Word came out last week that George Michael, 48, was admitted to a Viennese hospital for severe pneumonia. (Though he has cancelled the remainder of the tour he was on, Mr. Michael is reportedly responding to treatment and slowly recovering.)
Ever heard of a group called Christians for a Moral America? Neither had I. Neither had anyone else—until this weekend, when the group Tweeted these lovely messages:
And now Christians for a Moral America will be known throughout the Internet.
And what is unlikely to matter during its 15-minutes of mud-spattered fame is that Christians for a Moral America consists entirely of one guy: fury-fueled Keith.
It won’t matter that CFAMA’s Twitter account has 78 followers.
It won’t matter that CFAMA’s Facebook page has 117 fans.
It won’t matter that in twenty minutes I could get 78 Twitter followers and 117 Facebook fans by starting a Facebook group called Toenail Eaters of America, and posting photos like this:
It won’t matter how obvious it is that Keith wouldn’t know Christianity from a boil on his ass. None of those sorts of things will matter, because so many people are so ready to believe the worst of Christians and Christianity, because so many have so much emotion invested in the idea that virtually all Christians are narrow-minded, hate-filled, fear-based, hypocritical misogynistic homophobes.
Meanwhile, in preparation of the print edition of UNFAIR: Why the “Christian” View of Gays Doesn’t Work, I’ve been rereading the heartbreaking letters contained with it from gay and lesbian Christians.
And I’ve been reflecting on the inspiring phone conversation I had yesterday with Roger McClellan, and on the superb work he’s doing with his Progressive Christian Alliance.
And I’ve been thinking of the man who wrote me just this morning, an anguished pastor torn between coming out, and knowing that doing so would sever him from the church and congregation he has so faithfully served for twenty years.
For every one person like Keith I’ve ever known—for every person who’s ever fanatically endeavored to transmogrify the beautiful love of God into the horrible hatred of men—I’ve known two hundred who are quietly and humbly working, in Christ’s name, to make the world a better, more loving place for all.
If you’re out there, and you happen to read this, I’m begging you to bear in mind that I’m a Christian, and that a lot of my friends are Christian, and that a lot of people I work with online are Christian—and that all of us, to a person, utterly shun, and are revulsed by, the perversion of our faith promulgated by people like Keith.
We want you to take issue with Keith. We’re with you on that. We support that.
But please don’t confuse him with us.
![John Shore on The Huffington Post](http://johnshore.files.wordpress.com/2010/03/huffpost.jpg?w=120 "John Shore on The Huffington Post\")
{ 188 comments… read them below or add one }
« 1 2 3 4
I’ve seen this Keith guy on twitter before. He used to be known as Bachman4Pres, then he had another name. He is a horrible person, but I have also suspected for a long time that he is a troll/poe. He is not worth giving attention to.
I agree with Joe Justice in standing up against bigotry and homophobes. My medical practice is in a small village – so when I came out 3 years ago and didn’t try to hide it – was open – I lost very few patients because I am gay. In fact, patients thought well of me for being truthful even though they didn’t necessarily understand – I am their doctor who they trust – who happens to be gay and married but now living separately from my daughter & wife due to my married adult son’s homophobia and rejection. I was living at home with family but excluded due to his disdain. Now live with my partner who I love while still holding my wife and daughters (who accept me & him) in my heart. Divorce is not desired by either of us – we took vows to love – sacramental vows of our Faith (Catholic) which for us are til death. This is our belief and we affirm it. Confronting hate mongers is quite easy I have found, mainly because they are cowards – really don’t stand up well when challenged. They do not know how to combat someone who does not return their hate with hate. This is, after all, true Christianity. Turning the other cheek does not mean becoming a doormat. It meant at the time of Jesus that after being struck you stood up to the person. In Israel, a person could be struck only with the back of the right hand. Offering the other cheek would require using the left hand – a violation of Levitical Law for the left hand could only be used for unclean acts, work. Thus, the attacker would be shown to have no power over you and a bully. He could strike or kill you, but never rob you of your God gifted dignity. In contemporary times – even one person speaking out against injustice, bigotry, hatred can influence many people. It is contagious. Today almost every person knows a gay brother or sister. How do you hate a friend, sibling, parent or other relative – a person you care for – because they are gay. The world is changing – it is not the same as in the days of Stonewall. It is a tide which continues to build.
Joe,
The clergy in Montana have not only counseled those in private conversations, they have allowed us to publish their names as supportive, have filed an amicus brief in support of our lawsuit against the state, and have spoken freely from the pulpit about their support. There is a growing movement of support from clergy. It doesn’t move fast and it isn’t extremely loud- but it’s coming.
