Valley paper criticized over pastor's column on spousal rape

[Arctic Dave]

The Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman has apologized to readers and says it will help organize a "community summit against sex crimes" after it published a column by a Wasilla pastor who contended that, from a biblical standpoint, a man cannot be accused of raping his wife if she resists his sexual approaches. Ron Hamman of Independent Baptist Church of Wasilla told The Frontiersman his "Religion Views" column stemmed from an accusation that Alaska pastors are covering up spousal rape. Hamman wrote in response:

The truth is that God has given to us physical needs we commonly refer to as a "sex drive," and he has designed for these to be met within the bounds of marriage. The trouble comes when one spouse or the other decides to exact retaliation against the other because of some offense and withholds him or herself from his or her mate. This is wickedness, and such is a violation of the spirit of marriage on the part of the withholder.

Thus, if these allegations of spousal rape are due to the wife withholding herself in attempt to control or punish her husband, she is out of line with God. And it doesn't matter how many laws are passed, it will just be another reason why God will not bless America.

In a followup conversation with The Frontiersman, Hamman agreed that a man who is, for example, drunk could be accused of "abuse" after beating his wife and forcing sex on her. If Hamman offered any further clarification of this distinction from what he originally wrote, The Frontiersman does not report it in its editorial, headlined "Rape is illegal and immoral."



Read more: http://www.adn.com/2011/07/22/1980301/readers-blast-valley-paper-over.html#ixzz1T4p8pI5X




More christian values shining through.

[Blue_In_AK]

1. It was pretty despicable.

If he wants to spout that garbage at his "church," that's one thing, but for The Frontiersman to print it was unconscionable. What in the world were they thinking?

[roguevalley]

18. his rag I mean his wife must be awesome. I would hit him with a

frying pan and find the relevant scripture. And HI, BLUE!

[Blue_In_AK]

22. Hi, Rogue!

[uppityperson]

2. Sarah inspired. What an asshole. Just because he claims to be a christian does not mean he

is not an extreme or fundamentalist one. Please don't use this to bash "christian values" broadly. Thank you.

[Doctor Hurt]

4. 2000 years of abuse, war, bigoty and violence

are more than sufficient reason to bash Christianity.

[uppityperson]

5. Sigh. Enjoy your bigotry.

[Doctor Hurt]

15. I've been enjoying Christianity's my whole life

[riderinthestorm]

17. Bigotry?? Religious beliefs are not and should not be immune from critique.

And history is what it is - pointing out facts is not bigotry.

[uppityperson]

20. True. However putting the acts of assholes in the past and fundamentalists today on the whole

group, that is.

[riderinthestorm]

23. The poster was bashing "Christianity", not the individuals. Beliefs and theology. That's not bigotry

[uppityperson]

25. There is a difference between critiquing a religion and bashing a religion

In critiquing, you tell what you see is wrong and right with it. In bashing you broadbrush the whole thing like "2000 years of abuse, war, bigoty and violence are more than sufficient reason to bash Christianity." Rather like bashing Islam because of the 9/11 attacks.

Fundamentalism and extremism is the problem. Yes, some people do REALLY nasty things in the name of (pick a religion) but there are many many more who don't and saying the whole thing is wrong, bashing the whole religion based on the acts of some assholes who proclaim they are part of that religion, that is bigotry.

[riderinthestorm]

27. I believe the difference between bashing and critiquing lies in the eye of the beholder.

And for some, the entire religious theology and dogma is problematic and isn't based upon the acts of a few assholes. The poster didn't even make it incident specific (like 9/11 and Islam) and outlined that in his/her eyes, there's a 2000 year history upon which they've drawn their conclusion.

Hardly bigotry but rather history (for them).

Honestly though, this is actually Dr. Hurt's battle and I'll bow out for now. I'm really not interested in taking up his/her banner....

[NaturalHigh]

21. The article is despicable...

and so is your bashing of all Christians.

[Angry Dragon]

6. Then it is up to the good Christians to kick these

bad christians out of the christian church to protect us from them

[uppityperson]

7. Indeed. However, the fundamentalists start their own churches & call themselves

christians. There are more decent ones than these extremist fundie assholes.

[Angry Dragon]

So you are saying the term "Christian" is meaningless

I am not trying to start an argument.
Just tired of all the fake christians out there that have never read the New Testament or understood what was said in it.

[uppityperson]

13. No. I am saying that the meaning is different to different people and that there can be a wide

variation in "understanding what was said in it". I am tired of people picking and chosing what bits to use, and saying that simply calling oneself a christian does not mean they are at all.

One fast example: Is a christian someone who believes Jesus was The Son of God who died for our sins, was resurrected, etc, or is someone a christian who tries to emulate, to follow, what teachings and ways have been ascribed to Jesus?

Could be one, or the other, or both. All could call themselves christian, each with a different focus.

[Angry Dragon]

16. That does not seem right

I think the Christian Church needs to start having a test of some kind to
clarify this issue. Start issuing Christian licenses.:shrug:


I believe the Bible says that one can not get to heaven unless you believe in Christ and do good works.

:hi:

[gratuitous]

24. Good luck with this, uppityperson

Broad brush bigotry against persons of faith is an acceptable prejudice at DU. In fact, simply pointing that out is sufficient to get a post deleted.

For example, the above two factual statements, will be sufficient for this post to be deleted on unspecified grounds. It hasn't yet gotten me tombstoned, but if the trajectory set by past events is any indicator of what will follow, don't be surprised if it happens. I know I won't be surprised.

[uppityperson]

26. Nasty things have done "in the name of" religions but that doesn't mean the religion

is the problem but the interpretation by the assholes.

I don't care which religion. And I will speak out for them when I see this broadbrush crap happening. YES there have been bad things done by supposedly religious people but THEY are the problem.

Ah well. Probably good I've been off DU recently.

[BlueJazz]

3. After reading that article, I felt sad...just sad.

[LiberalFighter]

8. Is it the same church Palin is a member?

[Arctic Dave]

9. I don't think so but a lot of the mentality is cross pollenated from

church to church out there,

[katanalori]

10. No - "hers" is even worse

Witch doctors and all.

[xfundy]

11. These views should NOT be censored.

Let these fundies, control freaks and whackos continue to speak. Give them ever louder microphones. Once their "ideas" are ringing through the public square, from their own lips, in their own voices, the people will see just how dangerous they are.

[Arctic Dave]

12. That is what happened.

He spouted off with what he really thinks and was crushed by logic and sent back to his pathetic life.

[Maraya1969]

14. God gave you two HANDS also you sick fuck!

[blogslut]

19. Maybe someone should give Pastor a call

At the bottom of one of his other delightful screeds, entitled: "Will the Antichrist be a homosexual?" is this enticing bit:

Ron Hamman is pastor for Independent Baptist Church of Wasilla. Contact him at 357-4229 - area code is 907.

Dialy, dialy. ;)

[alcibiades_mystery]

28. These are the people screaming about "Sharia Law?"

:wow: