A Christian Fundamentalist recently gave me a list of references indicating that the GLBTQIA community has endorsed pedophilia, and further implying the famous slippery slope argument against same sex marriage. Here is the list (the validity of each reference and the critique of the use of the references will be stated in the comment secition):
1. Prominent gay magazine "Out" quoted Damien Martin, the head of New York's homosexual Harvey Milk High School, positively saying, "No kid has ever been hurt by [oral sex]," Article by Jesse Green, September 1994, page 73.
2. Alan Ginsburg, nationally acclaimed homosexual poet, publicly advocated pedophilia. He also joined NAMBLA. He was honored by Boulder, Colorado who gave him the key to the city. His support of pedophilia is well-known, but here's one quote. He commented on the 1977 pedophilia scandal in Revere, Massachusetts, by stating “I had sex when I was 8 with a man in the back of my grandfather’s candy store in Revere, and I turned out okay.”
3. The Advocate, a popular homosexual magazine, published Carl Maves asking, "How many gay men, I wonder, would have missed out on a valuable, liberating experience - one that initiated them into their sexuality - if it weren't for so-called molestation?" in an article titled "Getting Over It."
They also published an article titled "Recruit, Recruit, Recruit" about kids in December 1992.
4. The leading gay publisher, Alyson Publications, published "Paedophilia: The Radical Case," with 300 pages of why and how to have sex with even pre-teen boys.
They also published "The Age Taboo," another defense of pedophilia which claims: "Boy-lovers . . . are not child molesters. The child abusers are . . . parents who force their staid morality onto the young people in their custody."
5. The homosexual community welcomed the militant pedophiles at the North American Man-Boy Love Association (NAMBLA) to march in their "gay pride" parades in New York and San Francisco for years. (This is common knowledge, but if you like I can give you a link to Wayne Besen admitting this.) Homosexuals only severed their promotion of NAMBLA in the 1990s after Christian organizations exposed the parades via new media like right wing talk shows.
Long-time homosexual activist David Thorstad, founding member of the Coalition for Lesbian and Gay Rights and former president of the New York Gay Activists Alliance, according to The Journal of Homosexuality protested the decision by the March on Washington organizers to exclude pedophiles like NAMBLA.
Christian outrage moved the Clinton administration to remove NAMBLA from the homosexual association which gave them consulting status at the United Nations.
The University of Massachusetts at Amherst voted to revise its non-discrimination policy to protect "persons whose sexual orientation includes minor children as the sex object."
6. Homosexual activist Andy Humm (NYC News, Gay USA, GCN) brags of his influence over the New York City Council and wrote in the New York Native that, "No one should be denied basic civil rights because of his or her orientation, whether the person be homosexual, heterosexual, transsexual, transvestite, pedophile, sadist..."
7. Out magazine admitted in an article titled, "The Men From the Boys," when they quoted, without judgment, the founder of a home for runaway youth who claimed that between 14 and 16 years of age, he "probably had sex with well over a thousand people, most of them much older than myself."
8. The Journal of Homosexuality is viewed as the premier "mainstream" English-language publication of the gay movement. One prominent editor is John DeCecco, a psychologist at San Francisco State University who also serves on the editorial board of the Dutch pedophile journal Paidika.
9. In 1990 the Journal of Homosexuality published a series of essays on pedophilia that were eventually published as Male Inter-Generational Intimacy:Historical, Socio-Psychological, and Legal Perspectives, edited by pedophile Edward Brongersma. None of the essays offered any substantive criticism of pedophilia: most blatantly promoted man-boy love as the natural right of homosexuals.
10. In 1999 Helmut Graupner, wrote an article on pedophilia in the Journal of Homosexuality, in which he claims: "Man/boy and woman/girl relations without doubt are same-sex relations and they do constitute an aspect of gay and lesbian life." Graupner argues that, as such, consensual sexual relations between adult homosexuals and youths as young as fourteen qualifies as a "gay rights issue."
