We live in a culture where people are regularly ‘cancelled’ for speaking out against the wider or more popular opinion. Woman Alive’s deputy editor, Jemimah Wright looks at JK Rowling’s experience, and wonders what those of us in the body of the Church can learn from her.
What do you know about JK Rowling? Pretty much everyone is aware she is the author of the hugely successful Harry Potter books, first published in 1997. You may also be aware that Rowling has been writing a series of crime books for adults under the pseudonym Robert Galbraith.
But have you been following her ‘cancellation’? The idea that someone can be ‘cancelled’ for what they believe has been normalised in our culture. Is it something we, as Christian women should be concerned about?
Last week JK Rowling gave £70K to a feminist group taking the Scottish Government to court. The group, ‘For Women Scotland’ is trying to obtain a Supreme Court ruling stating that men cannot become women.
Rowling donated the £70,000 sum within hours of the Scottish courts granting permission for the Supreme Court appeal and wrote to the group: “You know how proud I am to know you, thank you for all your hard work and perseverance. This is truly a historic case.”
In June 6, 2020. Rowling retweeted an op-ed piece that discussed “people who menstruate,” apparently taking issue with the fact that the story did not use the word women.
Giving a voice to this issue started publically for Rowling in 2019, when she tweeted about Maya Forstater, who lost her job at an international thinktank after a series of tweets, including one in which she said: “Men cannot change into women.”
On 6 June 2020, Rowling retweeted an op-ed piece that discussed “people who menstruate,” apparently taking issue with the fact that the story did not use the word women. She wrote: “‘People who menstruate” I’m sure there used to be a word for those people. Someone help me out. Wumben? Wimpund? Woomud?”
As a result of her opinion, Rowling has faced a litany of attacks.
In the podcast, The Witch Trials of JK Rowling, Rowling herself describes some of the negative responses she has received from tweeting her views:
‘There have been a lot…I have had direct threats of violence, and I have had people coming to my house, where my kids live, and I’ve had my address posted online. I’ve had what the police regard as credible threats. The pushback is often, ‘you are wealthy, you can afford security, you haven’t been silenced.’ All true, but I think that misses the point. The attempt to intimidate and silence me is meant to serve as a warning to other women, and I say that because I have seen it used that way.’
Saying there is only one way to heaven, and that is through Jesus Christ, is offensive to many.
Can we compare JK Rowling’s stand with Christians standing up for the gospel? Saying there is only one way to heaven, and that is through Jesus Christ, is offensive to many. 1 Peter 4:14 says: ‘If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.
Matthew 5:10-12 says: Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
And 1 Peter 3:14 says: But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear their threats; do not be frightened. So if we should expect persecution, and we are hiding from speaking what we believe to be the truth, fearful of reactions like JK Rowling has experienced, are we not living in fear not faith?
Read more on persecution:
There is no biblical justification for persecuting women
Five countries where being a woman and a Christian is dangerous
I Corinthians 1:18 says: ‘For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.’
As Christians, we can’t expect everyone to love us (and as a people pleaser myself, I find this especially difficult!). Matthew 10:22 says ‘And you will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.’
We are not supposed to speak out just to be antagonistic and cause unnecessary friction, but out of love for those who are lost. JK Rowling decided that from her research, she could not not say anything. As Christians we know we have the gift of salvation and eternal life, let’s be a bit more Rowling and speak out for what we believe is right.
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