I just keep remembering that fundamentalist Republican guy who got caught soliciting in the bathroom of the airport. Well, there were a bunch of those....
More seriously, I tend to view religious "leaders," evangelical preachers, male sports coaches, straitlaced politicians, etc, w deep suspicion.
There was Larry Craig who got caught soliciting in an airport bathroom, claimed he had a "wide stance". Then there was Pastor George Rekers, who, when caught with a known "rent boy", said the dude was "just there to lift my luggage".
I know of (and have met) one person who changed their public statements not because they were outed, or had a gay family member.
Michael Coren was responsible for decades of hate-filled newspaper columns, radio shows, and TV talk shows. Then, when his evangelical friends were promoting executing LGBTQ people in Uganda instead of just imprisoning them, he felt that they had crossed a line. He is now mildly supportive of human rights in certain limited circumstances.
I went to a talk he gave after his change of heart. He was still so smug, judgmental, and patronizing, I wanted to spit on him, but I didn't want to discourage him and others from changing.
I don't think that would be sufficient to work on an American Evangelical Christian, especially a Leader. Judging by those I was raised by, at least. I think the reaction to a child gaining LGBTQ friends would be to command the child to drop the friends, and possibly some reeducation doubling down on suitably Christian activities for the child.
A queer child themself would be a bit more likely to change the parent's mind, though is not guaranteed to do so -- the largest group of homeless teenagers in the US are queer kids whose religious, mostly Christian, families threw them out. I'm pretty sure my parents would have done so if I ever came out to them.
I honestly wonder if he just doesn't find enough money in getting paid for homophobia anymore.
I'm in fucking stitches over the fact that his straightfaced sincere rationale here is "well, actual God himself has probably changed his mind about this, I bet"
Truly just. Top notch. Unparalleled. 12/10, would never have dreamed that one up myself and I have occasionally been a professional at making shit up. That man has preached so many sermons that he has jumped the shark on theological creativity. A wonder to behold.
*wipes eyes* Lordy. I mean. I'd say I'm glad he got there somehow but I'm honestly not sure where he actually even is. (Edited for typos.)
This is true (*hugs you*) and reminds me of something. I remember being told that we Protestants, unlike Catholics, actually READ the Bible and understand Personally what it says, and realizing that the purpose of Bible Study Night, etc, was to align everyone's understanding.
As I’m sure you know, a Reformation theory was that ad fontes would not only produce a pure Christianity, but agreement about G-d’s will.
Ha ha ha ha.
There weren’t directions for, say, repairing a vacuum cleaner or installing toilet hardware or using Mastodon at the time, but it’s worth pointing out that even such documents as those produce alternative readings and much profanity.
I think the biggest problem is what a hard time people have keeping track of texts being *texts*. Which is a Heinlein problem, a Turner Diaries problem, an Elisabeth Kübler-Ross problem, and so many others as well. *weeps*
I guess what really croggled/horrified/entertained me here is that instead of just saying "I've changed my mind about this and how I read it and what I think it should mean," he had to decide that God must have changed his mind about what the scripture meant. Dude is so high on his own supply that he's decided to justify his own evolving opinions by deciding to believe that the almighty himself had probably also changed his mind (so that the preacher could agree with him.) I don't even have a word for that kind of. . . . ego? I Guess?
But yeah, people are definitely super weird about the Bible. Iirc from seeing you around this comment section, you're both practicing and doing so sanely, generously and kindly, so I fully understand the gloom. You don't deserve it, and I wish people were so much more normal about that book.
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malionette
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Date: 2024-09-20 07:52 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2024-09-20 08:26 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2024-09-20 08:28 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2024-09-20 08:36 pm (UTC)More seriously, I tend to view religious "leaders," evangelical preachers, male sports coaches, straitlaced politicians, etc, w deep suspicion.
no subject
Date: 2024-09-20 08:40 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2024-09-20 08:52 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2024-09-20 08:01 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2024-09-20 08:25 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2024-09-20 09:39 pm (UTC)Michael Coren was responsible for decades of hate-filled newspaper columns, radio shows, and TV talk shows. Then, when his evangelical friends were promoting executing LGBTQ people in Uganda instead of just imprisoning them, he felt that they had crossed a line. He is now mildly supportive of human rights in certain limited circumstances.
I went to a talk he gave after his change of heart. He was still so smug, judgmental, and patronizing, I wanted to spit on him, but I didn't want to discourage him and others from changing.
no subject
Date: 2024-09-21 05:50 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2024-09-21 07:09 am (UTC)reeducationdoubling down on suitably Christian activities for the child.A queer child themself would be a bit more likely to change the parent's mind, though is not guaranteed to do so -- the largest group of homeless teenagers in the US are queer kids whose religious, mostly Christian, families threw them out. I'm pretty sure my parents would have done so if I ever came out to them.
I honestly wonder if he just doesn't find enough money in getting paid for homophobia anymore.
no subject
Date: 2024-09-21 09:17 am (UTC)Or grandkid
Incapable of empathy until it hits right at home.
no subject
Date: 2024-09-21 03:01 am (UTC)Truly just. Top notch. Unparalleled. 12/10, would never have dreamed that one up myself and I have occasionally been a professional at making shit up. That man has preached so many sermons that he has jumped the shark on theological creativity. A wonder to behold.
*wipes eyes*
Lordy. I mean. I'd say I'm glad he got there somehow but I'm honestly not sure where he actually even is.
(Edited for typos.)
no subject
Date: 2024-09-21 03:19 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2024-09-21 04:09 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2024-09-21 07:11 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2024-09-21 09:19 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2024-09-21 01:24 pm (UTC)Ha ha ha ha.
There weren’t directions for, say, repairing a vacuum cleaner or installing toilet hardware or using Mastodon at the time, but it’s worth pointing out that even such documents as those produce alternative readings and much profanity.
I think the biggest problem is what a hard time people have keeping track of texts being *texts*. Which is a Heinlein problem, a Turner Diaries problem, an Elisabeth Kübler-Ross problem, and so many others as well. *weeps*
no subject
Date: 2024-09-22 02:31 am (UTC)But yeah, people are definitely super weird about the Bible. Iirc from seeing you around this comment section, you're both practicing and doing so sanely, generously and kindly, so I fully understand the gloom. You don't deserve it, and I wish people were so much more normal about that book.