S. Brent Plate, visiting associate professor of religious studies, was interviewed for an Atlanta Journal-Constitution article titled "Faith & Values; Is a girl playing football un-Christian?; Kicker's presence sparks reaction on and off field" (Nov. 1, 2008). The article concerned Kacy Stuart, a high school girl who was to play the position of kicker on her team. Prior to the game's start the opposing team read a statement "that has been interpreted by others as a warning against Christians conforming to un-Christian ways of the world. In the case of Kacy, it's about girls playing a physical sport with boys." The article reported that "the incident has touched off discussions about the historical use — or misuse — of Scripture to justify all sorts of things."
Plate said in the Journal-Constitution, "You can justify slavery with Scripture if you pull out a handful of verses as your authority…You can justify a male-dominated view of the world or you can justify an egalitarian view."
The article continued, "Plate said, for instance, Galatians 3:28 states, 'There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.' "If someone had pulled that out a long time ago," he said, "we would've had a very different relationship in the United States to issues of slavery and patriarchy."
Plate said in the Journal-Constitution, "You can justify slavery with Scripture if you pull out a handful of verses as your authority…You can justify a male-dominated view of the world or you can justify an egalitarian view."
The article continued, "Plate said, for instance, Galatians 3:28 states, 'There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.' "If someone had pulled that out a long time ago," he said, "we would've had a very different relationship in the United States to issues of slavery and patriarchy."
Posted November 3, 2008
