Video
Twitter
Facebook
RSS Feed
Culture of self-hate must end
Speaking to a meeting of Hasidic Jewish leaders on Sunday, New York GOP gubernatorial candidate Carl Paladino said, "I don't want [children] to be brainwashed into thinking that homosexuality is an equally valid or successful option" to heterosexuality.
Religious organizations and people frequently lead opposition to gay rights in the United States.
In the August ruling which overturned California's Proposition 8 banning same-sex marriage, a witness asserted, "Religion is the chief obstacle for gay and lesbian political progress."
Why does religion play such a central role in debates about homosexuality?
It's no secret that religion shapes our lives, our morality, our politics, and our society, so it should surprise no one that religion also shapes our reactions to homosexuality. How could it be denied? When we talk about the "traditional family" or "traditional marriage" we are, at the end of the day, talking about specific religious ideas about those topics. Indeed, when we talk about opposition to same-sex marriage, or ending "Don't Ask, Don't Tell", or the culture of bullying that has sparked so many high-profile suicides, the arguments come down to the perceived moral "correctness" of same-sex love and attraction.
Don't take my word for it. Ask the Christian organization Exodus International, which has decided to stop backing the annual "Day of Truth," a day organized by conservative Christian organizations to "counter the promotion of homosexual behavior and to express an opposing viewpoint from a Christian perspective." The "Day of Truth" is held on the same day as the "Day of Silence," an observance bringing attention to anti-gay bullying. This year, Exodus International realizes that theological hatred has a body count.
Ask New York GOP gubernatorial candidate Carl Paladino, who tried to appeal to religiously conservative Christians and Jews by talking about how gays were "brainwashing" young people, while also trying to assert that he's not homophobic. A man who's allegedly not homophobic but who thinks homosexuals are "dysfunctional" can only be understood when you take his religion into account.
Finally, ask Baptist minister Cody Sanders who bluntly states that anti-gay bullying is a theological issue:
"Anti-gay bullying is a theological issue because it has a theological base. I find it difficult to believe that even those among us with a vibrant imagination can muster the creative energy to picture a reality in which anti-gay violence and bullying exist without the anti-gay religious messages that support them."
If you allow no space in our most primal belief systems for nuance on this issue, for difference, for multiple understandings of the sacred, you end up creating classes of people who are lesser, who are ripe for torments and persecution. While defenders of these theologies talk of tradition and incremental change, more people are harassed, and even die, every day. It is for this reason, among many others, that I think we not only have to reassure kids that "it gets better", and seriously question those who use anti-gay animus to win votes. But we also have to reject theologies that empower hatreds of this kind, and replace them with something else.
My own "something else" is the modern Pagan movement, but it isn't the only "something else" out there. These alternatives to a religious norm that pushes "others" to the margins, despite how demographically insignificant they might be, are often seen as a threat to the stability of the dominant faiths - which is why the fringes of those dominant faiths are so often obsessed with the supposed evils we commit.
Despite these obstacles, it is more important than ever for us to make it known that our alternatives exist, to become visible and to make common cause with those who are told to hate themselves by the dominant faiths, for no other reason than, in the words of Harvey Milk, to "give 'em hope."
The culture of suicide and self-hate has to end. The culture of violence and oppression towards an imagined other has to end. Those who oppose the dismantling of these anti-gay theologies, of these understandings, can't be allowed to enable the bullying, the ostracization, or the enshrining of prejudice into law. When Matthew Shephard was murdered, we all vowed "Never again," yet here we are, with Matthew's mother once more calling for the deaths to stop. We must all work harder than ever to change culture, and stop this senseless prejudice and death in the name of enforcing the boundaries of tradition.
By
Jason_Pitzl-Waters
|
October 12, 2010; 5:39 PM ET
Save & Share:
Previous: Why religion is the problem |
Next: Old vices don't improve with age
Posted by: dave6729 | October 19, 2010 6:52 AM
Report Offensive Comment
Thanks for a nice post. I wonder if you have read Vedanta books such as Upanisads, Bhagavad Gita etc. You may find them similar to new paganism.