Oh, and the name I am using is not a pseudonym. It is my given name from birth. I don’t hide behind some anonymous term. I also do not attest that my given name has any other meaning as that it was likely given to a progenitor back in old Europe due to his particular vocation. I do try to live a just and honest life. But I also am willing to change my opinion and perspective when I have been shown enlightenment. I don’t have all the answers and am always willing to learn. But I am also tasked with expressing my own particular perspective on this very personal issue.
Joe Justice (yep, right out of Texas)
John, thank you for this.
Downthread, the idea came up about whether writing this simply brought attention to this specific wingnut full of hatred – and you answered that (very well).
I want to point out an additional aspect to that. Yes, bringing this up sheds some light on this particular idiot and incident. There’s an incidental downside to that, true.
But speaking as a gay man, what’s most true in the collective gay experience of organized religion is the deafening silence from the good people, the compassionate people, and the people who are willing to see us as people. When people choose to be silent so as not to bring attention, all that remains is the voices of the haters, speaking very loudly.
I wonder if the average straight Christian really understands the effect that has. John, I know you do, but I really question how much most Christians realize that from the outside, especially as viewed from the exile that the gay experience of Christianity is, nearly ALL the voices are negative, especially all the voices spread through the major media. The vast majority of anti-gay propaganda, anti-gay legislation, and anti-gay violence is spread by Christians speaking as Christians, and claiming to speak for all Christians. The Christians who speak publicly on behalf of gay people and gay right almost universally speak as citizens, and speak for themselves rather than speaking for all Christians.
Even for those of us who know it isn’t true because we have personal experience of loving Christians, it’s harder and harder not to see Christianity as the enemy. I won’t soon forgive the people who by their actions have (and I am not exaggerating this) turned the chrome fish car sticker into something that raises much the same feelings in me as a swastika would. And I know those feelings are inaccurate much of the time.
I don’t think most straight Christians understand how much a site like this can be water in the desert, how much a single comment in conversation about what an asshole this Keith guy is would matter, how incredibly rare it is for a gay person to hear a positive religious voice or message – and how common it is that when we do hear such a message it is far more often “hey, don’t judge us all by his actions” rather than “hey, we don’t judge you the way he is doing.”
Maybe I’m wrong, and far more people realize this than it appears. I know that here, I’m preaching to the choir – but sometimes, choirs spend too much time singing in church and forget to sing out in the world as well.
But John, thank you so very, very deeply for what you are doing. It matters. A lot.
Don’t worry. The thinking rest of us know that fools like this guy and the Westboro Idiots Choir are just lunatics on the fringe. Everyone has them…and no one pays any real attention to them. Its the nutjobs who dont act like nutjobs in public that are scary…but they’re still a tiny sliver of the whole and in no way really representative of any goodly faith.
I protest your statement that “no one pays any real attention to them.” Tell that to the thousands of gay bash victims throughout this country. Wake up. When these people spew their hatred, people listen.
Raines, I admire that you do not pay attention to them, but Joe is right. Words from those nuts sink in and poison the public.
I am an activist for LGBT rights in Montana. Although I have always been ‘spiritual’ I have also been skeptical of ‘religeon’ as I have seen more hate and judgement done in God’s name but not in his spirit. My work has brought me an entirely new perspective on faith though. Through the over 100 clergy members in Montana who have said they support equal rights for LGBT couples in committed relationships, I have seen a change in my own heart. Listening to the stories of some amazing clergy members has actually brought me so much more closer to the spirit of God and strengthened MY faith. So if people want to say that God works in mysterious ways, I have flu d him while working FOR gay rights in a way I’ve never experienced before.
But do they go on the television and radio and newpapers and make these statements, or do they tell you this one on one when you are having private conversations with them? I’m really curious. Perhaps I just am so anti-religion and turn the channel so quickly when I see a televangilist that I just don’t see these things. But I would like to think it would be such a bell toll that someone in my usual newslines would pick it up and report that all these evangelists were open and accepting to gays and preaching it from their pulpits. When they are as vocal about it and supporting gay people as the haters are at spewing their hate at pride parades and funerals, then I’ll start to maybe believe that there really is some change happening. I am not ready to cut anyone any slack for quite words spoken in private to help you feel good. Tell it to the world and your entire congregation or shut up and sit on the sidelines like you always have. Yeah, right.
Dude, chill. We are not sitting on the sidelines. We are fighting for the rights of people like you by protesting these hate groups, petitioning to silence them and for LGBT-protection laws. In case you couldn’t tell, we also fight for marriage equality. I know you’re angry, and understandably so, but don’t take it out on those of us who are on your side. That’s biting the hand that feeds you.
With allude respect, he’s entitled to pat us on the back when he sees the change he should be seeing and not a second before.
