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Feminism: Sex & gender discussions

I need a misogynistic hymn please

36 replies

LoopyLoopsOlympicHoops · 04/11/2012 04:37

(debated putting this in religion and spirituality...)

I'm doing NaNoWriMo and writing a feminist dystopian novel. I need a hymn that has dark misogynistic lyrics, can anyone think of one?

Thanks :)

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Homebird8 · 04/11/2012 04:59

Loads of hymns using male rather than female language but nothing I can think of as being misogynistic. Jesus wasn't you see!

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LoopyLoopsOlympicHoops · 04/11/2012 05:03

Submission and obeyance perhaps?

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Homebird8 · 04/11/2012 05:38

There's lots about obeying but not just for women. E.g. "Trust and obey, for there's no other way, to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey!"

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SoggyMoggy · 04/11/2012 05:43

Does it need to be a hymn for a specific denomination?

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LoopyLoopsOlympicHoops · 04/11/2012 05:44

Christian, but any type. Thanks :)

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weegiemum · 04/11/2012 06:06

I'm struggling to think of one that's openly misogynistic, best incan suggest is you try to find an old (50s or before) hymn book?
And I lurve dystopias! Can I read it, when it's done?

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SoggyMoggy · 04/11/2012 06:07

I have a silly number of hymnals, given my lack of churchiness. Any excuse to skim them is a good one. So far no joy, but I'll keep looking.

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LoopyLoopsOlympicHoops · 04/11/2012 06:27

You certainly can weegie. You don't fancy a quick read of what I have so far do you?

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LoopyLoopsOlympicHoops · 04/11/2012 06:31

Thank you all so much :)

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LoopyLoopsOlympicHoops · 04/11/2012 06:31

Whence shall my tears begin?
What first-fruits shall I bear
Of earnest sorrow for my sin?
Or how my woes declare?
O Thou! the Merciful and Gracious One
Forgive the foul transgressions I have done.

With Adam I have vied,
Yea, passed him, in my fall;
And I am naked now, by pride
And lust made bare of all;
Of Thee, O GOD, and that Celestial Band,
And all the glory of the Promised Land.

No earthly Eve beguiled
My body into sin:
A spiritual temptress smiled,
Concupiscence within:
Unbridled Passion grasped the unhallowed sweet:
Most bitter?ever bitter?was the meat.

If Adam?s righteous doom,
Because he dared transgress
Thy one decree, lost Eden?s bloom
And Eden?s loveliness:
What recompence, O LORD, must I expect,
Who all my life Thy quickening laws neglect?

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weegiemum · 04/11/2012 06:36

Yes please! I'll be your ongoing critic

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LoopyLoopsOlympicHoops · 04/11/2012 06:38

Ah brilliant, thanks. PM your email address. :)

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SoggyMoggy · 04/11/2012 06:51

It is not good, Jehovah said,
For man new formed to be alone;
Then of his rib an helpmeet made,
And man and wife pronounced but one.

From near his heart this rib he took,
To show the favor should be prized:
Not from his head to overlook;
Nor from his foot to be despised.

Beneath his arm, to signify
Wives should authority disclaim,
And that protection and supply
Are from the husbands due to them.

Bless, Lord, this newly married pair,
And make the match a blessing prove;
Their interest one, their joys, their care,
Made happy in each others love.

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LoopyLoopsOlympicHoops · 04/11/2012 06:57

Ah that's a good one, thanks. Perhaps I should add a little wedding service at some point, or do you think it could be used in a normal service?

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FairPhyllis · 04/11/2012 07:28

It will be hard to find one in modern hymnals, I think. I can think of lots that have dodgy theology in, but out and out misogyny is a tougher call. The biggest problem with sexism in hymns is the cumulative effect of overwhelmingly male pronouns, limiting imagery of God as Father and King, references to 'man' and 'mankind'. E.g. the old translation of 'In Dulci Jubilo':

Good Christian men, rejoice
with heart and soul and voice;
give ye heed to what we say:
Jesus Christ is born today;
ox and ass before him bow,
and he is in the manger now.
Christ is born today!
Christ is born today! etc.

