Go Read This Right Now!

I mean it!  Hie thee hence!

From JX, a self-described 20-something/male/progressive evangelical/seminary student/minister/musician/gay

Here’s a teaser … READ IT AND GO!

Yesterday I heard two people with whom I work very closely insist that folks “decide” to become gay because it’s a “cool” thing to do. Where the hell is this fairy-tale world that they’re living in??? Because I would love to be there! This is one I haven’t really heard before, but they were absolutely convinced that it happens. Of course, I had to sit there in silence rather than speak up for myself and the many others whose deep pain and frustration is trivialized and mocked by this safe attitude that homosexuality is some sort of “fad,” like crocks or Hannah Montana. I say this is a safe attitude to them, because it depersonalizes the issue and lowers it to a place where one thinks she or he can just tell the person dealing with it to “get over it” and “snap out of it.”  When will people realize how bad this hurts, how NOT cool we think it is, and how dehumanizing it is to speak of gays and lesbians in such terms. Loving our neighbor implies that we should not mock them or trivialize their gravest struggles.

Why is it that secular institutions must consistently lead the way in civil rights and equality? How embarassing, and how utterly impotent as a moral and ethical influence is the community who follows Jesus Christ.

The Root of All Evil

Hat-tip to Balloon-Juice, my new favorite non-religious blog ….

Page One Q reports:

In a September 25th blog post titled ‘The Nation Will Right Itself If It Fixes Sex’, Christian Civil League of Maine Executive Director Michael Heath writes that the financial crisis facing Wall Street is a symptom of America’s sinful sexual culture, including the acceptance of gay unions.

“Our crisis is a symptom, not the cause,” writes Michael Heath. “I am not saying I know whether this financial crisis is God’s judgment or not. It is not for me to know that definitively.”

So once again it’s The Geeeyyys (as Sistah Girl, herself a geeeyyy calls all of us LGBT folks) that are the root of all evil in this country.  I’m sorry I thought it was the love of money.  Where did I get that from?

Look up I Timothy 6:10

More and more more I am convinced that many fundamentalists and quite a few so-called evangelicals really don’t know too much about the Bible …

Frank Rich, NYTimes, gets it

There has been a lot of talk about the selection of Sarah Palin as running mate for Republican nominee John McCain.  Frank Rich, Op-Ed columnist for the NYTimes, gets what this is all about.

The main reason McCain knuckled under to the religious right by picking Palin is that he actually believes there is a large army of embittered Hillary loyalists who will vote for a hard-line conservative simply because she’s a woman.  That’s what happens when you listen to the TV news echo chamber.  Not only is the whole premise ludicrous, but it is every bit as sexist as the crude joke McCain notoriously told about Janet Reno, Hillary and Chelsea Clinton.

It is obvious this faithful lady and mother of five is being used by the Republican party to appeal to the religious right.  This choice has been called “irresponsible” by one particular prominent lady, whose husband I had the privilege of working for during the first six months of my tenure at the investment bank I work for.  I just hope Governor Palin is going into this campaign eyes-wide-open and realizing that her gender and her faith are being used to further the secular political ends of a womanizer.

Red State Culture of Fear

North Carolina, though rather progressive in terms of the South, is what they call a “Red State.” It has conservative leanings and also has a rather large Evangelical population like much of the South. It is a culture that is steeped in religion and spirituality, and in many ways, a totally different world that what we experience in large cities or in the North East USA or the West Coast.

One thing I think that is wonderful is how North Carolina has tried to publicly come to grips with its history of slavery. This I think it has done better than many if not most Southern States. For example, there are pictures in the State Capitol of the first black senators and representatives to the State Legislature, standing alongside their white counterparts. There are signposts all around Raleigh pointing to where this or that local Freedman’s bureau once stood, or where certain notable events happened. There is an exhibit in the Museum of History dedicated to the Civil Right’s movement and how life was under Jim Crow. I have to say that I found the parts talking about segregation neither condemning or nostalgic … it was simply saying “this is how it was.”

Interesting side note: In those areas where there was a sizeable Native American population, the Jim Crow laws called for three sets of facilities … “White,” “Colored,” and “Indian.”

