Well, first I do not believe that not beating or dominating your wife is a standard that God set. In the more conservative Christian sects, dominating women is much more common than it would be if God had commanded this, wouldn't it? Here at the end of the twentieth century, there is wife beating in half of all American marriages, and we are a mostly Christian nation.
I would have to say that there have been centuries of wife beating, if you look at the historical record for Christian societies, mostly America and Europe. It is actually the feminist movement, and the increasing opportunities for women to support themselves without staying in disastrous marriages, which have created a climate where there is less tolerance for wife beating and male domination.
Unfortunately, affluent, college-educated women are the primary beneficiaries of this enlightened attitude so far. It is a tough cycle to break, and children who have grown up in these very old-fashioned but dysfunctional families still see it as the norm.
I absolutely believe evil exists in the world. I simply do not believe it comes from Satan, or that people who commit evil deeds will be punished for them by going to hell as the result. My own theory of where evil comes from is that children who are given insufficient love and attention as babies, or are neglected or abused or violated sexually, or have severe head injuries, are unable to develop properly.
First they internalize the rage which is the result of their mistreatment, but then later, feeling angry and powerless, they strike out and victimize others. That is why I am such a staunch defender of children's rights--I think that is the way to end evil in the world.
Beating one's wife is evil simply because it is inflicting pain on another, causing sorrow deliberately. It is not necessary to have religious beliefs to know right from wrong, and I do not believe really healthy people inflict pain on others. Atheists and agnostics, for example, often have moral and ethical belief systems that are extremely clear that rape, murder, stealing, and all sorts of minor misbehaviors are wrong.
And what we know as the Golden Rule is a basic tenet of all religions and belief systems. |