Or the last verse of Good King Wenceslas:

In his master's steps he trod
Where the snow lay dinted
Heat was in the very sod
Which the Saint had printed
Therefore, Christian men, be sure
Wealth or rank possessing
Ye who now will bless the poor
Shall yourselves find blessing.

Or 'At the Name of Jesus', for a decidedly masculine take on God. The thing is, hymns are (by definition) an address to God - they don't tend to be specifically about human beings.

You might do better with psalms or anthems, especially ones about Mary's purity:

A spotless Rose is blowing,
Sprung from a tender root,
Of ancient seers? foreshowing,
Of Jesse promised fruit;
Its fairest bud unfolds to light
And in the dark midnight,
Amid the winter cold,
A spotless Rose unfolds.

The Rose which I am singing,
Whereof Isaiah said,
Is from its sweet root springing,
In Mary, purest Maid;
For, through our God?s great love and might,
And in the dark midnight,
Amid the winter cold,
The blesse`d Babe she bare.

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LoopyLoopsOlympicHoops · 04/11/2012 07:29

Thank you

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FairPhyllis · 04/11/2012 07:30

Cross posted - oh well if you're going to use a Brethren hymnal, you might not have that problem ...

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LoopyLoopsOlympicHoops · 04/11/2012 07:38

oh, not sure I understand Confused

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FairPhyllis · 04/11/2012 07:40

Soggy's hymn is from a Brethren hymnal - a notoriously conservative denomination ...

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LoopyLoopsOlympicHoops · 04/11/2012 07:43

Oh I see. Any Christian denomination will work I think.

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SoggyMoggy · 04/11/2012 07:56

Given the request, I admit I bypassed the more mainstream hymnals. It's a shame I don't have the stuff we used for tent revivals when I was a kid. Some of those were hair raising. I grew up in the US, rural South. Weird conservative denominations my speciality. Wink

I have some LDS stuff that comes off a bit disturbingly, but as FaithPhyllis and Homebird note, it's more the language being about men, not directly speaking against women. Usually if women are expressly mentioned, it's in a positive manner.

See the mighty priesthood gathered;
Firm in serried ranks they stand--
Son and father jointly serving,
Gathered in from ev?ry land.
Proud their voices blend together,
Raising hymns to Father?s praise,
Sending forth the gospel message
As restored in latter days.

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LoopyLoopsOlympicHoops · 04/11/2012 08:14

Ooh, I like that one. 'Latter days' making it clearly LDS? It would be better not so obviously one denomination really.

Thank you so much

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PurplePidjin · 04/11/2012 08:27

Onward, Christian soldiers, marching as to war,
With the cross of Jesus going on before.
Christ, the royal Master, leads against the foe;
Forward into battle see His banners go!

Refrain

Onward, Christian soldiers, marching as to war,
With the cross of Jesus going on before.

At the sign of triumph Satan?s host doth flee;
On then, Christian soldiers, on to victory!
Hell?s foundations quiver at the shout of praise;
Brothers lift your voices, loud your anthems raise.

Refrain

Like a mighty army moves the church of God;
Brothers, we are treading where the saints have trod.
We are not divided, all one body we,
One in hope and doctrine, one in charity.

Refrain

What the saints established that I hold for true.
What the saints believèd, that I believe too.
Long as earth endureth, men the faith will hold,
Kingdoms, nations, empires, in destruction rolled.

Refrain

Crowns and thrones may perish, kingdoms rise and wane,
But the church of Jesus constant will remain.
Gates of hell can never gainst that church prevail;
We have Christ?s own promise, and that cannot fail.

Refrain

Onward then, ye people, join our happy throng,
Blend with ours your voices in the triumph song.
Glory, laud and honor unto Christ the King,
This through countless ages men and angels sing.

Refrain

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LRDtheFeministDragon · 04/11/2012 15:42

Grin I was about to post that purple.

Someone from the rather elderly congregation at my church picked it to sing a while back and straight after service there was me, the female vicar and the trainee vicar (also female) making a beeline for each other in order to snigger at it!

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PurplePidjin · 04/11/2012 15:49

Such a rousing tune, such dreadful words!

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