law of the father

I should be horrified at how Christian fundamentalists want to bring back honor killings (via atrios and pandagon)

Daddy, What's A Virgin?

Virginity was an inheritance to be brought into a marriage, and the father of the bride was responsible to preserve that inheritance. If a new husband slandered his bride and claimed that she was not a virgin, the bride's father and mother would defend her name and the name of their family. They would present the evidence of her virginity to the elders of the city (Deuteronomy 22:15). But if the charge was true, and the woman was not a virgin, then the bride was to be executed in front of her father's house. "But if the thing is true, and evidences of virginity are not found for the young woman, then they shall bring out the young woman to the door of her father's house, and the men of her city shall stone her to death with stones, because she has done a disgraceful thing in Israel, to play the harlot in her father's house. So you shall put away the evil from among you" (Deuteronomy. 22:20-21). Why the doorway to her father's house, rather than her husband's house? Because she had rebelled against her father's authority, and dishonored him. [see illustration]

In scripture it is obvious that daughters are to submit to their father's authority, while the father's responsibility is to protect their daughters.

But instead I can't help but find the whole thing (especially the despicable article Daddy's Girl: Courtship and a Father's Rights) not so much threatening as pathetically reminiscent of a scene in The Satanic Verses. But I lent my copy to someone who I think lost it! So the relevant quote will have to wait... Check back in this spot later.