This informative chapter now lapses into a rant on pedophiles, and is highlighted by a quote from some crazed but creative writer for Gay Community News, named Michael Swift: “We will sodomize your sons, emblems of your feeble masculinity, of your shallow dreams and vulgar lies. We shall seduce them in your schools, in your dormitories, in your gymnasiums… Your sons will become our minions and do our bidding…” Mr. Swift’s spiel goes downhill from there, for a thousand words or so.
James mercifully ends the quote and asks, “Did these words represent one man’s private views, or are they representative of a larger community?” And he answers, “I don’t know.”So why he included this soliloquy and his own rant on pedophiles in the chapter is something of a mystery, at least to me.
But this section does lead into further fatherly advice, which hopefully you’ll find useful: “I don’t think it’s a good idea to leave your children of either sex in the care of teenage boys. Nor would I allow my teenage son to baby-sit. Why? There is so much going on sexually within adolescent boys.”
Looking back, I can certainly agree with that, though I’d also add that most of it had to do with repression, guilt, misinformation, and, at least in my case, “leaving six inches for the Holy Ghost” (that Catholic code that’s right up there with the DiVinci code, and which many of us are still trying to deciper).
But if you aren’t worried yet, you really need to expand your thinking. “How about the other cultural influences, including television and movies, that are urging boys and girls to ‘think gay’ and to experiment with role-reversal behavior?”
Exactly which tv shows and movies are not mentioned, but I realize you may well know something I don’t.
Anyway, when these shows and movies are “combined with the absence or disengagement of fathers, we can begin to understand why the incidence of homosexuality appears to be rising and why more and more children and teens are reporting that they think they are homosexual.”
There is a footnote for a study bearing out that children are indeed thinking more homosexually, presumably more than I ever did, since there is no other reference frame here, but you have to register at some oddball website to read the survey, and for some reason I didn’t feel up to it.
However, here’s the point you want to keep straight: This grand movement to make your kids think homosexually “is the greatest threat to your children.” More threatening, we are left to assume, than global warming, a bankrupt world, unemployment, collapsed ecosystems, World War III, a failed educational system, or even George Bush.
One might wonder if there is there anything more important than taking the time to protect your kids from pedophiles, who are apparently behind this movement. “I think not,” answers James, to his own question.
Last but not least, James responds to the woman who wrote to him: “My church tends to be on the liberal side of most social issues, and it teaches that since homosexuality is inherited and therefore involuntary, it should be affirmed and accepted by Christians.” Her son is 17 and announced that he is gay, and she wants James to “make sense of the situation.” Which of course he does, in faithful and true Dobsonian fashion.
He implores us to ask: So what if someone were born homosexual? And he answers: “Being genetically inclined to do immoral things does not make them right… I know of no instance in Scripture where God winked at evildoers because of their flawed inheritance or early experiences. In fact, the opposite is implied.”This is because an angel informed Ishmael’s mother that her child to be would be “a wild donkey of a man,” inclined to violence and rebellion. “Yet there is no indication that he enjoyed a special dispensation from God that excused his sinful behavior.”
Now if that doesn’t make a believer of you, I really can’t imagine what will.This towering intellect of a moralist assures us that we are accountable for what we do, no excuses, God-given genetics included.
But hark and rejoice! There is a solution! “That’s why we all need a Savior who died to eradicate our sins, regardless of their source.”
And hear ye this: You free-wheeling heterosexuals are in no better shape than gays! “Promiscuity for unmarried heterosexuals is the moral equivalent of promiscuity for homosexuals.” We know this is true because James assures us it is his “understanding of Scripture.”
So there you have it. Everything you wanted to know about homosexuality. Oh! Except for this, the advice James gave to the confused mom who wrote about her son: “Your task at this time is to stay on your knees and ask the Lord to talk to him in the terms he needs to hear.”
Geery lived off the grid for 15 years in an earth-sheltered, solar heated home, while his kids learned in school that solar energy isn't feasible. NAPTA hosts a page on Geery's foibles in education, and explains how he got his butt fired from a tenured teaching position. Here's a short clip of his most recent solar contraption; for more on that project, and Geery's contention that the Wright Brothers took a wrong turn, please visit his airship page (hyperblimp.com). Apparently, Geery is the only one in the world to respond to Osama bin Laden, call bullshit on him and George together, and expose them for the pansy ass rich kids that they are. Unfortunately, bin Laden has been too scared to write back and explain himsself; and George is still working hard to finish his goat book.
