September 20, 2007
Religious-Inspired Hatred
William Butte, on the death of Radical Religionist D. James Kennedy:
Within Judeo-Christian theology, homosexuality has been misunderstood and condemned from the time the ancient Hebrews mistakenly believed it was degrading behavior derived from paganism, to the equally erroneous belief favored by today’s conservative Christians who consider it chosen, evil behavior derived from Satan.
. . .
Like the Rev. Jerry Falwell, that other recently deceased preacher of puritanism who ignorantly and infamously blamed 9-11 in part on the gay community, Kennedy was a modern-day preacher of hate, full of fire-and-brimstone – and a few lies. He wasn’t above the sin of false witness, such as his counterfactual claim in a newsletter under the headline SEX WITH CHILDREN? HOMOSEXUALS SAY YES! that “Adult sex with children has been a crucial component of the homosexual movement all along.”
With faith even Mother Teresa lacked, and the fervor of every 19th century Southern preacher who quoted the many scriptures sanctioning slavery to rail against the emancipation of slaves, Kennedy focused on the few verses condemning homosexuality to rail against the emancipation of gay Americans from second-class citizenship. Opposing every civil right, from protection against housing and job discrimination to hate crimes legislation and marriage equality, he instead offered the gay community the “reparative therapy” of celibacy and prayer as an alternative.
. . .
Through social interaction and scientific research, our society’s acceptance of homosexuality as innate instead of evil has increased, which has created a more favorable atmosphere for gay rights legislation. It has also caused Christian denominations to debate a scriptural literalism that condemns homosexuality as chosen behavior. Even the president of uber-conservative Southern Baptist Theological Seminary recently admitting that homosexuality may be biological.
Filed under: Christianity, Hate Speech, Homophobia, Radical Religious Right
