Summary

The article contemplates the absence of domestic violence (DV) guidance in the Bible, questioning societal norms on gender relations and the nature of men regarding violence against women.

Abstract

The author, a domestic violence survivor, expresses frustration over the lack of Biblical guidance for women in abusive relationships, noting a stark contrast with clear instructions provided for cases of adultery. While the Bible addresses various other extreme sins and abuses, it remains silent on domestic violence, which prompts the author to ponder the historical view of women and the possibility that physical violence against wives was once unthinkable. The article suggests that perhaps men and women once shared a deeper partnership, akin to the union of Adam and Eve, where physical and verbal abuse were absent. Reflecting on the shift in societal norms, the author dismisses the notion that feminism is responsible for the change in men's behavior towards women and advocates for a return to mutual respect in relationships.

Opinions

The author believes that the Bible's silence on domestic violence is odd, considering it addresses other severe sins and abuses.
There is a sentiment that hitting a woman may be unnatural for men, with the author questioning when and why societal attitudes towards this behavior have changed.
The article challenges the idea that feminism is the reason for changes in how men treat women, stating that husbands were physically abusive towards their wives long before women gained the right to vote.
The author implies that relationships in Biblical times might have been based on a deeper level of mutual respect and partnership, free from physical and verbal attacks.
The text suggests that the current societal challenge is to restore relationships to a state where mutual respect is the norm, as it might have been in the past.

Is Domestic Violence Unnatural for Men?

An Honest Question after an Interesting Observation

As a domestic violence survivor, one thing that always frustrated me about the Bible is the lack of instruction on what a woman should do in the situation of domestic violence.

They give instructions on what a woman’s options are in adultery. You are allowed to divorce in the case of adultery, but if it’s possible, work things out with your husband, because that's what's most pleasing to God. I understood this and I am fine with that.

But what if the man beats you? Does God expect us to stay and try to work things out with a man who hits us?

Unfortunately, I could find no guidance from the Bible. There were no stories or examples of a woman being beaten by her husband that I could refer to.

Then I started to realize how odd that was. Domestic violence is kind of non-existent in the Bible. But other extreme sins and abuses are mentioned.

Rapes, murders, giant-slaying, incest, adultery, lots of Kings mutilating each other. All this and more, but no DV?

No husband and wife even tussling?

It’s almost like the concept of hitting your wife was completely foreign to them.

Maybe it’s a romantic idea…but I like what it’s implying!

So what did this mean exactly? Why does it seem like…not a taboo, but it’s almost like something unthought of to smack your wife around?

I have two main questions.

How did they see women and wives? What made wives so precious to them that they never laid a hand on them?
Is it possible that hitting a woman is something unnatural for men? And if so, when did things change?

I know some anti-feminists will foam at the mouth to say it changed because of feminism. No, dear, we already know that isn’t true. Husbands were DEFINATELY beating the crap out of their wives before women got the right to vote.

Still, the women were tough, but they weren’t feminists exactly. And the men always conversed with an invisible being. Most of these Biblical heroes would have been locked up in an insane asylum today.

But maybe there’s some clues into deep partnerships here. Like the fact that they didn’t attack each other physically or verbally.

Maybe they had the kind of relationships God originally intended for Adam and Eve, where TWO became ONE. Maybe God didn’t design men to be abusive towards women, and maybe God didn’t design women to run away from their spouse, because they really didn’t need to back then!

And now we have the difficult job of trying to get back to that place of mutual respect! But how amazing will things be when we get there!

❤️ Thanks for reading!

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