Being born andd raised in the atheistic/communist country I would say that not only homosequals were despised and persecuted there but also there was a law against them. Does that mean that it was under the Saviour's protection andd maybe Dr. Dobson is a communist at heart?
by
Mark Sashine (54 articles, 19 quicklinks, 251 diaries, 3598 comments)
on Tuesday, November 13, 2007 at 12:56:26 PM
my other half tells me I use the word too much. She says I should find other words. But these right wing decerbrates are a pox upon humanity, with their hate and intolerance. Is it tolerant to not tolerate intolerance? It would be fine, and I wouldn't care what they though if only they didn't try to force their beliefs on the rest of us. Despicable. That's another word I find I overuse. Or use just enough.
by
Rob Kall (869 articles, 4000 quicklinks, 344 diaries, 1839 comments)
on Tuesday, November 13, 2007 at 8:49:51 PM
Dobson is stating his opinion. You just happen to disagree with him.
Hate is a rather strong word , don't you think? And don't you think homophobe is a rather over used cliche? Homophobe: a fear of homosexuals. No one fears them. Christians don't hate homosexuals, we just think that homosexuality is not the natural order of things. God didn't
create homosexuals. Inherited sin is not a far off concept as many of you
believe. People inherit high cholesterol, heart defects, etc. As humans we admit we are not perfect and inherit imperfections. Whether it is our fault
or not it is still is an imperfection.
by
Bob Gormley (1 articles, 0 quicklinks, 3 diaries, 939 comments)
on Wednesday, November 14, 2007 at 9:10:43 AM
Which language? Whose rewrite? Whose interpretation are you talking about?
I would encourge you to do some howework with an open mind, as I believe most of the rest of us here have done. If God gave you anything that you need to develop and use most, it is your mind.
Have you actually read the article below yet? I believe we talked about this some time ago. The author of it is always eager to hear contrary views, but it seems most readers are too lazy to give it enough thought to respond.
Just like with any writing done hundreds or thousands of years ago, originally in another language, one can interpret such text in virtually any manner they want. I saw an article not long ago where someone was making an excellent case that the bible strongly supported homosexuality.
But so what? Faith is not science. And science is an extension of logic, dealing with observations rational people can agree on, or rationally argue over and further study to find answers. Faith is what one choses to believe. And it certainly seems to me that Dobson is taking great liberty with his faith, when he pontificates in a series of books how others should think--particularly when those folks are generally uneducated, trapped in preconceived religious beliefs, and seeking real guidance.
Meanwhile, I would love to hear your thought out responses to my friend, Deana Jensen's, Godwho article:
As to how we'd procreate if everyone were homosexual, a) homosexuals can and do have kids, as even Dobson pointed out, and as a friend of mine proved, with two girls; b) there are now technological means for this; c) of what relevance is your question, any more than asking if everyone decided not to have kids--as so many people do decide?
by
Daniel Geery (26 articles, 74 quicklinks, 123 diaries, 746 comments)
on Wednesday, November 14, 2007 at 9:33:13 AM
I read the entire article. I do have an open mind.Please don't imply that my
comments are strictly a knee-jerk reaction.
I have been to many other websites which give both the pros and cons of
homosexuality.I have listened to homosexuals tell their side of the story. I just have made my decision that homosexuality is not the
way nature intended. I know people that have turned homosexual because
of emotional reasons. Some are born that way. Did you ever ask the question why they are born that way?You claim I don't have an open mind, but I'm willing to
exchange ideas on a forum that ir predominantly in acceptance of the homosexual lifestyle. Are you willing to do that?
I don't apologize to a website which sings the praises of homosexuality,
and blasphemes the very God which created them. I don't think a man fucking another man in the ass is natural, do you? Sorry for the strong language, but it makes my point.
What God, what interpretation, you say? I say the God which is above all
Gods, whether you call him Jesus, Jehovah, Buddha or whatever. By the way, many religions recognize the perverted nature of homosexuality, not
just the Bible. One doesn't even need the Bible to form an opinion about
homosexuality.
Yeah, we probably had similar discussion about this before, and I am well aware of how you view my comments. It's a free country so you're welcome to it.
