I heard an interview on NPR the other day, about a group of folks that believe in having as many kids as they can, citing a Biblical verse suggesting they do so. One of the women interviewed spoke of how the group needed to bear as many children as possible – raised in their belief system – so they would grow up and spread the belief system to others.
Then she matter of factly proclaimed, “the womb is a weapon”.
These are five words I just never thought I’d see in the same sentence! The-womb-is-a-weapon.
The speaker went on to complain that “they (the non-believers) will outnumber us without a jihad” (translate – holy war), but no worries, because this army of children would grow up to help them to “reclaim the sinful cities” AND “take back both houses of Congress”.
Three bombs of wrongness exploded in my head simultaneously.
Bomb One – as a proponent of the Divine Feminine, and embodied spiritual empowerment, I view the womb as a sacred vessel, which is about 180 degrees from a weapon.
Bomb Two – there is an implication in this womb-as-weapon theory that the children who are born from these wombs are destined to be instruments of violence and attack – whether physical or ideological – which is not a role parents should be assigning children.
Bomb Three – with words like “reclaim” and “take over”, there is an assumption that these children will automatically embrace the part they have been bred to play, with no regard for their individuality or free will. One can only hope they rebel and grow up to be peace loving, Prius driving, politically active hippies.
Whew.
I looked this particular group up on the good old Internet, and ended up visiting multiple sites exhibiting all that is dangerous about Patriarchal Institutions. They touted themselves as light-bearers, and struck me as perfect spokespeople for the Dark Side of the Force.
I’m not judging, I’m just saying….
Yet I am aware that if I can’t find compassion in my heart for others with differing opinions, then I am part of the problem, not the solution.
Most of the time, I can get there. George Bush has been my biggest challenge, and I even found a tiny little piece of empathy for him. But ‘womb-as-a-weapon’ is going to be tricky!
If I assume that my judgment of others indicates an unowned piece of my Shadow-self, then I too have an inner-fundamentalist freakazoid who is completely certain that she is capital R Right in her beliefs.
It’s true. I do.
I am completely certain that I am right in many of my counter-culture beliefs (a list of which I will spare you), and am often a burr in the butt of the Establishment. I can’t be any other way.
I suppose the womb-brigade is no different.
I’m guessing that somehow, on some level far above my comprehension, we must balance each other out? Sort of an “Il mondo è bello perché è vario” thing (the world is beautiful because it is multi-faceted)?
Curiouser and curiouser.
(Originally posted 3-27-09)