Welcome to Breakpoint, a daily look at an ever-changing culture through the lens of Unchanging

Truth, with the Colson Center on John Stone Street.

Feb. 6 marked the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation.

The World Health Organization estimates that more than 200 million women and girls across

the globe have been subjected to this violent practice, which forcibly cuts or mutilates

a woman's sexual organs as a so-called right of passage.

Not only is FGM a gross violation of human rights and the dignity of these girls, most

of whom either do not consent to it or are not old enough to understand what's happening

to them, it's also incredibly dangerous.

Diverse people groups practice FGM, including, unfortunately, if you remote tribes who identify

as Christian.

However, far more Christians have fought the practice than committed it, including missionaries,

Christian aid organizations, and many local African-Christian communities.

These Christians are motivated by a biblical view of humanity.

And that includes the inherent dignity of women and children.

Nevertheless, one of the most common accusations against Christianity is that it is an oppressively

patriarchal religion that either subjugates women or at least evalues them.

This accusation is almost exclusively Western and modern.

The very first Christians were actually criticized for teaching that women were equal value to

men.

They were accused of being quote unquote incestuous for referring to fellow believers

as brothers and sisters.

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