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Donnasia Allen
WGS Ms. Gina Giardina
Reading Response
March 27, 2016
Humanity Sucks
Finally Christianity justifies human misuse of the Earth by claiming that humans are the
most important creatures of creation and everything else is secondary. (pg. 1, Riswold). I have
always wondered why we as human consider ourselves superior to all the other animals. I know
that collectively we are more intelligent, and are able to build civilization, but other animals and
insects do the same thing too. If they were just a little bigger we would most likely be living in
their world. Why do we think its okay to put other animals in cages and fake habitats and stare
at them for our enjoyment? Why do we do we domesticate animals? There are so many questions
that I have.
We clearly arent that much smarter than the animals we view as inferior. We are
destroying the planet that sustains us, and most people do not care. We as a whole human race
cant get over the fact that people have different skin colors. That should have never been as big
of an issue as it was. Also, someone always want to be in control of everything. Were never
striving for one goal that could make things better. Honestly we are failing at everything except
technology, which is progressive but also may be regressing society.
Christianity perpetuates patriarchy. The history of Christianity is the root of much social
and theological sexism. For example, women are responsible for sin and evil entering the world
because of Eve's actions. This idea has had a huge influence on not only Christianity but on
dominant Western cultural ideas about women and men (pg. 1) says Riswold. I agree with her

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stance on this issue. I have heard not only peers but adults say if Eve hadnt tempted Adam with
the apple we wouldnt (insert problem that most likely has to do with sexuality) . Men often
use it as that as an excuse for the sexual acts they commit that do not correlate with their
religious belief. Usually that act is having sex outside of marriage.
Sex is a big issue in the Bible. The medieval witch persecutions are a prime example of
Christianity being used as justification of violence against women. These attitudes still exist
when women are urged to forgive abusive husbands and rapists and not to file charges. Genesis
texts are also still used to provide rules and justification (pg. 1, Riswold). If you are to observe a
young woman on that had just been raped on a college, most likely see her reporting the incident
to campus police and perhaps getting advised to try and forget about it. Police might not even file
a report. On the occasion that the situation is acknowledged she will most likely judged and slut
shamed by her peers or others close to her. In the case that a man raped, he is often not taken
seriously and told he should have liked it. Although women are the most vulnerable to the
patriarchy that Christianity perpetuates, other religions are affected too.
Christian tradition has led to the persecution of Jews and Muslims. (pg. 1, Riswold).
Not only that but the Bible was often used by white men to justify the enslavement of African
Americans. They would pull out passages and manipulate it in their teaching to mean whatever
they wanted it to. Christianity even had a part in the Holocaust mentions Riswold, The
Holocaust was made possible in part by centuries of Christian anti-Semitism (pg.1).
The Bible and Christianity has been taken too seriously and might not be the best thing
for a whole country to be built off of. Honestly no one really knows happened and the fact that
society is in part built off it and people are being killed is ludicrous. Patriarchy depends on and

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feeds off of racism, classism, heterosexism, global capitalism, environmental racism and
religious discrimination all of which Christianity promotes. (pg. 1, Riswold)