The recent “Christianity is masculine” kerfuffle made me think of one example of how our language communities work. The idea that “Christianity is masculine” in nature is biblically illiterate, bizarre, and has been well-debunked by others. But I’ve noticed a peculiar case: eating meat is almost universally assumed to be a masculine act: corollary: eating no meat=less manly. Now, most of my friends would never think it an offensive term as to call me less manly b/c I don’t eat meat. However, there is underlying language power at work, built around non-familiarity with any culture that differs in this specific way from one’s usual way. Most people who use, for example, “gay” as a non-sexual epithet don’t have many gay friends, thus simply don’t realize it’s actual weight in this way. Our language assumptions-tied close to our communities, reveal our underlying prejudices at times. It’s odd that the ethic I choose w/food (NOT one I think is essential, or more holy or something) is sourced in my faith in God as creator yet via “internal” logic of masculine faith, is bankrupt due to lack of masculine content. Likewise, my own language community lacks in so many ways: thus let our cry come unto Thee: open our ears to You, to one another.
