An associate professor at Minnesota State University in Mankato sparked backlash on social media this week after he claimed the Virgin Mary didn’t give consent to conceiving the Christ child.

Eric Sprankle, an associate professor of psychology and a certified sex therapist, tweeted Monday from his verified Twitter account that the virgin birth story is about “an all-knowing, all-powerful deity impregnating a human teen.”

“There is no definition of consent that would include that scenario,” he wrote.

Mr. Sprankle told his 17,000 Twitter followers that God’s treatment of Mary was “an unethical abuse of power at best and grossly predatory at worst.”

One commenter argued that Mary clearly gave consent in the Gospel according to Luke, adding, “whether you believe or disbelieve, it helps if you actually read the text.”

“The biblical god regularly punished disobedience,” Mr. Sprankle responded. “The power difference (deity vs mortal) and the potential for violence for saying ‘no’ negates her ‘yes.’”

“I’d never force you to be in a relationship with me, but I will destroy you and everyone you love if you aren’t.” https://t.co/hLCglje4BG — Eric Sprankle, PsyD (@DrSprankle) December 5, 2018

Mr. Sprankle later admitted that he finds it fun to “poke and provoke” people on social media. Over the weekend, he tweeted a photo of his Christmas tree topped with a “Satanic” inverted pentagram.

Satanic holiday decor shopping on Etsy is the reason for the season. pic.twitter.com/t4EPPIgKtN — Eric Sprankle, PsyD (@DrSprankle) December 2, 2018

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