Separating Fact from Fantasy
“The day before the Senate hearings opened, representatives of Christian fundamentalist groups met at a Philadelphia church in the third in a series of rallies televised nationally by Christian-oriented cable networks. The outlook of these groups was expressed by Tony Perkins of the Family Research Council, one of several speakers who fantasized a nationwide onslaught that was on the brink of making Christianity illegal.”
“Senate Democrats Prostrate as Alito Confirmation Hearings Get Under Way,” World Socialist Web Site, January 12, 2006 http://www.wsws.org/articles/2006/jan2006/alit-j12.shtml
Christians such as Tony Perkins have rightfully expressed concern about efforts to eradicate Christianity from our culture. With increasing regularity activist judges are going beyond the scope of their judicial roles and have created new laws threatening the spiritual fabric of our nation. They have invalidated marriage, struck down the Pledge of Allegiance, removed prayer from schools and forbidden various public displays of the manger scene and the 10 Commandments.
In addition, legislative groups are broadening hate crimes legislation to include sexual orientation and gender identity as a protected class.
Christians realize that this kind of legislation could severely restrict Christians from practicing their faith, silence them from proclaiming biblical truth and prohibit them from teaching it to their children.
Is this mere fantasy? Are Christians imagining things?
Consider the following article filed just last week:
"Strasburg, Jan. 20 (CWNews.com) - The justice minister of the European Union, Franco Frattini, announced this week at the EU parliament in Strasburg that member states which do not eliminate all forms of discrimination against homosexuals, including the refusal to approve "marriage" and unions between same-sex couples, would be subject to sanctions and eventual expulsion from the EU."
"According to a report by the Archdioceses of Madrid's news service Analisis Digital, the commissioner's statements came as the governments of Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, and Poland ruled against legalizing homosexual "marriage."
"Homophobia is a violation of human rights and we are watching member states on this issue and reporting on cases in which our efforts have been unsuccessful," Fratti said. In this way "the Commission and the European Parliament seek to make any refusal to grant homosexual couples the same rights as a married couple a crime of 'homophobia'," the report warned. . ."
In Sweden a pastor delivered a sermon on what the Bible says about homosexuality. He also published the sermon in the local newspaper comparing the sin of Sweden to the sin of Sodom. As a result he received a sentence to spend one month in jail.
A Canadian a pastor was charged with violating the country’s Human Rights, Citizenship and Multiculturalism Act by publishing letters critical of homosexual conduct. The pastor faced jail time for his statements.
Broadening hate crime legislation to include sexual orientation rests on the false belief that hate crimes against homosexuals have been increasing (actually they have been decreasing), and that the hate crimes are a major issue with respect to criminal law (actually the number of hate crimes is less than 1% of all violent crimes).
Mat Staver writes concerning alleged hate crimes against homosexuals:
"Statistical evidence demonstrates, however, that hate crimes are generally declining and have been for several years. In 2003, there were over 11 million 'non-hate' crimes reported and 1.4 million of those were reported as 'violent crimes.' By contrast, there were only 7,489 'hate crime incidents' and of that number only 1,239 were attributed to 'sexual orientation' bias. This number was a decline from 1,244 reported 'hate crime incidents' based on 'sexual orientation' in 2002 and 1,393 such incidents reported in 2001.
"Additionally, according to FBI statistics, only five of the 93,433 forcible rapes reported in 2003 were classified as 'hate crimes.' Also, of the 16,503 criminal homicides reported in 2003, only 14 were classified as 'hate crimes' with six of that number said to be based on 'sexual orientation' and five of that number based on racial bias. The reporting of 'hate crimes' is subject to questioning, thereby lending less credibility to the numbers of reported 'hate crimes.'"
(http://www.renewamerica.us/analyses/060124adams.htm)
It is quite all right for liberal groups to misspeak about the actual extent of homosexual hate crimes; that is just part of persuading people to align with the homosexual viewpoint. However, when Christians express their concerns, based upon the actual experiences of pastors in Sweden and Canada with respect to hate crimes, Christians are fantasizing.
According to an article in Dispath.com earlier this month, Paul Hackett, a Democrat from Cincinnati proclaimed:
"The Republican Party has been hijacked by the religious fanatics that, in my opinion, aren’t a whole lot different than Osama bin Laden and a lot of the other religious nuts around the world," he said. "The challenge is for the rest of us moderate Americans and citizens of the world to put down the fork and spoon, turn off the TV, and participate in the process and try to push back on these radical nuts – and they are nuts."
Comparing Christians to Osama bin Laden reveals a lack of understanding of both Osama bin Laden and Christianity. Osma bin Laden advocates the eradication of Jewish people. Christians recognize that the Jewish people are God’s chosen people. They also understand that vengeance belongs to the Lord and should not be a part of the Christian lifestyle. In contrast, Osama bin Laden promotes violence, educates terrorists and funds their efforts.
