The Christian Evangelical Movement's Ugly Racist Streak

[xchrom]

http://www.alternet.org/christian-evangelical-movements-ugly-racist-streak



The Evangelical Church has a racism problem. And it is incumbent on us in this Christmas season to tell the truth about that. Recently A&E suspended Phil Robertson, the patriarch of its hit show, “Duck Dynasty,” for making incredibly homophobic statements in a GQ magazine interview. In typical fashion, he affirmed his evangelical belief that homosexuality is a sin, but went even further, comparing gay people’s sexual behavior to bestiality, and declaring emphatically that they would not inherit the Kingdom of Heaven.

Liberal-minded folk, some Christians included, have been outraged at his homophobia, while conservative Christians of all races jumped to defend his right to free speech. Many of these Christians feel particularly threatened by what they call “censorship” of Robertson, because the belief that homosexuality is a sin, and the right to declare that belief freely without recourse, has become for many of these people a defining marker of their identity as Christians.

A reluctant evangelical, I reject conservative theological teachings on homosexuality; the violence that the Church does to gay people in the name of God is indeed one of the primary reasons for my reluctance. But I am also ambivalent about the Church because of its continued subjugation of women and its failure to be forthright about its continuing racism problem.

I grew up in a black baptist church, in a small town in North Central Louisiana, about 30 miles west of where “Duck Dynasty” is filmed. I made my first “profession of faith” in Jesus Christ while at a white baptist church I had visited with my childhood best friend, Amanda, when I was about 7 years old. I was baptized at the age of 13.

[hobbit709]

1. The Bible has long been used to justify slavery.

[madrchsod]

2. i`vie always found this interesting...

the christian right uses the old testament to justify their beliefs and they totally ignore what is attributed to christ`s message in the first four books of the old testament.

the books the new pope is basing his message on.

[Bluenorthwest]

4. The Pope says basically the same things about gay people as Phil Duck

He leads the largest religious group in Uganda, which just passed 'prison for life' for gay people. Francis has remained silent about all of that hate, Uganda is 43% RCC. They did not oppose this horrific law. But sure, Phil Duck is much, much worse than that!

“Let’s not be naive, we’re not talking about a simple political battle; it is a destructive pretension against the plan of God. We are not talking about a mere bill, but rather a machination of the Father of Lies that seeks to confuse and deceive the children of God.”



Full story here: http://www.queerty.com/pope-francis-i-same-sex-marriage-is-a-machination-of-the-father-of-lies-20130313/#ixzz2oaVhcEHA

[Orrex]

3. Even more surprising is that this surprises anyone.

[dembotoz]

5. leave the pope out of this--this is a prot problem--they view the pope with mistrust

current pope will just bring a chorus of


i told you so



the klan always said they had god on their side

just more of the same just from a bigger and more open pulpit

[Bluenorthwest]

6. Look at Uganda and tell me it's just the Evangelicals.

But none of you will look at Uganda, because it would challenge your bullshit views of the Clerical homophobes you want to call Pro Gay.