Sunday, March 10, 2013
Saturday, October 13, 2012
Dealing With the Jessica Ridgeway Tragedy
Unspeakable horror overwhelms me when registering the phrase
from my local news station about Jessica Ridgeway, “Body Not Intact.” How could we conceive of a powerful and
loving God who allows such events to destroy the body of a person made in the
image of this God?
I have struggled over the issue of Theodicy (vindicating an
all-powerful and just God in the face of evil) for over a decade. Although I am quite content with perspective
that God is not responsible and can draw near to those in pain and suffer with
them through these tragedies, these tragedies still happen, and they still hurt
immensely. And the phrase, “Body Not
Intact” leaves an incomprehensibly macabre image.
I’m working on an MA at Iliff School of Theology. One question that I have been asking myself
is, “From where does religion come?” or “Why do people believe in God?” Recently, I was required to read Peter Brown’s,
“The Cult of the Saints.” The book
records and explains the belief of Christianity during the Dark Ages
surrounding the rituals of commemorating the saints of the early church. These saints were originally martyrs. They suffered for a just God in unspeakable
horror. And Christians during the Dark
Ages believed that because of their sanctified and meaningful suffering, their
bones served a special purpose for those still existing on the temporal side of
heaven. Christians would travel far and
wide (before trains, planes and automobiles) to be near the presence of these
bones in hope that they may be a source of healing, prosperity, or
forgiveness. Brown makes a bold attempt
to show how it wasn’t the authority of the Bible (i.e. Reformation) that
preserved Christianity of antiquity, but the belief in the metaphysical
presence of these saints through their bones, and as a result the channeling of
God’s grace through them. This belief
system and practice surrounding the body parts of the saints created community
and hope for those who suffered in the face of impending death. To broaden our understanding, keep in mind
that the life span of people during this time was very short. Brown writes in the opening of his chapter
titled “The Very Special Dead,”
One of the most moving fragments of
late antiquity is now attached to the wall of the Mediterranean room in the
Louvre. It is the epitaph of a little
Sicilian, Julia Florentina, “a most dear innocent child,” who died at the age
of eighteen months, having received Christian baptism, experienced a momentary
remission, “and lived on four hours longer, just as she had once been before.”
While her parents bewailed her death at every moment, the voice of [God’s]
majesty was heard at night, forbidding them to lament for the dead child. Her body was buried in its tomb in front of
the doors of the shrine of the martyrs.
(Ancient Latin Christian Inscription, 1549)
We have here a glimpse of a
Mediterranean family thinking about the unthinkable fact of death. Their inscription is a reminder of the force
of the tensions latent in early Christian attitudes to death and the afterlife
(Brown, p.69).
So back to the two simple yet unanswerable questions, “From
where does religion come?” or “Why do people believe in God?” In light of the recent Jessica Ridgeway
tragedy coupled with the manner in which early Christians dealt with similar
horror, I answer with questions: “How could we not come together as a community
as a result of this horror and want to yearn for something of hope, goodness…life?”
And, “How could we not believe in a person or idea that transcends the
unspeakable gruesome facts of death, violence and chaos?” Humans are hard wired to deal with this awful
reality. This is a fact regardless of
the diversity with which it is dealt.
So I propose that we not think of Jessica Ridgeway’s “Body
Not Intact” in horror. Doing so would
give the victory over to evil. I believe
that we should envision her body a relic of a Saint, a Martyr. I am not going to allow the phrase “Body Not
Intact” to overwhelm me and grip me with fear.
But, I will imagine that God’s presence is so much more overwhelming in
goodness, love, peace, and hope, and will use her body as those of the Saints
during the Dark Ages and claim it as a channel of grace to those who yearn for
goodness, life and peace!
May Jessica be blessed in the presence of the Almighty for
eternity!
Saturday, May 19, 2012
Book Critique
I am currently working my way through "A Theology of Liberation" by Gustavo Gutierrez. The book was originally published in 1973. In chapter 6 he explores the idea of a new imperialism being implemented throughout the world by the US in the form of multi-national corporations.