To equate Christians to Muslim terrorists is out of bounds, but it reflects the state of our nation today. It is acceptable for everyone but Christians to have a point of view. It is wrong to speak negatively of anyone but Christians.
If a Christian speaks negatively about homosexuality he should be prosecuted for a hate crime. If a politician speaks negatively about Christianity, he is merely enlightening society and should be celebrated for his courage.
Why is it that homosexuals can hold a rally outside a church and block Christians from entering the building for worship? Why do the homosexuals get a free pass when they chant things such as “Hey Hey, Ho Ho, Christian hate has got to go” and “Bring back the lions.”
Contemporary political figures often make statements in light of what the polls say rather than on the basis of belief and values. They test the waters and then craft their political positions to appeal to their voter base. Like it or not, this is how the game is played.
These very politicians who base their viewpoints on the polls are often quick to criticize Christians for basing their views on biblical truth. Not to have strong convictions and to base your view solely on the polls is perfectly acceptable. But it is totally unacceptable to base one’s view on the Bible.
We have a dangerous double standard in our society, and Christians are absorbing much of the abuse.
This afternoon Pulitzer-winning playwright Wendy Wasserstein died at the age of 55. For three decades she had captivated theatergoers with her engaging work mostly concerning the desires and disappointments of the American woman.
An article describing her life included these comments:
"A play is a piece of art," Ms. Wasserstein said about her profession. "And art comes from somebody with an urgency. I think that what's great about theatre is you still have the possibility of one writer and one director saying: 'We see the world this way. Here's a point of view. And we're going to throw it out there, and we're not going to do it because we've taken 47 market polls on what the audience wants. We're doing this because this is how we see it.' Theatre isn't prefabricated. It isn't that watered-down stuff. Theatre is about words and craft and a point of view. You miss that in life now."
- “Wendy Wasserstein, Playwright Who Dramatized the Progress of a Generation of Women, is Dead at 55,” Robert Simonson, Playbill On-Line, Monday, January 30, 2006, http://news.yahoo.com/s/playbill/20060130/en_playbill/96859
Wasserstein is no longer with us, but her words ring true. We are coming to the point where people with a viewpoint are fearful of expressing that view not only in the theatre but in the public arena as well. Playwrights who express questionable views are unable to get those views off the page and onto the stage. Outside the realm of theater, Christians who express unacceptable views are in peril of being censured or even jailed merely because of their views.
By moving down that road, we are traveling to a destination that is neither healthy nor desirable for our nation. We are jeopardizing the very freedoms that have been so important to the greatness of this wonderful country. If we continue in this direction we may find ourselves in a place where fantasy becomes more important than fact, and opinion polls more valuable than truth.
“Senate Democrats Prostrate as Alito Confirmation Hearings Get Under Way,” World Socialist Web Site, January 12, 2006 http://www.wsws.org/articles/2006/jan2006/alit-j12.shtml
Christians such as Tony Perkins have rightfully expressed concern about efforts to eradicate Christianity from our culture. With increasing regularity activist judges are going beyond the scope of their judicial roles and have created new laws threatening the spiritual fabric of our nation. They have invalidated marriage, struck down the Pledge of Allegiance, removed prayer from schools and forbidden various public displays of the manger scene and the 10 Commandments.
In addition, legislative groups are broadening hate crimes legislation to include sexual orientation and gender identity as a protected class.
Christians realize that this kind of legislation could severely restrict Christians from practicing their faith, silence them from proclaiming biblical truth and prohibit them from teaching it to their children.
Is this mere fantasy? Are Christians imagining things?
Consider the following article filed just last week:
"Strasburg, Jan. 20 (CWNews.com) - The justice minister of the European Union, Franco Frattini, announced this week at the EU parliament in Strasburg that member states which do not eliminate all forms of discrimination against homosexuals, including the refusal to approve "marriage" and unions between same-sex couples, would be subject to sanctions and eventual expulsion from the EU."
"According to a report by the Archdioceses of Madrid's news service Analisis Digital, the commissioner's statements came as the governments of Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, and Poland ruled against legalizing homosexual "marriage."
"Homophobia is a violation of human rights and we are watching member states on this issue and reporting on cases in which our efforts have been unsuccessful," Fratti said. In this way "the Commission and the European Parliament seek to make any refusal to grant homosexual couples the same rights as a married couple a crime of 'homophobia'," the report warned. . ."
In Sweden a pastor delivered a sermon on what the Bible says about homosexuality. He also published the sermon in the local newspaper comparing the sin of Sweden to the sin of Sodom. As a result he received a sentence to spend one month in jail.
A Canadian a pastor was charged with violating the country’s Human Rights, Citizenship and Multiculturalism Act by publishing letters critical of homosexual conduct. The pastor faced jail time for his statements.
Broadening hate crime legislation to include sexual orientation rests on the false belief that hate crimes against homosexuals have been increasing (actually they have been decreasing), and that the hate crimes are a major issue with respect to criminal law (actually the number of hate crimes is less than 1% of all violent crimes).
