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For those who want to become better allies, this book will present several necessary tools. In short, this is an essential read for pastors, churchgoers, business owners, employees, parents, and, frankly, anyone else with a pulse. I’m also encouraged by the transparency of RZIM. It would have been easy to cover this up and keep it quiet—and indeed, that appeared to have been the case when Ravi was at the helm. They did the right thing and have been forthright and honest, allowing the formerly silenced women to tell their stories. One of the most fascinating parts of the book to me was her discussion of the “Just World Theory,” which is essentially the idea that we want to believe that the world is a just, fair place, and that we choose not to believe women who have been preyed upon because we WANT to believe that they somehow deserved what was coming to them. Because if we don’t believe that, it could happen to us or to our daughters. Whoa.
In what is at once a gut punch to the silencing of women as well as a call to action for the church to create a more just and equitable world, Bluhm leads the way by doing with this book what we all need to do—break the silence, tell the truth, believe women, protect the survivors, and end sexualized violence against girls and women. By illuminating both how predatory behavior occurs and the systemic forces that keep it from being spoken about or believed, Prey Tell reminds us that the church is not absolved from the legacy of sexualized violence, nor is it exempt from the responsibility of repairing unjust systems. The church is precisely the community that needs to be leading the way toward a future where all women are both safe and free.”—Hillary McBride, psychologist, author, speaker, and podcaster
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If you have experienced abuse of any kind, I caution you to read this book with care. While I believe you will feel seen, heard, and affirmed in what you experienced, it might be hard to read at times because it seems like she is telling your story. This book might also help one realize that what one is going through or went through in relationships or in the work place was not normal or healthy but abusive and toxic. Even if you have never suffered abuse, I believe men and women will find this book disturbing because of the truth that is being shared has long been hidden, denied, ignored, minimized, dismissed, excused, etc. and Bluhm breaks down all of those barriers in this brave book. Prey Tell offers an urgent word to followers of Jesus, challenging the church to believe women and form cultures that protect the vulnerable, advocate for victims, and practice transparency. If you care about the church’s culture and witness, buy Prey Tell in bulk.”—Bryan Halferty, lead pastor of Anchor Church, Tacoma, Washington For too long the voices of women and girls who suffer violence have been marginalized, ignored, or worse, silenced within communities of faith and beyond. The global church has all too often stood by while the stories of the suffering of women at the hands of powerful abusers went untold. Tiffany Bluhm has lived this silence and out of the ashes written a clarion call to action, challenging our culture of deafening silence with her story and wisdom. Prey Tell is an absolute must-read book for our age, breathing courage into survivor and ally alike--reminding the world that silence is not spiritual, and action is not optional." The best time to read a book depends on your personal schedule and preferences. Here are some suggestions:
Powerful, eloquent, and eye opening. All words I would use to describe Prey Tell. Be prepared for your perspective to be shifted and your preconceived notions on women who have been silenced to be challenged. Bluhm writes about how this power imbalance often forces women into silence. They must keep their stories silent or face the loss of the job, finances, and reputation. She relates to readers the story of Christine Blasey Ford, whose long-kept secret of sexual assault was brought into the national limelight largely against her will and has negatively impacted her. Women often stay silent because speaking out is worse. (And if a Republican example offends you, consider the lifelong effect Bill Clinton’s adultery has had on Monica Lewinsky—and how little it has had on Clinton. During the day: If you have a flexible schedule, you may find it helpful to take breaks during the day to read a book.Tiffany Bluhm’s book “Prey Tell: Why We Silence Women Who Tell the Truth and How Everyone Can Speak Up” tells the stories of the “prey”ed upon women who have stood up against their abusers and how the world has reacted to their bravery. She (Bluhm) sets up the book in three sections: Why we silence women who tell the truth, How we silence women and How everyone can speak up. Bluhm tells the stories of so many women who have been hurt and abused and how it is our responsibility to speak up and stand up for those women, to believe their stories and to hold those who hurt others accountable for their actions. Women's voices are still far too often ubiquitously silenced when it comes to male abuse of power. Even with as much progress as has been made in advancing women's rights, there is still more work to be done to completely shatter glass ceilings for women violated by men with power. In her new book, Prey Tell, Tiffany Bluhm discusses many of the nuances of how and why women are silenced, and how institutions and individuals must better support those who experience abuse at the hands of men with power. She rightly calls out many of the wrong tactics that are used to continue to silence and oppress women who have been abused.
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