Friday, December 11, 2009

RACHEL MADDOW HAS IT OUT WITH RICHARD COHEN; RICK WARREN'S ANTIPATHY TOWARD GAY PEOPLE


This 17 minute video with Rachel Maddow skewering Richard Cohen [Pictured], alleged "ex-gay" author, shows the bankrupt nature of both the notion of one becoming "ex-gay" in any meaningful sense, and the bankrupt nature of the "science" that lies behind the ideologically (and often materialistically motivated) saturated rhetoric and actions that can, and might well, lead to the imprisonment and murders of countless Gay people in Uganda and, perhaps, elsewhere:


Although, in my opinion, Cohen is a pathetic buffoon, there are a lot of other buffoons who give him credibility! Yet he makes no pretenses about being a Christian and falsely telling people what the Bible allegedly says about being Gay.

However, the Rick Warrens of the world do just that so, frankly, I have even more antipathy toward the Rick Warrens of the world who sanctimoniously degrade Gay people than I do the pathetic Richard Cohens of the world who should lack any credibility with anyone with even a modicum of intelligence and decency!


Rick Warren [Pictured], after undoubtedly being the recipient of a lot of pressure, finally urged Ugandan pastors to not support the Anti-Homosexuality Bill. However, his too little too late speech, unfortunately lauded by some like Wayne Besen who seem to be satisfied with incremental crumbs of niceties, despite their still being defamed and demeaned, contained the following:

While we can never deny or water down what God’s Word clearly teaches about sexuality, at the same time the church must stand to protect the dignity of all individuals — as Jesus did and commanded all of us to do. Let me be clear that God’s Word states that all sex outside of marriage is not what God intends. Jesus reaffirmed what Moses wrote that marriage is intended to be between one man and one woman committed to each other for life. (See here.)

How do you think statements like that make a Gay kid (or adult, for that matter) feel about him/herself? How is biblical literalism apart from cultural context helping anyone? How is self-righteous and self-serving rhetoric that seeks to impose one's religious ideology onto others doing any kind of service to civil society, or to anyone who seeks spiritual solace from the Prince of Peace? How can the legalists and perfectionists of the institutional Church world distort the Gospel of grace, faith, love, peace, reconciliation, and inclusiveness and yet be of any use in spreading the "Good News" that Jesus came to set the captives free from the yokes of bondage placed upon them by the likes of those homophobic legalists?

Here is the video of Warren's address to Ugandan pastors:



And in case there is any doubt about Warren's antipathy toward LGBT people even if it were found that being Gay is something with which one was born, please see this brief video:



Please know that there is absolutely nothing in the Bible that condemns Gay people or same-sex love! God does not hate what God creates!

[Thanks to LGBT POV for the last two videos.]
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2 comments:

Leonard said...

No word yet from the Archbishop of Canterbury and Acrchbishop of York (he himself a refugee from Idi Amins Uganda and NOW Lord of York)...they said the ABC was working ¨intensely behind the scenes¨ and York would ¨not be issuing a statement¨...makes me furious and what about the Mormon leadership of a 100 ¨presidency¨...these folks don´t even know how to OPENLY communicate the difference between right and wrong...God knows they might set a example/standard of service and loving stewardship if they did! I´m not interested in behind-the-scenes murmurings (although they may be helpful in diplomatic circles)...I want to see, hear and respond to REAL CHRISTIANS uttering REAL words for the marginalized, the outcasts, the least of us...that would be lots of demonized people (including the human scarifices and child ¨witch killings¨ in Nigeria and Uganda)...the sadly vicious pope and all the other cowards can go dunk their head(s)...vile at the core as they dangerously harm and abuse fellow Christians and others...they have little standing in REAL LIFE!

Jerry Maneker said...

Hi Leonardo: You write, "I´m not interested in behind-the-scenes murmurings (although they may be helpful in diplomatic circles)...I want to see, hear and respond to REAL CHRISTIANS uttering REAL words for the marginalized, the outcasts, the least of us...that would be lots of demonized people (including the human scarifices and child ¨witch killings¨ in Nigeria and Uganda)...the sadly vicious pope and all the other cowards can go dunk their head(s)...vile at the core as they dangerously harm and abuse fellow Christians and others...they have little standing in REAL LIFE!"

Beautiful!!!!! Right on the mark! Best wishes, Jerry.