A Christian perspective

Abstract

The chapter explores how Christianity challenges violence against women and girls (VAWG) prevention and response using Ter Haar’s four religious resources as conceptual framework and drawing predominantly on three studies conducted by the author. First, the entanglement of religion and culture is unpacked. Religious ideas are influenced by culture and in turn influence culture. This complex entanglement contributes to the continued perpetration of VAWG. Second, the author explores the way the religious practice of avoiding and vilifying sex and sexuality is driving VAWG and challenging VAWG prevention and response. Third, the entanglement of religion and patriarchy is revealed when studying Christian churches and how they can be invested in the patriarchal system. Directly or indirectly these religious organisations are propagating beliefs, norms and practices that may drive VAWG. Finally, religious experiences and how they challenge VAWG prevention and response are explored. Religious experiences are a religious resource that non-believers may find difficult to understand or engage with, and religious experiences may run counter to accepted VAWG prevention and response practices.