Some context on the author might help. Gutierrez is a Catholic priest from Peru. He observes and experiences the expansion of capitalism extending towards his own country and others like it from a 'dependent' role. In other words, subservience from his country is expected. He is questioning the 'trickle down' theory from a third world perspective. In the book he reflects on many factors that take place in the relationship between countries who dominate, i.e. the US and Europe. But, one striking observation I have met is that of the multi-national corporations involving themselves in developing countries under the banner of coming from a 'christian' nation.
Many classical free market economist, such as Milton Friedman, have argued that capitalism has contributed to the wealth of many people (see Johnson&Johnson heir's documentary titled 1% with an interview featuring Friedman). This idea will be explored in later posts but mentioned here simply for context.
The main point of this post is to ask Christians, P.E.A.R's number one concern, "To what degree do we involve ourselves in this expansion of multi-national corporations who exploit the working class of developing nations?" One may argue that we need to provide basic food, clothing and shelter for our families. Fair enough; yet, what about our retirement plans? Should we invest in mutual funds and other retirement accounts that finance the expansion of multi-national activities that contribute confiscation (capitalist call this stealing when communist do it) of land and labor from the working classes only to build the wealth of a few shareholders?
Some context on the author might help. Gutierrez is a Catholic priest from Peru. He observes and experiences the expansion of capitalism extending towards his own country and others like it from a 'dependent' role. In other words, subservience from his country is expected. He is questioning the 'trickle down' theory from a third world perspective. In the book he reflects on many factors that take place in the relationship between countries who dominate, i.e. the US and Europe. But, one striking observation I have met is that of the multi-national corporations involving themselves in developing countries under the banner of coming from a 'christian' nation.
Many classical free market economist, such as Milton Friedman, have argued that capitalism has contributed to the wealth of many people (see Johnson&Johnson heir's documentary titled 1% with an interview featuring Friedman). This idea will be explored in later posts but mentioned here simply for context.
The main point of this post is to ask Christians, P.E.A.R's number one concern, "To what degree do we involve ourselves in this expansion of multi-national corporations who exploit the working class of developing nations?" One may argue that we need to provide basic food, clothing and shelter for our families. Fair enough; yet, what about our retirement plans? Should we invest in mutual funds and other retirement accounts that finance the expansion of multi-national activities that contribute confiscation (capitalist call this stealing when communist do it) of land and labor from the working classes only to build the wealth of a few shareholders?
Saturday, May 12, 2012
The 12 Best Reasons Why The U.S. Is Not Now, And Never Should Be, A Christian Nation
May 11, 2012
By Deborah Montesano
1) “Enforced uniformity confounds civil and religious liberty and denies the principles of Christianity and civility. No man shall be required to worship or maintain a worship against his will.” Roger Williams, Puritan minister and founder of Rhode Island, in The Bloudy Tenet of Persecution, 1644
http://www.addictinginfo.org/2012/05/11/the-12-best-reasons/
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
Giving the 1% a Hard Time
We at P.E.A.R appreciate it anytime someone gives wealthy shareholders a difficult time. Hopefully Zuckerberg doesn't cave in to their threats of withholding their wealth.
Mark Zuckerberg Isn't CEO Enough for Facebook's IPO
By Rebecca Greenfield | The Atlantic Wire 
"Mark and his signature hoodie: He’s actually showing investors he doesn’t care that much; he’s going to be him," Michael Pachter, an analyst for Wedbush Securities said in an interview on Bloomberg TV.
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/mark-zuckerberg-isnt-ceo-enough-facebooks-ipo-133138339.html
Sunday, May 6, 2012
Why I Don't Hate Gay People
I remember hearing a Focus on the Family show on the radio in the background while my siblings and I were getting ready for school one morning long ago. They were talking about something that didn't make sense to me. A man was sharing how he used to be attracted to other men. I was still learning how to accept the fact that girls didn't have cooties and that it was okay to be attracted to them. So, the idea of men 'liking' men was just too strange a concept for me not to ask for clarification. And that is what I did. I asked my Conservative Baptist Evangelical mom to explain what was being discussed on the show. I don't remember the details of the conversation (paying attention was a very difficult discipline for me as a child and something on which I still work), but I do remember walking away from the conversation with the idea that God loved men who 'liked' other men, and therefore, we are to love them too. I don't remember her condoning or condemning the lifestyle, but instead, emphasizing that I treat those who live it with the same respect and kindness I show others. This conversation had a very strong impression on me as a child.