My opinions are not based on a Bible-thumping, brainwashing pastor, but are my own opinions.
Do you cringe when you see two homosexual men kiss ach other in public? Be honest, don't you find it just a bit strange? Even kids know it's
weird.
by
Bob Gormley (1 articles, 0 quicklinks, 3 diaries, 939 comments)
on Wednesday, November 14, 2007 at 10:08:12 AM
Do you cringe when you see a black man and a white woman kiss each other in public? Be honest, don't you find it just a bit strange? Even kids know it's weird.
Seems to me your gut reaction to two men kissing is the same as back before civil rights were given (sort of) to blacks. Were white's gut reactions proof that they were correct? Seems the bible did a good job of supporting the gut reaction that blacks were non-human.
by
disillusioneddemocrat (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 1 comments)
on Wednesday, November 14, 2007 at 5:04:41 PM
I reread the article, and not to my surprise it tries to minimize God and maximize nature. No need to argue here.... I know your perspective on things,
and you know mine. In a nutshell I make God the center of my universe, and
you make humanity/nature the center of your universe.
How one cannot believe in God is beyond me, but that's just me. Just realizing that I exist I know that there is a power greater than myself.
Did I come into being out of thin air? By some miraculous random series of
events I evolved from a single celled amoeba into homo erectus? How do you explain such abstract concepts as the mind, emotions, intellect, etc.?
I can accept differences of opinion.... but what irks me the most is when
people imply I don't use my mind because I believe in a God. My IQ is well above normal, bordering genius level... not that I put much stock into those
tests. But for you scientific minded folks you can relate to numbers better than intuition.
And by the way, I am an electrical engineer who finds no conflict between
science and God. God actually created science.
Yeah.... There is a a lot of religious crap out there, no doubt.
Much hypocrisy, no doubt. Sheep in wolves clothing, no doubt.
But... God remains the same.
Humble yourself, maybe you'll find what many others have found.
by
Bob Gormley (1 articles, 0 quicklinks, 3 diaries, 939 comments)
on Wednesday, November 14, 2007 at 7:43:29 PM
So, would your Christ reject homosexuals, paint them to be evil, and assure them of eternal punishment whilst healing the lepers and associating with prostitutes and others of questionable morals/character?
People DO fear homosexuals just like they fear other races and creeds...
Your G*d should have given you the wisdom to evolve from some of the more ridiculous paths of thinking such as those expoused in Leviticus and opened your hearts and minds to embrace modern discoveries and revelations in thinking that I would suppose G*d gave to us for a reason...
Or shall we stone them to death and see who gets to 'hell' first?
by
C.Bid (0 articles, 7 quicklinks, 7 diaries, 732 comments)
on Wednesday, November 14, 2007 at 9:47:34 AM
but you didn't address the point I was trying to make about 'evolved' thinking and some of the more antiquated 'laws' of religious dogma...
Surely this 'higher authority' wants us to use the brains he gave us and to build upon knowledge rather than refer to dusty old books with outdated concepts? We've come a long way from thinking that the plague was G*d's punishment haven't we? Must we continue to indulge in worn out bigotry and it's baseless claims?
by
C.Bid (0 articles, 7 quicklinks, 7 diaries, 732 comments)
on Wednesday, November 14, 2007 at 10:57:57 AM
I'll agree with you on that, however -if we find that stoning to death to be a repulsive form of punishment these days, wouldn't it make sense to re-evaluate our list of 'punishable offenses' or 'sins'? I understand that there are some things that the Christian Church (in general) is fairly un-wavering on, but some denominations or 'flavors' have accepted homosexuality and not placed it as a stumbling block wherewith to exclude persons from the religious experience inside their churches... If you'll agree that not all homosexuals make a concious choice to have that particular inclination, then it seems to me that the line of thinking must conclude that G*d wouldn't create a race or section of the population that was 'doomed from the start' would he? The notion of Original Sin wasn't always with us but it's fine if you also believe that... Why is it that you can't update your thinking in light of the modern world and all of it's discoveries? It's the same kind of thinking that is stifling Brain Stem Cells research and usage of new technologies... I'll just never understand why some of us get our panties in a bunch if you happen to see same sex couples kissing or holding hands. Personally, I get physically ill when I see elitist hypocritical scum parading around with 'W -The President' and 'Jesus is Lord' stickers on their SUVs and flag pins on their lapels...
