As questions of moral and ethical responsibilities are beingasked, and scientific answers are being given in this new century,Marjorie L. Coppock, a former sociology professor at Texas A&MUniversity, is examining the societal changes that prompted thesequestions. Coppock, who spoke at the SMU Bookstore on Friday,believes that the fabric of our society is in jeopardy with theadvancements in gene manipulation, the relaxing of legislation onissues of sexuality and the splitting up of family units. Coppockspoke at the SMU bookstore on Friday.
In her first book, Wrestling with Angels: The Sexual RevolutionConfronts the Church, she attempts to explain the complex issues ofsociety today that kept her awake at night. As a sociologyprofessor, mother and Christian, Coppock found herself oftencontemplating a subject that had directly or indirectly affectedevery aspect of her life: the sexual revolution’s impact onChristianity.
“It’s a topic that currently impacts the lives ofeveryone, whether or not they realize it,” said Coppock.
Researching events in the past 40 years, Coppock examines thosethat have brought about changes to the sexual behaviors and familystructures in our society.
“We’ve been pushed around by many social influenceswhich leaves many individuals rather confused,” she said.”We are influenced by our families, peers, teachers,religious, political leaders and especially television. We live ina time of broken families. It used to be that the family was thebedrock of our society. Now with the new infrastructures forfamilies today, it not only caught the parents by surprise, but thechurch as well. We are not really sure how to address all of theissues arising out of this new society.”
In an effort to resolve some of the questions and organize thethoughts that cluttered her mind, Coppock began writing. She drewfrom her knowledge of sociology, philosophy, politics, the churchand personal experiences as a mother to create her comprehensive,thoughtful overview of the subject. Wrestling with Angels isCoppock’s first book, but she has published many magazinearticles on the subject. Coppock, who retired two years ago, saidthat teaching four classes a day did not leave enough hours to dothe type of research and writing necessary for this importanttopic.
“I wrote it first to explain it to myself,” Coppocksaid. “I felt like I needed to bring the issues together intoa single focus and provide a summary and overview of the changes inthe church.”
Coppock spent two and a half years writing her book, usingeverything from old clippings from 1970s issues of Psychology Todayand Ms. to sociology journals in her research. She used over300 publications to provide the most impartial, complete, analysispossible.
As a mother in the 1960s, Coppock experienced the whirlwind ofthe sexual revolution through her children’s eyes.
“As a parent, I wasn’t fully aware of the changes insociety at the time,” Coppock said. “It was difficultfor parents to understand.”
During the 1960s, social attitudes toward sexuality radicallychanged, Coppock said. A spike in the divorce rate, thelegalization of abortion, the creation of the Pill, the advent of”free love,” the acceptance of homosexuality – all haddramatic impact on the church.
“There was no one we could turn to for help in answeringour questions as parents. We turned to the church, but they werecaught off guard as much as we were. This created division betweenchurches, congregations and denominations,” she said. “The churches’ solution … seems to be to offer massforgiveness without examining all of the things that are happeningas the result of people’s actions. A person who decides tohave unprotected or risky sex doesn’t just impact his or herown life. What about the lives of their families, friends, anychildren produced? Everyone’s life touches that ofanother”
Coppock said that the changes in our society have resulted in abreakdown in family relationships and confusion about sexuality andmorality.
“Divorce was not an option when I was growing up, nor hasit been one during my marriage,” she said. “Theno-fault divorce is one of the worst things that the judiciarysystem could have done to American families today. I know thatthere are times when divorce is better than being in alife-threatening or corrosive environment, but too often it is anexcuse to get out of a relationship.”
She feels that churches need to consider any changes in theirviews on sexuality more carefully and critically if they are tokeep a position as the moral foundation of society.
“If churches are going to maintain moral authority, theyshould not throw out the values that have served us for centuriesflippantly or carelessly,” Coppock said. “It’slike throwing out the baby with the dirty bath water. The conceptsof freedom and religion are what our country’s creation isbased upon.” Coppock hopes that the information contained inthe book will help Christians and churches make choices about wherethey stand on the issue.
“I’m trying to help people walk through this andgain an understanding and control so they can make decisions intheir lives,” she said. “It is my hope and prayerthat my book will help us think about where we’ve come from,where we’re heading, and help us ask the question, do we wantto go in this direction?”