My mother has never made a derogatory comment about gay people for as long as I've known her. Her religious beliefs restrict her from viewing the lifestyle as acceptable before God, but she is reluctant to condemn the LGBT community as having obtained a special place of judgement with God. This is only one reason why I am not led toward the hate mongering against the LGBT community that is associated with people like Rick Santorum, Kirk Cameron and many others of the religious right. I wasn't brought up to hate them!
My father's attitude toward the LGBT community also had an impact on me. I remember listening to him talk to other men within our Christian community about how he was to address the issue of homosexuality on the pulpit. My father is a Baptist preacher, so he didn't have the freedom to express the concept of showing love and kindness to the LGBT without the criticism of others within our conservative Christian circle. The other men gave approval to use derogatory comments about the LGBT community while preaching. I can't remember the outcome, but a sense of uneasiness from him is vaguely remembered.
I don't remember him ever ranting about the LGBT as if they were somehow worst sinners than everyone else. But I do remember him showing genuine compassion and kindness to transgender people. Once my father had taken me to a cafe which had live music. We went when a transgender person was performing, playing some amazing classical guitar. I remember sharing with my father how I appreciated the music, but that the person made me uncomfortable. He shared his disapproval of my comments, as well he should have, by asking me in rhetorical fashion if I thought it was because the person would somehow violate me. He was trying to explain to me how ridiculous I was thinking that way. My father treats everyone with kindness and respect, and if that individual is gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender, it made no difference to him then or now.
I also remember watching a documentary with my father on PBS. The documentary showed the struggle of discrimination, prejudice and hatred that gay men face when they live openly gay lifestyles. I don't recall the arrangement; whether he wanted me to watch it, or if he just left it on hoping I would join the viewing. But he exposed me to this documentary which communicated a civil view on the matter. This left an imprint on me so that I knew the terrible realities through which gay men had to live. In addition to exposure to documentaries was that of pop culture. He was intentional about me viewing the movie Philadelphia. In this movie Tom Hanks is a character who seeks legal assistance from the character played by Denzel Washington. The theme of the movie aims at giving a defense for the LGBT community in our legal system. By exposing me to this content, my father desired to raise me in such a way so that I wouldn't have a hatred toward those in the LGBT community.
There were events in my life in which I strayed from the counsel and attitude toward LGBT people that my parents tried to instill in me. However, I never felt a sense of deeply, 'divinely justified' hatred toward them. I remember a Christian man sharing with me an experience he had at a Promise Keepers event. He shared how a man leading a class was teaching them that it was okay to feel like they "wanted to punch a homosexual in the face, because that is the way God felt." I couldn't connect. Recently, another Christian man shared how he believed that if a literal implementation of the law of the Old testament existed in our society, nobody would want to be gay. I couldn't connect. However, I could connect with a friend who recently told me that grace is the appropriate response for Christians toward those who are LGBT. And I could connect with a pastor who once shared with me how we are to love them into the Kingdom of heaven. Both were leaders within a local evangelical community in Denver.
My parents never explicitly condoned the lifestyle of those in the LGBT community and they do believe that God has left instruction to restrict marriage to that between male and female. But, they never condoned hatred and violence toward the LGBT community. In fact, their attitude toward LGBT people and the information which they shared with me has instilled a conviction that those who misapply the Bible to justify such attitudes and actions are actually working against God's will for His people. I am grateful for the precedent that my parents set in my life with regards to interacting with people who are different from me.
This posting was not an argument to defend and instruct Christians in an attitude of love and acceptance toward LGBT people, but to simply share my upbringing and how it has affected me. I also hope that those in the LGBT community find comfort in the fact that not all conservative Christians hate them, and that there are even conservative evangelical Christians who have raised, and are raising a new generation who will share with them the love of Jesus of Nazareth.
