I claimed I was going to do a Friday news round-up every week, but that definitely did not happen. Instead, perhaps I should do news round-ups once a month, seeing as it has been exactly one month since the last one!

Regardless, there’s a lot of content online about rape, sexualized violence, and Christianity, and I want to share it with you whether that’s once a week or once a month.

If you’d like more consistent updates, please follow me on Twitter or Facebook where I make posts daily.

Rape and Christianity

• “I’ve been marked by grace” by Marty Troyer

In case you missed it, this week on Our Stories Untold we had a great post from Marty Troyer. He delves into the sexual abuse he experienced as a child and how it has followed him throughout his journey through life. He discusses how he’s found healing and grace, and how we can all be more open and vulnerable with abuse survivors.

• “‘How Far is Too Far?:’ Sexuality and Sexual Violence on Christian Campuses” by Catherine Woodiwiss

Catherine Woodiwiss writes another excellent piece on rape in Christian circles. This time she examines the problem and roots of sexualized violence on Christian (and all) college campuses.

*Special Bonus* Maggie Gilman, Prevention Education Specialist at Clackamas Women’s Services in Portland, Ore., who wrote this piece for Our Stories Untold, tells of an assault case at her alma mater, Goshen College in Goshen, Ind. If we think it doesn’t happen on our Mennonite campuses, we are foolish and naive.

• “Modesty: I don’t Think it Means What You Think it Means” by Rachel Held Evans

This is an excellent piece on modesty written by a leading Christian blogger. I believe that modesty, or the preconceptions of modesty and purity, are a large contribution to rape culture in both our society and churches. Evans makes these points through explaining how we turn modesty into objectification when…

1. We hold women responsible for the thoughts and actions of men

2. When we assume there are single standards that apply to all people in all cultures

3. When we make women ashamed of their bodies.

Rape in the United States 

• “No Rape Victim, Male or Female, Deserves to Be Blamed” by Abigail Rine

This is a must read piece on rape, victimization, and re-victimization. Regardless of sex or gender, no rape victim deserves to be blamed. Yet in our churches, communities, and homes, many victims and their families – many more than we would ever like to dream of – are still blamed and unsupported. Victimization, slut-shaming, and victim-blaming is explained in this powerful piece.

• “At Sentencing, Victim Describes Rape and Its Aftermath” by Russ Buettner

A mission of Our Stories Untold is to collect stories. We need stories in order to provoke change and understanding of rape and sexualized violence does to its victims. This article is of one strong survivor’s story that she shared in court and unequivocally stated to her rapist: ““I want to be, and I will be, your last victim.” The power behind telling our stories is beyond imagination.

Thank you for your willingness to be aware of these issues. Please feel free to share articles or postings that you see with Our Stories Untold, preferably through our social media accounts. Hopefully there will be more news round-ups to come in the future. Happy weekend!