It tends to remind me of a very telling photograph from the AP in the newspaper at the beginning of the war... one that had a soldier (so the caption read) reading his Bible during some 'downtime' while across his helmet was written: Kill 'Em All, Let Allah Sort 'Em Out...
by
C.Bid (0 articles, 7 quicklinks, 7 diaries, 732 comments)
on Wednesday, November 14, 2007 at 11:40:22 AM
I was trying to make...that the killing of gays by states such as Iran, justified by their views of religion using antiquated concepts of justice are not that far from the reasoning that we deny gays in this country basic civil rights, such as not protecting them from housing and employment discrimination based solely on their sexual preference. If Bob Gormley were to decide that he did not want to be served by the gay waiter at Pizzeria UNO and were to complain to the management, it would be perfectly legal to fire that waiter from his job. He may then be unable to pay his rent and be forced to find another place to live and be turned away, legally, just because he is gay.
Is this justified? Is this right? How different is this from stoning him to death?
by
ingiro (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 45 comments)
on Wednesday, November 14, 2007 at 11:56:17 AM
Antiquated thinking is the root of the problem, failure for one's own thoughts to evolve beyond outdated concepts results in mass misery, death, and state and church sanctioned hate -pure and simple!
Blind faith... like the heffer to the slaughter...
by
C.Bid (0 articles, 7 quicklinks, 7 diaries, 732 comments)
on Wednesday, November 14, 2007 at 12:08:36 PM
I can adjust my thinking on certain things, but some things are immutable.
Even Jesus updated certain things in his day. Divorce was allowed in the
Old Testament (because of the hardness of men's hearts), but he forbade
it in the Old Testament. The Pharisees and Sadducces were hung up on
keeping the Sabbath day holy at all costs (like no work of any kind). Jesus
explained to them that the Sabbath was made for man's sake (because of
the need for rest and rejuvenation of the body), but things could be allowed
that were for the greater good.
As for stoning this was acceptable practice in Old Testament times. But..
Jesus also refined this idea, ie "Let he that is without sin cast the first stone."
So there is room for flexibility and one does not have to adhere to strict dogma.
The key is to do whatever is constructive and upbuilding. I don't believe
God accepts "homosexuality" as an OK thing. I do believe He has compassion in the sense that He wants us to stop something like this before we destroy ourselves.
by
Bob Gormley (1 articles, 0 quicklinks, 3 diaries, 939 comments)
on Wednesday, November 14, 2007 at 12:00:01 PM
I can adjust my thinking on certain things, but some things are immutable.
Even Jesus updated certain things in his day. Divorce was allowed in the
Old Testament (because of the hardness of men's hearts), but he forbade
it in the Old Testament. The Pharisees and Sadducces were hung up on
keeping the Sabbath day holy at all costs (like no work of any kind). Jesus
explained to them that the Sabbath was made for man's sake (because of
the need for rest and rejuvenation of the body), but things could be allowed
that were for the greater good.
As for stoning this was acceptable practice in Old Testament times. But..
Jesus also refined this idea, ie "Let he that is without sin cast the first stone."
So there is room for flexibility and one does not have to adhere to strict dogma.
The key is to do whatever is constructive and upbuilding. I don't believe
God accepts "homosexuality" as an OK thing. I do believe He has compassion in the sense that He wants us to stop something like this before we destroy ourselves.
by
Bob Gormley (1 articles, 0 quicklinks, 3 diaries, 939 comments)
on Wednesday, November 14, 2007 at 12:00:13 PM
attack your form responses, because they are indeed in-line with how I would expect that a Christian should answer -but how does being born a homosexual differ from being born into any other minority group and why should they be the exception? I mean, the rights afforded to those of color these days were once unheard of... but through tumultuous times and much sacrifice the predominate thought was changed and thus 'evolved' into a modern form of thought... how can it still be right to think the 'old' way about any group of people? I just don't understand why you'd engage in defending an inexcusable religious-based exclusion and scapegoating, why? There's simply no reason... the church is an institute of MAN and subject to all the same flaws... clearly!!!
by
C.Bid (0 articles, 7 quicklinks, 7 diaries, 732 comments)
on Wednesday, November 14, 2007 at 1:01:16 PM
