https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7807-2130
ABSTRACT
The term “Church Too” not only echoes “#MeToo” but implies a rebuttal against American evangelicalism’s authoritative and longstanding argument of the church existing as a safe and divinized place and the churchgoer positioned within a secure environment – unable to be a part of a sexual assault experience. In other words, abuse happens in “Church Too.” In this piece, we argue that churches’ rhetorical responses to the #ChurchToo movement should be understood as part of evangelicalism’s ongoing perception of being under attack from feminism. They are, therefore, victims in the culture war, in which “ChurchToo” becomes yet another battle to be fought, with the church taking defense. Consequently, evangelicalism’s defense narratives use strategies of conspirituality, narratives of disruption, and the victimhood enthymeme. As a result, we argue scholars must consider these rhetorical strategies to understand how the ideology of victimhood is both deeply embedded and an exceedingly powerful vision of reality, within white American evangelicalism.
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Notes on contributors
Karly Poyner-Smith
Karly Poyner-Smith Ph.D., (University of Memphis) is an Assistant Professor of Communication in The Humanities Department at Columbia College of Missouri. Her research examines political and identity communication within the intersections of gender, sexuality, race, and religion through a critical mixed methods lens.
Pat Loebs
Pat Loebs Ph.D., (University of Memphis) is a Professor of Communication in the Department of Humanities at Grace College. His research examines political rhetoric, media criticism, and cultural narratives.