My mother has never made a derogatory comment about gay people for as long as I've known her. Her religious beliefs restrict her from viewing the lifestyle as acceptable before God, but she is reluctant to condemn the LGBT community as having obtained a special place of judgement with God. This is only one reason why I am not led toward the hate mongering against the LGBT community that is associated with people like Rick Santorum, Kirk Cameron and many others of the religious right. I wasn't brought up to hate them!
My father's attitude toward the LGBT community also had an impact on me. I remember listening to him talk to other men within our Christian community about how he was to address the issue of homosexuality on the pulpit. My father is a Baptist preacher, so he didn't have the freedom to express the concept of showing love and kindness to the LGBT without the criticism of others within our conservative Christian circle. The other men gave approval to use derogatory comments about the LGBT community while preaching. I can't remember the outcome, but a sense of uneasiness from him is vaguely remembered.
I don't remember him ever ranting about the LGBT as if they were somehow worst sinners than everyone else. But I do remember him showing genuine compassion and kindness to transgender people. Once my father had taken me to a cafe which had live music. We went when a transgender person was performing, playing some amazing classical guitar. I remember sharing with my father how I appreciated the music, but that the person made me uncomfortable. He shared his disapproval of my comments, as well he should have, by asking me in rhetorical fashion if I thought it was because the person would somehow violate me. He was trying to explain to me how ridiculous I was thinking that way. My father treats everyone with kindness and respect, and if that individual is gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender, it made no difference to him then or now.
I also remember watching a documentary with my father on PBS. The documentary showed the struggle of discrimination, prejudice and hatred that gay men face when they live openly gay lifestyles. I don't recall the arrangement; whether he wanted me to watch it, or if he just left it on hoping I would join the viewing. But he exposed me to this documentary which communicated a civil view on the matter. This left an imprint on me so that I knew the terrible realities through which gay men had to live. In addition to exposure to documentaries was that of pop culture. He was intentional about me viewing the movie Philadelphia. In this movie Tom Hanks is a character who seeks legal assistance from the character played by Denzel Washington. The theme of the movie aims at giving a defense for the LGBT community in our legal system. By exposing me to this content, my father desired to raise me in such a way so that I wouldn't have a hatred toward those in the LGBT community.
There were events in my life in which I strayed from the counsel and attitude toward LGBT people that my parents tried to instill in me. However, I never felt a sense of deeply, 'divinely justified' hatred toward them. I remember a Christian man sharing with me an experience he had at a Promise Keepers event. He shared how a man leading a class was teaching them that it was okay to feel like they "wanted to punch a homosexual in the face, because that is the way God felt." I couldn't connect. Recently, another Christian man shared how he believed that if a literal implementation of the law of the Old testament existed in our society, nobody would want to be gay. I couldn't connect. However, I could connect with a friend who recently told me that grace is the appropriate response for Christians toward those who are LGBT. And I could connect with a pastor who once shared with me how we are to love them into the Kingdom of heaven. Both were leaders within a local evangelical community in Denver.
My parents never explicitly condoned the lifestyle of those in the LGBT community and they do believe that God has left instruction to restrict marriage to that between male and female. But, they never condoned hatred and violence toward the LGBT community. In fact, their attitude toward LGBT people and the information which they shared with me has instilled a conviction that those who misapply the Bible to justify such attitudes and actions are actually working against God's will for His people. I am grateful for the precedent that my parents set in my life with regards to interacting with people who are different from me.
This posting was not an argument to defend and instruct Christians in an attitude of love and acceptance toward LGBT people, but to simply share my upbringing and how it has affected me. I also hope that those in the LGBT community find comfort in the fact that not all conservative Christians hate them, and that there are even conservative evangelical Christians who have raised, and are raising a new generation who will share with them the love of Jesus of Nazareth.
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
Who Says Slavery and Racism Don't Exist in the US?
Private Prison Corporations Are Modern Day Slave Traders
"The Corrections Corporation of America’s filings with the US Securities and Exchange Commission," writes Ford, "read very much like the documents of a slave-trader. Investors are warned that profits would go down if the demand for prisoners declines." (BAR photo)
Read more...
https://www.commondreams.org/view/2012/04/25-7#.T5iPmkOgw2E.reddit
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