On homosexuality, whose narrative do we believe?

Comments

[Steve]

This article does a great job of framing the Christian debate over homosexuality. And by comparing the impasse to past Christian responses to slavery, Nazism, the civil rights movement, and Apartheid, the author leaves little doubt about where he thinks things are headed (or am I reading too much into this?).

I think the "narrative" of this being a justice and equality issue will prevail sooner rather than later. Too bad the Church--at least its conservative branches--has tended to bring up the rear on civil rights, women's issues, and homosexuality instead of taking the lead.

[Gary]

Given the apostasy of the modern "church", and the unbelief of the average "Christian", I expect the acceptance of homosexuality will continue to grow. It's a sign of the perilous times in which we live as we approach the end of time and the coming judgement of God.

[Streak]

I agree, Gary. Except I think God might judge us for how we have treated each other, the poor, his creation, etc.

Oh, but I forget who I am talking to. The one who believes in a God who hates homosexuals almost as much as Gary does.

[Streak]

BTW, Steve, I could not agree more. I have pressed this in other settings, and perhaps unfairly. We often forget that institutions move slowly--almost by definition--and the conservative church even more so. Perhaps it is unfair to expect them to be ahead on these issues. But the reality is very clear--they have been on the wrong side of most of the key moral issues in the last 100 years. Opposed the civil rights movement, women's equality, environmental protection, etc.

[Steve]

Streak - You raise a good point about institutional change happening slowly, and this article demonstrates that some change is happening. But conservatives can sometimes sound like they've cornered the market on truth, and if that's the case, I need to see a better batting average on some of these issues.

[Jon]

As streak stated,

"they have been on the wrong side of most of the key moral issues in the last 100 years. Opposed the civil rights movement, women's equality, environmental protection, etc."

So maybe it's good there are a bunch of gay atheists around to take a moral stance on this issue. We certainly shouldn't expect (or wait for) Christians to make a stand for justice and liberation! :-) Of course, this also probably explains why most of the gay people I know ARE atheists.

[Streak]

Steve, not only does the conservative church move slowly, the "corner on truth" fools them into thinking they are leading. It isn't until they are well past the point where the rest of the populace is on board that they often realize, "hey, perhaps we should be on this train." I am thinking of the mid 90s when the SBC bravely (/snark) apologized for slavery and segregation. When it mattered, when the issues were in doubt, the SBC was firmly on the wrong side.