and accepting of women when the Jews were not. This brought them to the faith in the early church. Women were not allowed in the synagogue, and society though of women as something that should be disregarded. Even until now, some religions do not allow women in their places of worship. But we see that the church welcomes everyone and we are all able to come and to pray and to worship in one Body of Christ and to partake of the Eucharist together.
- Scriptural References:
- Prophetess: Exodus 15:20, Judges 4:4
- Leader in a war, or a judge: Judges 4:4-16
- The Widow who gave two mites:
- Christ praised her for offering the two mites
- The Syrophoenician Woman: Matthew 15:28
- The Lord commended her faith
- The Samaritan Woman: John 5
- The Lord had a long conversation with her to bring her to confess her sins, repent and become an evangelist proclaiming His name
- The woman who poured fragrant oil: Matthew 26:10
- The Lord defended her and caused her deed to be honored throughout all ages along with the preaching of the gospel
- Pentecost: Acts 2:17
- Church Rituals
- In families and marriages, the wives are representative of the church and the husband’s representative of Christ. In the crowning ceremony, the wives are instructed to “honor, respect, obey, and submit” to their husbands. The husbands are instructed to “do all that is good for her, have compassion on her, gladden her heart, love her as Christ loved the church, and be responsible for her.” Both commands come with the promise that God will “increase their livelihood, and grant them blessed children, long ages and prosperous life in this life and after.”
- People often get stuck on the “submission” part of this command to the bride. It is important to understand the family structure and to understand that women are the church as men are Christ. If a woman understands that her husband is the image of Christ and the role of Christ in the family ‘church’ they will not have any problem ‘submitting’. In Christianity marriage is a mystery. It is the union of man and woman through the Holy Spirit "So then, they are no longer two but one flesh" (Mt 19:6).
- HGBY states “It is in this relation framework that women should be submissive to their husbands and husbands have authority over their wives. This does not mean that one gender is better than the other, but God's command is for the husband to lead. This does not make the wife inferior in any way.”
- Not only this but in Ephesians 5:21 the Lord commanded that we submit to one another. Submission is not just commanded of a woman, nor is it just commanded in a marriage, but it is commanded to EACH one of us.
- Christ Himself submitted to the will of the Father when He took flesh in complete obedience, even unto death.
- In families and marriages, the wives are representative of the church and the husband’s representative of Christ. In the crowning ceremony, the wives are instructed to “honor, respect, obey, and submit” to their husbands. The husbands are instructed to “do all that is good for her, have compassion on her, gladden her heart, love her as Christ loved the church, and be responsible for her.” Both commands come with the promise that God will “increase their livelihood, and grant them blessed children, long ages and prosperous life in this life and after.”
Is Feminism Fair to Everyone?
- Is it fair to the Church?
- The feminist movement disregards all of what we mentioned and calls the church unfair and oppressive to women, when we clearly see that the women were not oppressed, just given different roles.
- The feminist movement is UNFAIR to the church.
- Is it fair to Men?
- The feminist movement tries to bring men down. It tries to strip them of their positions and take them from them. It doesn’t call for laws to be applied equally to men and women for example in issues of child custody and child support.
- Pushes Men to crave power and authority back.
- Pushes men to be more feminine and this pushes them to homosexuality and transgenderism.
- The feminist movement is UNFAIR to men.
- Is it fair to Women?
- It is not even fair to women (aka the ones they want to “fight” for).
- It makes others believe that everything offends women.
- The feminist movement forces all women to believe and follow all of their ideas and initiatives. If a woman does not believe in one of their ideas or movements, they are quick to go off on her and say that she is against them and does not support them. For example, a woman who does not believe in abortion will instantly be ‘canceled’ and labeled a non-supporter of feminism and of women in general. How is that fair?
- Feminists look down on women who want the traditional roles of staying home to raise their children.
- Feminism is UNFAIR even to their own- women.
Conclusion
- In spite of the great strides and ground gained by the original women’s movement, feminists still believe they are of much less value than males in society. However, the same can be argued for the opposite side: men get longer sentences in jail for the same crimes than women. Men are defamed more in many aspects such as social and political. Feminism doesn’t have to do with equality, and as we talked about is NOT fair to everyone.
- Remind yourself of the definition of fair, is this “movement” free from self-interest and partiality? No, it is only worried about the women that support every aspect of the movement, but completely disregards males, the church, and other women who may have issues with some of their initiatives/views.