Posted by: kst2 | October 15, 2010 1:09 PM
Report Offensive Comment
Until a new kind of reformation movement echoes throughout anti-LGBTQ denominations much of this behavior will continue. It will continue because it is normalized, because it is encouraged.
By dint of either allowance by the religion, or by its silence, many mainstream religions push an anti-LGBTQ agenda that politicians capitalize on for their political agendas. It is time for all who believe in equal rights to actually stand up and be heard. Allies as well as actual voices from LGBTQ members NEED to be heard!
Posted by: sarenth | October 14, 2010 12:59 AM
Report Offensive Comment
Gay Rights opponents are entitled to their opinions as anyone else in this country; however, we have to tone down the hateful and violent tone by which most homophobic ministers rant their position.
Enclosed is an article which hit the Internet this morning concerning Bishop Eddie Long and the rumbling that's going on in his New Birth Missionary Baptist Church over allegations he had sex with four young men in his church.
Bishop Eddie Long Scandal Takes Toll on Church Members:
http://www.sandiegocountynews.com/2010/10/12/bishop-eddie-long-scandal-takes-toll-on-church-members/
Posted by: djoh1226 | October 13, 2010 4:54 PM
Report Offensive Comment
reedit
historically,the culturally influenced belief systems of christendom, have BORE no resemblance to what principles of the new covenant of christ have been saying about homosexuality for the last 2000 years, that homosexuality was of christ and god.
finally christendom, led by the grace of the holy spirit, today, has begun to embrace this understanding.
Posted by: feetxxxl1 | October 13, 2010 8:46 AM
Report Offensive Comment
historically,the culturally influenced belief systems of christendom, have born no resemblance to what principles of the new covenant of christ have been saying about homosexuality for the last 2000 years, that homosexuality was of christ and god.
finally christendom, led by the grace of the holy spirit, today, has begun to embrace this understanding.
Posted by: feetxxxl1 | October 13, 2010 8:39 AM
Report Offensive Comment
Excellent piece, and thank you.
I find it repugnant when anyone manipulates a belief system for social terrorism. Even as a Pagan, I cannot see Jesus behaving as these people do. They are motivated by a very selfish form of insecurity far more than any conviction of morality. The Sermon On The Mount includes:
"Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called sons of God."
Nowhere does it say "Blessed are the meanspirited who treat other people like garbage" . . .
Posted by: Snoozepossum | October 12, 2010 10:54 PM
Report Offensive Comment
JP-W Thanks for a thoughtful article. You make good points and bring me to another question to ponder, which is why so many who oppose homosexuality cloaked in religious fervor are themselves closeted homosexuals. You can almost bet that if someone is standing on a pulpit preaching again' it, it will come to light that he is practicing it. It's a red light to me... one that I can only use as an opportunity to know how deeply tormented these men and women are. The same with anti-abortion railers, whom I'm sure have usually paid for one or two, if they haven't had one themselves. Which I guess, gives me the opportunity to practice what I preach and try to cloak them in understanding, sympathy and forgiveness for the tormented life that they lead.
Posted by: sandra_ahten | October 12, 2010 10:26 PM
Report Offensive Comment
It is interesting that the gay Community is going to Paganism and they are in droves. The Wiccan Movement is an offshoot of the LGBT and has their own Publishing company in Llewellyn Publishing and nothing at all is said about the "Gay" Agenda which is Anti-Christian and extremely vocal as demonstrated by the demonstrations in California on Prop.8. The Gay Community has used PAC groups and huge amounts of cash to fund their agenda but the Church and the Christian beliefs of this Country are the bad guy. The fact that many Church groups have been successful in getting once gay people saved and reoriented is also a thorn in the side of the Gay Community...