You’re right. We don’t deserve a pat on the back, so to speak. I know full well we have a long way to go. But those of us who are working tirelessly toward equality shouldn’t be blamed for the misrepresentation of Jesus’ teachings by conservatives and unabashed homophobes. Just acknowledgment of our efforts instead of condemnation from all sides would be appreciated. If you want progress, you don’t shoot down your allies.
And just to clarify, lest my last comment appear somewhat self-satisfied, that I’m very thin-skinned and extremely sensitive to harsh criticism. I can take it more easily if the good being done is acknowledged and I’m not just being told, “You suck and aren’t doing anything right. You aren’t good enough.” Maybe I misinterpreted what Joe said, but that’s the gist of how I interpreted it: “You think you’re trying but you suck and your efforts are worthless.”
I know exactly what you mean! I’m thin- skinned as well which is why I probably react to this and feel strongly about it. For me (and I’ll only speak for me) I am beginning to grasp at the depth of our privilege we’ve experienced as Christians and the subsequent expectation that my feelings are always considered. Which again for me, I’m realizing, is a result of the privilege I experience as a Christian in this country. I’m beginning to understand that my thin-skinned reaction to criticism doesn’t have much to do with the truth – the love, really – that Joe Justice is bringing to the table and wants answers for. And that Jesus equips me to hold his anger which in my opinion is a love for justice. I think Joe is demanding that we as a Christian Body fix this mess so he doesn’t have to and if I’m signing up to be part of the tent, then I share the blame. I just do, my own individual actions don’t count for many people and I’m not going to ask anymore that they should. (though it’s very difficult to not be acknowledged).
And I think he should be able to tell us how angry he is at us as a Body and for us to understand the truth of what he’s offering about the massive passivity of the “good Christians”. For me, it’s privilege that demands he recognizes my personal actions. But that might not be true for others.
Our pastor has said from the pulpit that “abomination” does not apply to homosexuals. I was impressed that he went that far. Then again, I belong to a liberal denomination in a liberal part of the country, but it still felt gutsy to me. Change will not happen as quickly as we would like, but the tide is turning for sure.
I am in the minority here but I agree with you. Who cares if there is a group of us reacting to this, there are millions of. Christians out there who aren’t stupid, who are educated but just won’t pick a lane and stand up against this filth in our church that causes such evil. They dont want to get their hands dirty, they still want to go to a nice church soctheir kids csn get a christian education.
I do think it’s our fault that this has continued, I think those of us who know how stupid and harmful this theology is haven’t collectively put an end to it. We still go to churches where it’s just not spoken about but there is an anti gay agenda present. We give our money to these places and we don’t engage these evil people who speak for us.
So I think you should be angry and if you dontr want to give people an atta boy pat on the back for our individual contributions, it makes sense. We shouldn’t need it anyway, we should listen to the deeper truth you’re sayings and stay focused on this. But Christians as a whole tend to be pretty precious about our feelings and the truth of the matter is we just as an entire. Group aren’t outraged enough. About this yet.
I don’t know what Book and scripture you are reading(O must be the Big-git / Racist Idiot Edition) When you all decide to play God, I do believe that’s a NO NO,the Bible says to pray for sick and dieing and those who do will be blessed in return…
So think about that when you wish Ill of others(No Matter who and what they are)we are all Children of the Lord and he will and does look down on all of you who take this Negative and Demonic Mentality…
CHRISTIANS don’t pray for the death of another human being. I believe Jesus said, “Love one another as I have loved you.” Just sayin’…..
Can you report something like that as bullying? I mean I don’t generally support trolling or reporting legitimate sites out of hatred, regardless of their beliefs. But when you start specifically wishing death on others, you lose pretty much any legitimacy you may have had to start with, imo.
Thanks, Pat. What’s nice is that (as far as I know) the CFAMA FB page, and its number of Twitter followers, hasn’t grown in any significant way at all. (Last I heard, anyway.)
you were and it did.:)
Of course I’m not the only one, but I was definitely one of the first out the door with this story, and my treatment of it went pretty large pretty quickly. And that had the effect I was hoping it would, which was (to whatever extent) afterward making it more difficult, or problematic, to report that this “group” was anything but one lone person.
When I see good, loving Christians standing at the Gay Pride parades confronting all the haters who are using bullhorns to shout at us telling us we are abominations and we are going to hell, telling them they are not Christian because of their hatred and that they should be embracing and loving us as Jesus would have done, then I’ll believe there are good Christians in the world ready to take a stand on their own beliefs. Until then, you are all just a bunch of milk-sops without a backbone or mind of your own to read the Bible and really understand what Jesus says about loving each other. Do you even believe that Jesus hung out with lepers, whores, and the poor? And he wasn’t screaming at them about how they were going to hell. He showed them love and kindness and lived such an example of holiness that it should shame everyone of you who has ever cracked a fag joke or thought anything unholy about a gay person.
