Religion and Sexual Violence: Unpacking the Role of Dominant Western Religious Thought on Sexual Violence in the U.S.

Religion and Sexual Violence: Unpacking the Role of Dominant Western Religious Thought on Sexual Violence in the U.S.

Sexual violence is about power. The role of dominant Western religious thought, or theology, has drastically shaped our understanding of power via our social norms regarding gender, sexuality, and relationships. This workshop seeks to provide an overview of how Christianity and Christian theology is embedded in our structures and systems and has led to the misuse and abuse of power, which directly impacts the normalization and perpetuation of sexual violence.