- “Nevertheless, neither is man independent of woman, nor woman independent of man, in the Lord. For as women came from man, even so, man also comes through woman; but all things are from God.” (1 Corinthians 11:11-12)
References:
- http://www.suscopts.org/q&a/index.php?catid=155
- https://www.blueletterbible.org/Comm/baxter_mary/WitW/WitW25_Huldah.cfm
- https://st-takla.org/zJ/index.php/ar-synaxarium?sm=3-
4&c=&iday=03&imonth=03&iyear=2021&dbl=en&view=show_books&id=2chronicles34
Day 2 Station 4: Does Feminism Build Society
Definition of Feminism
Google defines feminism as: the advocacy of women's rights on the basis of the equality of the sexes.
Merriam-Webster defines feminism as: belief in and advocacy of the political, economic, and social equality of the sexes expressed especially through organized activity on behalf of women's rights and interests
I. Feminism History
First Wave
- Timeframe: 19th-20th Century
- Cause: Absolute rights in regard to voting ("suffrage")
- Non-Feminism Agenda: None
- Conflict within Cause: None
Second Wave
- Timeframe: 1960s-1980s
- Cause: Cultural equality issues (discrimination/exploitation/prostitution/sexual harassment/rape)
- Non-Feminism Agenda: Lesbianism was eventually welcomed as a movement into the mainstream women's movement
- Conflict within Cause: The cause was intended to address discrimination as well as to address female exploitation for sexual reasons, both great causes. However, introduction to lesbianism within the movement displayed an agenda that was far different from the first wave political cause and most of the second wave cause regarding the safety and non-discrimination of the woman.
Third Wave
- Timeframe: 1990s-2000s
- Cause: Respond to "failures" of the second wave (overemphasis on the experience of white, upper-class women). Sexual freedom and sexual equality. Right to contraception, birth control, and abortion.
- Non-Feminism Agenda: There became an intersection between race and gender. In addition, it also looked for social acceptance of female sexual freedom. they sought the right to contraception and birth control which were almost universally restricted until the 1960s. Feminists hoped to use the first birth control pill to free women to decide the terms under which they will bear children. They felt that reproductive self-control was essential for full economic independence from men. Access to abortion was also widely demanded for these reasons.
- Conflict within Cause: Sexual freedoms contradict the cause in the second wave where a woman wanted to be seen as more than a sex object. The cause once again continues to stray from the agenda that sought political equality, non-discrimination, and safety of women. They are no longer seeking to be equal to men, but independent of them.
Fourth Wave
- Timeframe: 2008-Present
- Cause: Access to abortion, post-abortion talk lines, reproductive justice (reproductive rights affected by socioeconomic status, gender, and race).
- Non-Feminism Agenda: The fourth wave has inspired or been associated with: the Doula Project for children's services (who partner with abortion clinics); post-abortion talk lines; pursuit of reproductive justice; plus-size fashion support; support for transgender rights; male feminism; sex work acceptance; and developing media including Feministing, Racialicious, blogs, and Twitter campaigns.
- Conflict within Cause: Once again, the movement lost focus on the original causes for equality and non-discriminations, and safety, and placed the entire focus on promoting sex-related or gender-changing rights.
II. Analyzing the Evolution
Are we seeing a pattern here?
Little by little, the cause no longer became a movement that had any interest in a woman’s right to vote or her right to be treated equal to a man. In fact, the causes have contradicted much of the early feminist movements. How? By creating a woman whose main interest is sexual freedom (given the many ways there are to end pregnancy) and acceptance of transgenderism. Connecting sex with a woman was a label they wanted to remove in earlier waves. Now it is being amplified. It has become a cause no one would ever be able to identify if the term “feminism” were not attached to it.
Is it possible the goal for women's rights has already been achieved, at least in the eyes of a Godly woman?
Unless the Christian woman is lobbying for sexual freedom, abortion, lesbianism, and transgenderism (just to name a few), she is unlikely to support feminism as it is today. She is also satisfied by the equality achieved by the early waves of feminism and by the traditional role of a woman.
Why is the focus no longer a woman's right to vote and her right to be treated equal to a man?
Because oppression based on gender no longer exists.
- No oppression to vote: Women have been able to vote since 1920.
- No oppression to apply to schools
- Since the enactment of Title IX in 1972, federal law has guaranteed the right to education free from sex discrimination, and since then women and girls have made great strides toward achieving equality. In fact, statistics show the college acceptance rate for women is 2.6% higher than men. Some schools aim for balance of gender, which is also in line with achieved equality.
- No oppression to apply for any employment
- Research suggests that 3 out of 4 jobs in which a man and woman both apply, the woman gets the job.
- Pay is very equal
- When calculating the overall pay for men vs. women as of today, women make $0.83 for every $1.00 a man makes. However, when they work the same job and have similar experience and abilities, the gap is between $0.01 to $0.04. Studies show that another reason for the unbalance is men choose careers in which the pay is higher compared to women who typically select jobs in which compensation is not as high. Men’s and women’s annual pay typically stay on pace until around age 30, when most college‐educated women start having children, therefore, working less.
