Comments on: US Christians Denounce Gay Hate in Uganda

By: Jay Jonson

Jay Jonson — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 16:27:32 +0000

I am not impressed by this declaration, though of course it beats the telling silence of people like Rick Warren. I note that the conservative religious blog getreligion.org has a posting by the egregiously homophobic Mollie Hemingway protesting the characterization in the mainstream media of this legislation as motivated by hate.

Hemingway writes: “I also fear that the article is framed with such a progressive worldview that it doesn’t even attempt to understand the cultural and ethical values of the Ugandans. I mean, I oppose capital punishment as a rule, but I also know that advocates of capital punishment don’t view said punishment as “hate” — as the article portrays it. They view it as a tool of punishment for particular crimes.”

Yeah, I suppose executing gay people is an example of Christian charity.

By: Tom

Tom — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 22:30:40 +0000

I grew up in the conservative evangelical community (unfortunately) and I recognize NOT ONE single name from this list which hails from the conservative camp – at least not a name that is recognizable at first read (Sider is quoted above). Where are the leaders from conservative bible colleges and seminaries and popular authors in the conservative evangelical community? Where is Rick Warren’s name and where are the signatories from disgraced pastor Ted Haggard’s former denomination? Where’s the “legend-in-his-own-mind” Stephen Bennett at a time where he could show us once and for all that he’s not just a “religious fanatic” as O’Reilly pointed out? Kudos to the liberal evangelicals and nonevangelicals who supported this statement and shame on the conservative ones who are so blinded by their own dogmatic theology that they can’t recognize that “samaritan” but, like the priest, pitifully and self-righteously pass by on the other side. Makes me sick!!

By: Mark

Mark — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 18:59:41 +0000

Sider’s signature on this only adds insult to injury. One cannot rail against a community, make statements intended to foment anger and shame, and then ask for tolerance. Words have consequences and Sider is complicit in what is happening in Uganda.

By: Ben in Oakland

Ben in Oakland — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 18:01:19 +0000

The answer is simple. Sider doesn’t want to kill us or imprison us, he just wants our lives to be as difficult and unpleasant as possible….

…and i would guess just SHORT of the Ugandan final solution.

Naahh. I’m being snarky. quoting myself:

Of course you don’t hate us and this isn’t about bigotry. you love us. It’s the christian thing to do. You don’t hate anyone. Honestly, you don’t. The Biblical message is all about compassion, about loving your neighbor and all that. You love homosexuals. You really do. You just hate our same-sex-lusting,public-fornicating, child molesting, disease spreading, marriage ruining, family wrecking, military compromising, religious freedom hating, god detesting, Christian disparaging, faith villifying, society-endangering ways.

And really now, where’s the hate in that?

By: Norm R. Allen Jr.

Norm R. Allen Jr. — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 15:54:33 +0000

I strongly applaud this statement. Now I would like to see progressive Christians deal with the fact that the Bible itself (for example, Leviticus 20:13) condones killing gay men. THAT would be especially important and impressive.

By: Dave Rattigan

Dave Rattigan — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 14:14:17 +0000

You’re right, Christopher, that is strange. I’m sure Wallis, Campolo and McLaren wouldn’t be caught dead signing the Manhattan Declaration, though.

By: Christopher™

Christopher™ — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 05:56:45 +0000

I would like to know how Ron Sider can justify being a signatory to the Manhattan Declaration *and* this document at the same time. It strikes me as a deep level of cognitive dissonance which I wouldn’t have expected from him.

By: David Roberts

David Roberts — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 22:55:24 +0000

An unambiguous statement against the proposed bill and even the spirit behind it, all without a hind of PR. That’s refreshing, to say the least. Re: Alan, Randy, and Julie Neils, this is how you do it. Though in Exodus’ case it would need a more direct apology for their early involvement.