SciELO - Scientific Electronic Library Online

 
vol.32 issue1Guidelines for continuous theological training: Challenges for the Apostolic Faith Mission churchPoetically Africa dwells: A dialogue between Heidegger's understanding of language as the house of Being and African Being-with (ubuntu) as a possible paradigm for postfoundational practical theology in Africa author indexsubject indexarticles search
Home Pagealphabetic serial listing  

Services on Demand

Article

Indicators

Related links

  • On index processCited by Google
  • On index processSimilars in Google

Share


Verbum et Ecclesia

On-line version ISSN 2074-7705
Print version ISSN 1609-9982

Verbum Eccles. (Online) vol.32 n.1 Pretoria  2011

http://dx.doi.org/10.4102/ve.v32i1.472 

ORIGINAL RESEARCH

 

A critical analysis of Gretha Wiid's sex ideology and her biblical hermeneutics

 

 

Lilly Nortjé-Meyer

Department of Religion Studies, University of Johannesburg, South Africa

Correspondence

 

 


ABSTRACT

Gretha Wiid and Angus Buchan have established themselves as the moral gurus of the Afrikaner Christian community with their 'Worthy Women' and 'Mighty Men' mass conferences. Wiid is also often invited by the broadcast media to participate in TV and radio talks to discuss her views on relationships and sex - she is even invited by popular Afrikaans singers to share the stage with them. Recently, Gretha Wiid was again on the front pages of popular magazines to promote her and her husband's views on sex and sexuality based 'on the Bible'. She suggests that women hand over their sexuality, their bodies and their sexual decisions completely into the hands of men. Her view is that the husband is the king, prophet and priest in the family and should be honoured accordingly. The aim of this article was to use Wiid's public appearances and publications as a case study to analyse her statements, hermeneutic principles and procedures and to demonstrate how her interpretation of sex and sexuality is infused by heteropatriarchal biblical discourse. The purpose of the article was to unveil the hermeneutic principles 'ordinary' Christians such as Wiid apply in interpreting biblical texts and how these are culturally inscribed on women's and children's bodies.


 

 

Full text available only in PDF format.

 

 

References

Bessel, R., 1981, Social change and political development in Weimar Germany, Croom Helm, London.         [ Links ]

Bracher, K.D., 1995, Turning point in modern times. Essays on German and European history, transl. T. Dunlap, Harvard University Press, Cambridge, MA.         [ Links ]

Buchan, A., Greenough, J. & Waldeck, V., 2006, Faith like potatoes. A story of a farmer who risked everything for God, Monarch Books, Oxford.         [ Links ]

Bushell, M.S., Tan, M.D. & Weaver, G.L., 2005, BibleWorks LLC 1992-2005, computer software, BibleWorks, Norfolk, VA.         [ Links ]

Craig, E. & Stander, H., 2009, Die A tot Z van seks. 'n Seksuele verhouding met jou huweliksmaat soos God dit bedoel het [The A to Z of sex.         [ Links ] A sexual relationship with your marriage partner as God meant it to be], Carpe Diem Media, Vanderbijlpark.

De Klerk, K., Gretha Wiid - II. 31 July 2009, viewed 24 March 2010, from http://www.litnet.co.za/cgi-bin///giga.cgi?cmd=cause_dir_news_item&cause_id=1270&news_id=70867&cat_id=160        [ Links ]

Dunne, G.A. 2003, 'A Passion for "Sameness"? Sexuality and gender accountability', in F. Weeks, J. Holland, & M. Waites, Sexualities and society. A reader, pp. 57-68, Polity Press, Cambridge.         [ Links ]

Gibbons, M., Limoges, C., Nowotny, H., Schwartzman, S., Scott, P. & Trow, M., 1994, The new production of knowledge. The dynamics of science and research in contemporary societies, Sage, London.         [ Links ]

Hawthorne, S., 2007, 'Heteropatriarchy: Globalisation, the institution of heterosexuality and lesbians', paper presented at the International Feminist Summit, Townsville, Australia, 17-20 July.         [ Links ]

Jackson, N., 2009, Women get their own 'Mighty Men', viewed 24 March 2010, from http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/Women-get-own-Mighty-Men-20090716        [ Links ]

Jackson, S., 2003, 'Heterosexuality, heteronormativity and gender hierarchy: Some reflections on recent debates', in F. Weeks, J. Holland, & M. Waites, Sexualities and society. A reader, pp. 69-83, Polity Press, Cambridge.         [ Links ]

Johnson, E.E., 1998, 'Ephesians', in C.A. Newsom & S.H. Ringe (eds.), Women's Bible commentary, pp. 428-432, expanded edn., Westminster John Knox Press, Louisville, KY.         [ Links ]

Koehler, L. & Baumgartner, W., 1953, 'Lexicon in Veteris Testamenti libros: Wörterbuch zum hebräischen Alten Testament in deutscher und englischer Sprache [A dictionary of the Hebrew Old Testament in English and German],         [ Links ] Brill, Leiden.

Marwick, A., 1974, War and social change in the twentieth century, a comparative study of Britain, France, Germany, Russia and the United States, Macmillan, London.Mikaelsson, L. 2008, 'Gendering the history of religions', in P. Antes, A.W. Geertz & R.R. Warne (eds.), New approaches to the study of Religion, 1. Regional, critical, and historical approaches, Walter de Gruyter, Berlin.         [ Links ]

Nadar, S., 2009a, 'Palatable patriarchy and violence against Wo/men in South Africa - Angus Buchan's Mighty Men's Conference as a case study of masculinism', Scriptura 102(3), 549-559.         [ Links ]

Nadar, S., 2009b, Who's afraid of the Mighty Men's conference?, viewed 24 March 2010, from http://www.iam.org.za/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=256&Itemid=99        [ Links ]

Nadar, S. & Potgieter, C., 2010, 'Liberated through submission? The Worthy Woman's Conference as a case study of formenism', Journal of Feminist Studies in Religion 26(2), 141-151. http://dx.doi.org/10.2979/FSR.2010.26.2.141        [ Links ]

Nielsen J.M., Walden, G. & Kunkel, C.A., 2000, 'Gendered heteronormativity: Empirical illustrations in everyday life', The Sociological Quarterly 41(2), 283-296. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1533-8525.2000.tb00096.x        [ Links ]

Nortjé-Meyer, L., 2005, 'Questioning the perfect male body: A critical reading of Ephesians 4:13',Scriptura 3, 731-739.         [ Links ]

Nortjé-Meyer, L., 2010, 'Deconstructing the heteronormative image of the early Christian household: Reconsidering gender as a key organising concept of family functioning', Acta Patristica et Byzantina21(2), 141-151.         [ Links ]

People's Global Action Conference, 2008, 'Gendered heteropatriarchy and introduction text for the gender issues', proceedings of the 5th People's Global Action Gathering, Athens, Greece, 20-27 August, viewed 16 April 2010, from http://indy.gr/library/gendered-heteropatriarchy        [ Links ]

People Opposing Women Abuse, 2010, Criminal injustice: Violence against women in South Africa. Shadow report on Beijing + 15, March 2010, prepared by POWA with the AIDS Legal Network, on behalf of the One in Nine Campaign and the Coalition for African Lesbians, viewed 16 April 2011, from http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/cedaw/docs/ngos/POWA_Others_SouthAfrica48.pdf        [ Links ]

Samuel, R.H. & Thomas, R.H., 1998, Education and society in modern Germany, Routledge, London.         [ Links ]

Schüssler-Fiorenza, E., 2001, Wisdom ways: Introducing feminist biblical interpretation, Orbis Books, New York.         [ Links ]

Starbuck, W.H., 2006, The production of knowledge: The challenge of social science research,Oxford University Press, Oxford.         [ Links ]

Swart-Walters, L., 2010a, 'Verwoes deur 'n monster [Destroyed by a monster]', Huisgenoot, 04 March, pp. 8-11.

Swart-Walters, L., 2010b, 'Seksreëls: Nee, O Sonde!' [Sex rules: Oh no!]', Huisgenoot, 04 March, pp. 18-19.

Viljoen, S. & Koenig-Visagie, L.H., 2011, 'Gender representation in Christian book covers: A case study', Verbum et Ecclesia 32(1), Art. #487, 9 pages. http://dx.doi.org/10.4102/ve.v32i1.487        [ Links ]

Wainwright, E.M., 1991, Towards a feminist critical reading of the Gospel according to Matthew, Walter de Gruyter, Berlin. http://dx.doi.org/10.1515/9783110877106        [ Links ]

Weiler, H.N., 1996, Educational change and social transformation: Teachers, schools and universities in Eastern Germany, Falmer Press, London.         [ Links ]

Whitehead, S.M. & Barrett, F.J. (eds.), 2001, The masculinities reader, Polity Press, Cambridge.         [ Links ]

Whitfield, N., 2010, 'Die berouvolle akteur [The penitential actor]',         [ Links ] Huisgenoot, 04 March, pp. 120-121.

Wiid, G., 2009a, Seks slim vir ouers en tieners. Verstaan jou tiener se lewe, lus en lyf,         [ Links ] [Sex wise for parents and teenagers. Understand your teenager's life, lust and body], Carpe Diem Media, Vanderbijlpark.

Wiid, G., 2009b, Lyfslim vir seuns. Alles waaroor seuns wonder oor seks, meisies en die dinge daaronder [Body wise for boys.         [ Links ] Very thing boys marvel about ... sex, girls and the things down there], Carpe Diem Media, Vanderbijlpark.

Wiid, G., 2009c, DVD, Worthy women conference, Maranatha Christian Publishing, Brits Productions, Centurion.         [ Links ]

Wiid, G., 2009d, DVD, Seks in die huwelik - Jou lus, las of liefde? [Marital sex - Your lust,         [ Links ] burden or love?], Maranatha Christian Publishing, Brits Productions, Centurion.

Wiid, G., 2009e, DVD, Verstaan jou man beter: Finessekenner [Understand your husband better: Finesse expert],         [ Links ] Carpe Diem Media, Vanderbijlpark.

 

 

Correspondence:
Lilly Nortjé-Meyer
PO Box 524
Auckland Park 2006
South Africa
Email: lillynm@uj.ac.za

Received: 15 Oct. 2010
Accepted: 08 Sept. 2011
Published: 28 Nov. 2011

Creative Commons License All the contents of this journal, except where otherwise noted, is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License