Webinar Part 2, facilitated by Rev Sithembiso Zwane Director of Ujamaa Centre.
The second CBS webinar workshop brought together 17 participants, trained and ordinary readers of the Bible, to once again practice the See, Judge/Discern, Act method. This time we explored 2 Samuel 13: verses 1 to 22: the rape of Tamar.
The text was re-read in English and French and the discussion questions posed to us prompted deeper reading and airing of viewpoints in breakaway groups.
The following questions were offered to promote discussion:
- What do we see in the text?
- Who are the characters?
- What are the various crimes committed in the story?
- What is the role of each of the male characters in the crimes in the story?
- What are the political/Kingdom implications of the rape of Tamar?
- What does Tamar do and say after the rape?
- What are some of the motives that lead a man to rape someone?
- Do you have support and resources for women like Tamar in your own communities?
- What can you do to support women like Tamar in your church and community?
The questions certainly did prompt discussion and insights were brought to this exercise. Here we share a few of the many responses that came up.
See: Participants were conscious that a group of men collaborated to rape Tamar; the men were all of the house of David and the crime was upon their sister, also of David’s house. Participants were conscious that there were no consequences for the perpetrators and that patriarchal power was evident – when each male character’s role was examined: from provoking a cruel act, to covering it up, to making Tamar, the survivor, suffer for the brother’s wrong. Even the brother who took her in did so to cover up in a public relations role as one participant pointed out, rather than address the wrongful use of power and force. Participants were conscious of and sympathetic towards Tamar’s responses after she had been raped: she mourned being violated and discarded – “ashes on her head”; she was crying out for help, pleading for marriage to save her. Incest, rape, deceit, conspiracy, murder, sexual harassment were observed in the story.
Judge/Discern: Participants observed implications for David’s kingdom – it must have been tarnished by this cruelty and lack of consequences and that the negativity would endure into the future – see Absolom’s killing of Amnon much later. We further observed that Absolom took Tamar in, but it seemed to be more to protect the family’s name than really to protect and honour her.
The reasons men rape or perform other violence on women were discerned to be from power imbalances, inferiority complexes, jealousy, lust, lack of self-control including being under the influence of substances like alcohol/drugs. We also acknowledged negative socio-cultural beliefs about having sex with young girls having the effect of curing diseases.
Act: Participants reflected on the resources and support available for women/people who have suffered sexual abuse. Governmental and non-governmental organisations do their best to provide support but access is a challenge. Toll-free lines to gain access to counselling/advice were mentioned. Focus areas came up: engage men and boys – encourage men to come on board to support your sister, your aunt. Rape must not be seen as a private affair – creating stigma and secondary violence. Education is key to challenging power and encouraging silent voices, exposing hypocrisy in the system.
Participants challenged each other to hold CBS sessions on this topic, to preach on it – mindful that we need not be perfect before we do something. SA’s 16 Days of Activism against GBV was mentioned as a time to get involved.
This second session of CBS again recognised everyone’s voice and agency in re-reading biblical texts towards liberation and redemption.