Women can Work in STEM field, aerospace engineering, chemical engineering, computer science, etc. But they choose not to. There is no discouragement to go into these fields. However, 4 out of 5 top paying college majors are dominated by men and 4 out of 5 lowest paying college majors are dominated by women. (Elementary education, psychology, social work, theology/religion)
III. Social Media
Feminism is pushed on social media now more than ever. Social Media does a great job of using big, extreme words, unclear analogies, and sarcastic statements to make it seem like aligning with Feminism is “common sense.” How many times have you seen TikToks and Instagram posts like these?
Real understanding of what the feminism agenda is NOT
It is NOT equal rights for men/women. It is an ideology that is pushing the statement that women have no need for men. As mentioned previously, it is also pushing lesbianism, transgenderism, sexual freedom, and abortion. All of these ideologies are negating the existence of the Christian family: a loving and equal marriage between man and woman, cooperation between the two, children, and the family abiding in God’s commandments. However, the movement is perfectly wrapped within a package labeled “feminism” to bring support from those who believe they are backing a real cause.
Example 1: Here, the video completely strips away the ideology of feminism and equates it to sexism.
Example 2: With both these videos using sarcasm and far‐fetched analogies, they make the point that feminism is just the belief that women should have rights.
Example 3: This video also uses sarcasm to drive the agenda that being a woman = low pay (“gender pay gap”)
Satan is very carefully using social media outlets closest to us to slowly introduce these ideas into our heads.
The goal is to slowly desensitize us to these ideologies that are not beneficial to society, or what God created as the structure of a family. The family is a small church: the husband is the head of the family just as Christ is the head of the church.
“For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church.” (Ephesians 5: 31‐21)
IV. Is there a positive impact from the movement?
No. There is no positive impact in the public and blatant pushing of an agenda that completely disregards God’s laws and His intent for man and woman. So even if those pushing the agenda win, their victory is an earthly one. Ultimately, they will lose the eternal life for living this life and for pushing it onto others.
V. Is there a negative impact from the movement?
Yes. The negative impact is so far ranging, they are actually oppressing the very gender they are trying to advance: woman. How? Because the woman is no longer free to choose the “traditional” lifestyle (the one God intended for woman). This lifestyle includes marriage, children, caring for the family, and living a righteous life. Why can’t a woman choose this lifestyle without offending feminists? Isn’t freedom for a woman to choose a lifestyle part of the feminist movement? Or does it only apply when a woman chooses to live a promiscuous life? Academic and professional advancement can also be achieved living this lifestyle, so ultimately, there is no deprivation of any kind.
VI. Biblical Perspective
Today’s movement clearly contradicts with God’s plan and creation. Men and women are different: they have different characteristics, strengths, and capabilities.
- “So God created man in his own image; in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. God blessed them and said to them [male and female], 'Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it.” (Gen 1:27‐28)
- This verse confirms that there are intentional differences in the creation of male and female and they are made to unite and be fruitful and multiply.
- “Nevertheless, neither is man independent of woman, nor woman independent of man, in the Lord. For as woman came from man, even so man also comes through woman; but all things are from God.” (1 Corinthians 11:11‐12)
- Both genders cannot exist without the other.
VII. What is the Biblical Role for Each Gender?
- Above all, the Lord has called women to be the creator of the little church, the family, to give life and upbringing to children, to be concerned with the continuance of the human race. Just as without a woman, the human race cannot continue, in the same way, without her labors, prayers, and love it would not be possible for life to continue in the Christian life.
- Our goals together, as Orthodox men and women, are to make society, as much as possible, an image of the divine.
- Women are the nucleus of the family and church. The role of the nucleus is to help the cell grow and stay together
- The creation of men and women in God’s image with the purpose of ruling together over God’s creation
VIII. Does Feminism Help Build Society?
Feminism, in its present form, does not help build society. It is a means to eliminate the traditional family (marriage, children, values) by glorifying sexual promiscuity, transgenderism, lesbianism, and abortion. It also aims to position women as victims of oppression, despite being very much equal to men in every way. Ironically, the feminist movement is oppressive to women who choose to live the “traditional” lifestyle as they are often condemned for not conforming to the lifestyle of the modern woman. Lastly, it causes division between supporters of the cause and those that are not. Those who do not support the cause are unfortunately called sexist.
Review
- What does Feminism mean?
- What was the initial cause for the feminist movement?
- How does the initial cause compare with the cause(s) today?
- Is there a positive impact from the movement?
- Whom does the movement negatively impact?
- What is the biblical perspective for the role of a woman? Role of a man?
- Is the biblical role for each gender a bad thing?
- How does the biblical perspective affect the feminist movement/agenda?
- Does Feminism help build society?