Last autumn (yes, I’m that far behind in my e-mail), Colleen Keating interviewed “Ben” of the Scattered Words blog.
Read her article in The Vital Voice.
I
Last autumn (yes, I’m that far behind in my e-mail), Colleen Keating interviewed “Ben” of the Scattered Words blog.
Read her article in The Vital Voice.
From the article:
“If God suddenly dropped down to earth and said, hey, don’t worry about it, I don’t mind anymore — I still would. The problem isn’t about having sex with guys, it’s about being what God created me to be.”
That is truly truly sad.
Even if God said “don’t worry”, he would worry. His belief on this subject is so set that the words of the Creator are not as important.
Yeah, that was the part that really floored me. I tried to give him every opportunity to voice his opinions, but also challenge him (it was part of a series we did on the ex-gay movement in STL–before that nasty RFT article, as I’ve stated before).
I have respect for his belief that the Bible says its wrong… but he’s bought the line that homosexuality = psychologically disordered, hook, line and sinker.
I’m working on a series about the African American community here, and will be interested to see if there is any ex-gay movement represented, or if it’s just a matter of complete denial. I’ll let you guys know when it’s published, if there’s anything of use to your readers.
Hi Timothy,
You thought you might have guessed who my houseguest was during the holidays.
It was Jamiel Terry.
Jamiel and I had intense and ultimately resolute conversations. He was with me for two days shy of three weeks.
And the time flew by.
I only wished I could have shared those gab fests with all of us regulars in XGW.
Your collective experience would have lent something extremely valuable to what we’re looking and fighting for.
Jamiel and I came to this journey together by way of some pretty interesting serendipity.
Hey, we take our traveling chums, where we can, right?
He and I both needed to see some media people and get our agendas in order for the new year.
Believe it though…that there sure was a lot of love along the way.
And thank you Tim, for your support, it is much appreciated!
Okay, I’ve questioned homosexuality.
And got the answer.
It’s normal, and there’s no reason to fear it or be cruel to gay people.
I’ve questioned homosexuals.
And got the answer.
Gay folks who are normal are normal folks and there is no reason to fear gay folks or be cruel to them.
I’ve questioned those who live as homosexuals.
And got the answer.
Since I don’t participate in homosexual sex myself, the questions I have need not go beyond the bedroom door.
Everything else, everyone does, gay or not is pretty much the same.
After all, I don’t question heterosexual sex. So I shouldn’t question homosexual sex either.
I questioned the political, social and educational agenda of homosexual people.
And GOT the answer.
Gay folk want what I want and I easily have it without MY being questioned. Fair enough and why shouldn’t ANYONE have that?
I questioned heterosexuals who say I should question homosexuality.
And didn’t even get a STRAIGHT answer.
I questioned former homosexuals about their acquired heterosexuality, and an intangible entity got the credit.
I had, like everyone else, no option to QUESTION the intangible entity.
And since, evidently this entity is at the foundation of this reasoning, but can’t be reached by phone, fax or email,
I question how the now straight human beings have legitimate claim to know what this entity thinks and feels.
I questioned the experts who claim to know intimately the agenda of homosexuals, but didn’t really know any homosexuals intimately on the social and political terms required for such knowledge any better than they generally knew the intangible entity.
I questioned ex gays, who no doubt know what the BIBLE says. And indeed, the Bible says that homosexuality is wrong and unnatural.
I won’t question what the Scripture SAYS.
But when I question those fragile intellects and egos on the validity of their interpretation of that Scripture, the consistency of social stigma and civil laws, I’m met with a wall of silence, double talk and hypocrisy.
I love asking questions.
I got honesty and serious answers from the gay folks.
All the others…I’m still waiting for my questions to them to be answered.
And I wonder why….
Question ignorance. Question silence. Question dishonesty, anger and obfuscation…in answer to your questions.
:0P
I agree with Tim that it is sad Ben wouldn’t listen to God if God said being gay is okay. It seems Ben really doesn’t care what God’s plan is. He has his own opinions about sin, and he isn’t listening to any additional input (deific or otherwise).
I think a lot of fundamentalists use the Bible only when it reinforces their preconceptions, and Ben certainly seems to be displaying that attitude.
Andrew at January 9, 2006 01:32 PM
I think a lot of fundamentalists use the Bible only when it reinforces their preconceptions
I would put it slightly differently, but I know what you meant.
Fundamentalists use the parts of the bible that reinforce their preconceptions. There is a difference.
And that is beside the facts that there are numerous versions and translations of the bible. And most people snatch quotations out without any understanding of their historical context.
One of the things that continually amuses me is that so many of the Fundamentalists quote the old testament and the letters attributed to Paul, but not the Gospels regarding Jesus. There is something askew. I have come to the determination that the Christian “establishments of religion” have little, if anything, to do with Jesus.
Going up-thread, Regan, good posts.
True, Raj, and I would say that even the Gospels have less to do with the historical Jesus than most people assume. John Dominic Crossan’s books are a good place to go, though I don’t agree with all of his methodology.
Of course, well-educated ‘fundamentalists’ will have responses ready for Crossan. But most of them will still be aware of the textual problems.