Dancing as a Sin: Christianity in America (Book Notes: Ungodly Women)
Fundamentalist and evangelical Christians today see themselves as battling a wide variety of sins: abortion, pornography, homosexuality, and so forth. Their counterparts of a century ago also battled a wide variety of sins - and one of the most serious, which in their eyes led to many other sins, was the nasty behavior of dancing.
In Ungodly Women: Gender and the First Wave of American Fundamentalism, Betty A. Deberg writes:
[In 1924], J. Frank Norris painted a garish picture of the fate of a girl who took her “first step on the dance floor” and “finds herself in the lustful embrace of a man that is no kin to her.” She “abhors” the experience, but goes “on and on until she, at last can dance her way into hell..., and wreck and ruin of a once fair and beautiful girl is cast out to be trodden under foot of men.”
Many people today may be tempted to relegate anti-dancing attitudes to the movies, or a few backwards towns in rural America, but the truth is that anti-dancing activism was a very basic part of early American fundamentalism. It was “mainstream” and as “normal” as any doctrine of fundamentalism. Such behavior was, many believed, the first step towards many other sins.
The closeness of the two sexes might lead to sexual activity. The wanton abandon which characterizes dancing might lead to further sinfulness like drinking or staying out late. Being willing to dance with a boy was simply the first step towards a life of even deeper sin.
Notice, though, how the sinfulness of dancing is explained on the example of girls, not boys. It’s the girls who suffer from being willing to dance — apparently, boys can dance with each other without a problem. Isn’t it interesting how girls need to be controlled in order to prevent the spread of debauchery and sin, not boys? Is it mere coincidence that males were primarily responsible for creating these convenient rules?
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Comments
“Sins” are just weaknesses or vulnerabilities. Every time you call something a sin it leads to dumb “Just say no ideas”. Some people can handle dancing. Some cannot.
Austin,
My lifelong high-school friend of mine was a preacher’s kid for a fundie church that prohibited dancing. This was back in the mid-eighties, so not that long ago. My friend loved to dance and his favorite coming of age film was “Footloose”. Remember that? Then in my parent’s church I remember being told that the gyrations of modern dances like the twist (their example) had the effect of sexually arousing females.
To John Hank who said:
““Sins” are just weaknesses or vulnerabilities.”
No, “sin” is a theological concept based on irrational ideas of right and wrong before God. According to many Christian and other monotheistic beliefs, to simply not believe is a “sin”. In fact just being human and living renders a person a sinner according to the doctrine of “original sin”.
I know many church who do an annual 50’s type party with dancing for fundraisers. Way cool.
Yes sin is a theological concept but based on irrational ideas of right and wrong before God brings on the debate of “absolute morals”, which as a Christian I believe in. There is not enough time to go into the lengthy explanation but many booka have been written about absolute morals and you can research the net.
God bless.
I’m a Christian Catholic as well as a professional ballroom dancer. I don’t care if the church thinks dancing is a sin but if they do anything to prohibit from me dancing then I would gladly walk away from the church