Mat Staver writes concerning alleged hate crimes against homosexuals:
"Statistical evidence demonstrates, however, that hate crimes are generally declining and have been for several years. In 2003, there were over 11 million 'non-hate' crimes reported and 1.4 million of those were reported as 'violent crimes.' By contrast, there were only 7,489 'hate crime incidents' and of that number only 1,239 were attributed to 'sexual orientation' bias. This number was a decline from 1,244 reported 'hate crime incidents' based on 'sexual orientation' in 2002 and 1,393 such incidents reported in 2001.
"Additionally, according to FBI statistics, only five of the 93,433 forcible rapes reported in 2003 were classified as 'hate crimes.' Also, of the 16,503 criminal homicides reported in 2003, only 14 were classified as 'hate crimes' with six of that number said to be based on 'sexual orientation' and five of that number based on racial bias. The reporting of 'hate crimes' is subject to questioning, thereby lending less credibility to the numbers of reported 'hate crimes.'"
(http://www.renewamerica.us/analyses/060124adams.htm)
It is quite all right for liberal groups to misspeak about the actual extent of homosexual hate crimes; that is just part of persuading people to align with the homosexual viewpoint. However, when Christians express their concerns, based upon the actual experiences of pastors in Sweden and Canada with respect to hate crimes, Christians are fantasizing.
According to an article in Dispath.com earlier this month, Paul Hackett, a Democrat from Cincinnati proclaimed:
"The Republican Party has been hijacked by the religious fanatics that, in my opinion, aren’t a whole lot different than Osama bin Laden and a lot of the other religious nuts around the world," he said. "The challenge is for the rest of us moderate Americans and citizens of the world to put down the fork and spoon, turn off the TV, and participate in the process and try to push back on these radical nuts – and they are nuts."
Comparing Christians to Osama bin Laden reveals a lack of understanding of both Osama bin Laden and Christianity. Osma bin Laden advocates the eradication of Jewish people. Christians recognize that the Jewish people are God’s chosen people. They also understand that vengeance belongs to the Lord and should not be a part of the Christian lifestyle. In contrast, Osama bin Laden promotes violence, educates terrorists and funds their efforts.
To equate Christians to Muslim terrorists is out of bounds, but it reflects the state of our nation today. It is acceptable for everyone but Christians to have a point of view. It is wrong to speak negatively of anyone but Christians.
If a Christian speaks negatively about homosexuality he should be prosecuted for a hate crime. If a politician speaks negatively about Christianity, he is merely enlightening society and should be celebrated for his courage.
Why is it that homosexuals can hold a rally outside a church and block Christians from entering the building for worship? Why do the homosexuals get a free pass when they chant things such as “Hey Hey, Ho Ho, Christian hate has got to go” and “Bring back the lions.”
Contemporary political figures often make statements in light of what the polls say rather than on the basis of belief and values. They test the waters and then craft their political positions to appeal to their voter base. Like it or not, this is how the game is played.
These very politicians who base their viewpoints on the polls are often quick to criticize Christians for basing their views on biblical truth. Not to have strong convictions and to base your view solely on the polls is perfectly acceptable. But it is totally unacceptable to base one’s view on the Bible.
We have a dangerous double standard in our society, and Christians are absorbing much of the abuse.
This afternoon Pulitzer-winning playwright Wendy Wasserstein died at the age of 55. For three decades she had captivated theatergoers with her engaging work mostly concerning the desires and disappointments of the American woman.
An article describing her life included these comments:
"A play is a piece of art," Ms. Wasserstein said about her profession. "And art comes from somebody with an urgency. I think that what's great about theatre is you still have the possibility of one writer and one director saying: 'We see the world this way. Here's a point of view. And we're going to throw it out there, and we're not going to do it because we've taken 47 market polls on what the audience wants. We're doing this because this is how we see it.' Theatre isn't prefabricated. It isn't that watered-down stuff. Theatre is about words and craft and a point of view. You miss that in life now."
- “Wendy Wasserstein, Playwright Who Dramatized the Progress of a Generation of Women, is Dead at 55,” Robert Simonson, Playbill On-Line, Monday, January 30, 2006, http://news.yahoo.com/s/playbill/20060130/en_playbill/96859
Wasserstein is no longer with us, but her words ring true. We are coming to the point where people with a viewpoint are fearful of expressing that view not only in the theatre but in the public arena as well. Playwrights who express questionable views are unable to get those views off the page and onto the stage. Outside the realm of theater, Christians who express unacceptable views are in peril of being censured or even jailed merely because of their views.
By moving down that road, we are traveling to a destination that is neither healthy nor desirable for our nation. We are jeopardizing the very freedoms that have been so important to the greatness of this wonderful country. If we continue in this direction we may find ourselves in a place where fantasy becomes more important than fact, and opinion polls more valuable than truth.
posted by Steve at 10:26 PM
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