Chain emails from Evangelicals

You know what they are. They’re usually full of angels, prayers and “Jesus loves you’s.”

My father, of all people, sends them to me. Usually I don’t respond to them at all, just politely open it and move on. Today in the mail bag I received something that I could just not ignore. You may have seen it before.

Allah or the Lord Jesus Christ?

This is interesting. The Muslim religion is the fastest growing religion per capita in the United States , especially in the minority races!!!

Allah or the Lord Jesus Christ? ….. By Rick Mathes

Last month I attended my annual training session that’s required for

maintaining my state prison security clearance. During the training

session there was a presentation by three speakers representing the

Roman Catholic, Protestant and Muslim faiths, who explained each of their beliefs.

I was particularly interested in what the Islamic Imam had to say.

The Imam gave a great presentation of the basics of Islam, complete with a video. After the presentations, time was provided for Questions and Answers.

When it was my turn, I directed my question to the Imam and asked: ‘Please, correct me if I’m wrong, but I understand that most Imams and Clerics of Islam have declared a holy jihad [holy war] against the infidels of the world and, that by killing an infidel, (which is a command to all Muslims) they are assured of a place in heaven. If that’s the case, can you give me the definition of an infidel?’

There was no disagreement with my statements and, Without hesitation, he replied, ‘non-believers! ‘

I responded, ‘So, let me make sure I have this straight. All followers

Of Allah have been commanded to kill everyone who is not of your faith so they can have a place in heaven. Is that correct?’

The expression on his face changed from one of authority and command to that of ‘a little boy who had just been caught with his hand in the cookie jar.’

He sheepishly replied, ‘Yes.’

I then stated, ‘Well, sir, I have a real problem trying to imagine Pope

Benedict commanding all Catholics to kill those of your faith or Dr.

Stanley ordering all Protestants to do the same in order to guarantee

them a place in heaven!’

The Imam was speechless!

I continued, ‘I also have problem with being your ‘friend’ when you and your brother clerics are e telling your followers to kill me! Let me ask you a question. Would you rather have your Allah, who tells you to kill me in order for you to go to heaven, or my Jesus who tells me to love you because I am going to heaven and He wants you to be there with me?’

You could have heard a pin drop as the Imam hung his head in shame.

Needless to say, the organizers and/or promoters of the

‘Diversification¢ training seminar were not happy with Rick’s way of

dealing with the Islamic Imam and exposing the truth about the Muslims’ beliefs.

In twenty years there will be enough Muslim voters in the U.S. to elect the President! I think everyone in the U.S.should be required to read this, but with the liberal justice system, liberal media and the ACLU, there is no way this will be widely publicized.

This is a true story and the author, Rick Mathes, is a Well-known leader in prison ministry. The man who walks with God always gets to his destination.

If you have a pulse you have a purpose.

Thank you for taking the time to read this. Now you can Either delete it or pass it on.

No wishes, or promises or threats – just freedom of choice.

Now, this was a bit over too over the top for me. I forwarded it to my Personal Atheist, who responded with a resounding “UGH.” He pointed me towards this piece at snopes.com.

I did a “reply to all” and responded to my father, everyone he sent it to and made sure I sent it to the person I who sent it to my dad. I share it with you below.

Dear Dad,

Thank you for sending this along.

Just so you know, this supposedly took place in May 2003. The people who coordinated this effort could not find an imam to speak, so they got an lay person who happened to be an inmate from the prison. The inmate did a good job in presenting his beliefs though there were a few questions that were beyond his ability to answer.

If you follow the link below, you will find the story behind the story and what your friend passed along doesn’t match. Whether your friend knows it or not, this kind of email breeds fear and hate. There is way too much of it in this world already.

Jesus caused a commotion everywhere he went, but he never spread fear or hate. Unfortunately, spreading fear and hate is something that many of us who claim to be his followers, many of us Christians have become very good at.

Here is the link. Please read it, and feel free to share it with anyone.

http://www.snopes.com/politics/religion/allah.asp

My father’s response back to me: “thank you for telling the truth.”