How sadly true; however, to those sinners Jesus loved, He also said,”Go. and sin no more.” He loved them and knew their sin was destroying them. THIS He could not bear. Do we hate their sin so much we can’t separate it from them and be willing to die for them to free them from their sin? IF I love them, I will reach out to them in love,but I will also do whatever I can to disengage them from the sin that is killing them, in body and soul and spirit.
Neitther those who want the sinner to die in his sin nor those who want him to continue to live in his sin are Christ-like, are they?
“Love the sinner, hate the sin” is a veneer to cover people’s behinds. It is not our job to go around pointing out other peoples “sins.” Our time would be much better spent worrying about our own sins and letting others worry about theirs.
And believe me, we all know right from wrong. No one will go to hell because no one told them they were sinning. Everyone needs to mind their own business and get out of other people’s bedrooms.
Ever notice how obsessed with sex some Christians are?
This is true, too.
“IF I love them, I will reach out to them in love,but I will also do whatever I can to disengage them from the sin that is killing them, in body and soul and spirit.”
But you can’t. I don’t believe that homosexuality is a sin. But even if I did, what I know about sin (or any other human characteristic) is that no one can stop somebody from doing something unless that person, his or herself, wants to stop.
Alcoholics? As long as they want to drink, they’re going to drink. Drug addicts? Smokers? Overeaters? (I’m one of those.) Slobs? Lazy people? People who like porn? Anything at all, unless the person his/herself wants to stop, you don’t have a chance.
And that’s a good thing. People need to be free to make their own decisions–even bad ones. We can and should interfere when someone is doing something that causes physical harm to the person or property of a nonconsenting other. Sometimes, we might choose to interfere when someone is causing emotional harm to someone else. But mostly, we need to let people find their own way to a different way of life. Nagging, shaming, guilting, punishing–these things are, at best, temporary solutions–and more often than not, they cause others to just grow more stubborn in their determination to stand their ground, even if doing so causes harm to themselves.
People who think homosexuality is a sin compare it to alcoholism and drug addiction. Those are destructive behaviors. No one is born an alcoholic, but people are born gay. And homosexual acts are not destructive in and of themselves.
Homosexuality is a state of being – not a behavior. Until more people understand this, this sort of prejudice will continue, and people will continue to use the Bible to justify that prejudice. Just like in the fight for interracial marriage and desegregation.
Bonnie nailed it!
Joe, honey, you are so preaching to the choir here. The Christians who follow and agree with John, which *most* of the posters here generally do, are the good guys – the ones who DO speak up, the ones who do rile up their evangelical relatives and support their LGBT friends and family members publicly.
You have every right to be angry at how Christianity has treated gay people throughout history, and you are absolutely right that those who remain silent are also complicit – but here, you are among allies who do exactly what you are talking about – who rally, as Christians, ON YOUR BEHALF. So you might want to rethink coming onto John’s site with both barrels blazing.
I appreciate their and your efforts. But consider all the friends I and we have lost due to suicide and murder. When have you known of any social movement like Christianity to result in such horrific outcomes? When I see every gay pride in America (and in most other places around the world) with Christians protecting gays from the haters, then I will actually believe there is change happening. You have to realize the devistation that has been wroght by “Christians” against my people. I consider it terrorism just as bad as if they were walking in to gay bars with dynamite strapped to their chests and pulling the cord. These people have spewed so much hatred, there is a loooon way to go before I’ll ever trust that “Christians” are changing. Even in this blog and others like it I continually see the hatred spewed forth by other “Christians” denouncing your efforts. I understand there are different sects in the faith that believe differently. But to me, Christians = bad, evil, killers and I will look on them with distrust until I see real change in the majority of the group. That means the televangilists are denoucing the horrors that have occurred and leading prayer groups at schools to help heal the wounds of the past and welcome gay youths into their ministries instead of trying to get us to be somethng we are not – straight. It is not up to me to change Christians. It is up to Christians to change themselves. This site and others like it are starting to give me hope. But don’t kid yourself. If it hadn’t been for a lot of good science that shows it is NOT a choice and is a factor of genetics and mother/fetus biology that most likely causes a person to be homosexual, I doubt we’d be having this conversation. Likely many of you would still be throwing stones.
this lady (who, iirc wrote the intro to John Shore’s latest book ABOUT glbtq christians) does exactly that.
http://canyonwalkerconnections.com/
she literally stood in between the haters and the nice gay kids and shielded them, at the Charlotte Pride. which i wish i had gone to, but it’s all written up on her site.
« 1 2 3 4