“Christ himself, who in the gospels is simply called ‘Jesus’ “

Samantha, can you pull up an example in the scripture were Jesus is addressed as “Jesus”? I know I can not. He is often referred to as Lord, Rabbi (Teacher), Raboni (Master Teacher) etc, but I can not think of a single scripture were someone called him by his name, “Jesus”. To do so would have been disrespectful.

The media has really pushed anorexia-type models and these poor young people are struggling to compete.

I shutter at the next 10 years.

Samantha, I think you and Mary may have misunderstood my requirement for the title Mrs. What I mean is that I ask other peoples kids to call me Mrs Logan. I don’t make my kids call other people Mrs. Last name if the other party doesn’t like it. I do usually insist on Miss/Ms first name however. Regarding your comment about if a man *should* protect a woman from news, I really think that depends on the particular husband and wife…and a husband ought to use his wisdom and authority to determine how much information he gives his wife. I know my husband graciously protects my mind this way, and I am grateful for it.

Mary, why would you want your husband to become more touchy feely with people other than yourself and (presumably your kids)? I woudl not appreciate it if my husband were hugging women, even older women, even sideays. And those sideways hugs make me feel quite uncomfortable. Another thing I would respecfully ask, is if it makes your husband uncomfortable, why would you encourage him to do it? (obviously there are some places where this might be appropriate…) But i think with regards to touching other people, women especially, isn’t it wiser to have more distance than less??

Nice to see all you ladies here.

Mrs. Meg Logan

I disagree with the importance of using titles with names. That is totally cultural. In the Scriptures we hear everyone called by their first name, including the most exalted apostles and Christ himself, who in the gospels is simply called “Jesus”. I don’t know if they had some term of respect that applied to people in general, one for men, one for women – I know a rabbi was called Teacher or some derivative, but whether that was added to his name as in saying “Professor So-and-So” or actually used as a replacement for the name, I am not sure. We need to remember that the very idea of a surname is not seen everywhere and at all times anyway. In many places people are known as “son or daughter of” (fill in father’s name, and occasionally mother’s name) or in some other way.

Regrding children calling adults by their first name, I am one who has no desire to be called Mrs. I *want* people to call me by my first name. Since this is what I *want* to be callled, to call me Mrs after I have requested that I be called by my first name, is not respect, but disrespect. I can deal with that, and have to deal with it all the time because people don’t seem to hear me . They seem to be afraid that their children have no innate respect, I think. The fact is that children and adults can easily use “titles of respect” and truly have no respect. Go into any school and see how children talk about their teachers. This is a heart issue. Personally, I don’t feel a closer relationship with people because I call them by their first name. There are actually people I call “Mrs” that I feel much closer to than others I call by their first name.

The fact remains, though, that respect in general, not only for authority, but for individuals and for life itself is at an all time low in this country, but I think if anything, the lack of titles is a *symptom* of that, rather than a cause.

Regarding hugging, I am with you…I don’t love to be hugged in general, and especially don’t like it when men hug me, for a variety of reasons. My personal space boundaries are about the size of Texas, and anyway!

I would also question whether, in a Christian sense, there are topics or subjects that are “appropriate” for men but not for women. I can understand men wanting to protect the ears of their wives from, say, details of a salughter in times of war (whether they *should* protect them is debatable) But as to things that would make a woman blush either now or in the past, I would think that topics of that nature might be inappropriate for men as well, if we are speaking about vulgarity and lewd comments, etc. If you are talking about serious se*xual talk that needs to take place to help someone, I do think in most cases that should be kept man to man and woman to woman. But I disagree that there is a kind of gruffness or vulgarity in talk that is appropriate for men and not for women.

I remember when I switched from private school to public school. I was in for a culture shock. Here I was in my snazzy cordory shorts, matching sweater and leather slip-ons and the rest of the junior class were in sweats and torn jeans! Plus, they walked all slouched, girls sat with their legs spread eagled so guys could see the torn out crotchs on their jeans…talk about disrespect for themselves and everyone else! I shudder to think what they get away with now.

And I have room to grow also. I’m with you on the modesty as far as making a change-over. I thought I was modest enough, but there was room for improvement! For instance, I’ve always worn shorts over a bathing suit, but I’m thinking a little more coverage would be appropriate, maybe even a whole new modest-line swimsuit.

I’m not firm about the Mr/Mrs thing. I always introduce my children to adults as Mr/Mrs so and so, but usually the adults correct me. I’ve never made it an issue. One of my friends, a former teacher (the one I can with all the time ;O) ) has respected this preference and out of all the adults we know, she is the only one who has remained Mrs! As I am to her children. I agree with your reasons behind it though…it does lower the respect level. Our Pastor’s have always gone by their title followed by their first name, so that makes it hard also. Guess you need to make a line somewhere and stick to it, preferably starting while your children are young! Here’s another way titles are changing and it bothers me to hear it coming from young young children…leaving the Aunt or Uncle off and just calling them by their first names! The only thing worse is to hear kids call their parents by their respective names! And that’s too popular as it is.

We have to give up “hugging”? That is big in our church also, though it’s mostly the older set and they are careful to give sideways hugs. I’d feel uncomfortable with it if it were a man my age. To me, it seems like a fatherly gesture, and it always makes me smile when an older woman snags my dh for a side hug. He’s NOT the touchy-feely type with anyone but me! ;O) He’s getting better!

Once again, I loved your post, and look forward to more from you!