“The ‘Emergent’ church needs to be on everyone’s radar. Their ideas and approach are poison. This is NOT authentic, biblical Christianity, and it’s becoming more evident all the time. They are truly ‘coming out of the closet’ and unashamedly advocating heresy.

What’s amusing is that this photograph is from the Lighting The Way blog:

and this:

The pictures on the Home for Christmas post are like a “Where’s Waldo” for pagan symbolism. As far as the Christmas tree goes, Christianity Today writes of the early church fathers:

“The evergreen tree was an ancient symbol of life in the midst of winter. Romans decorated their houses with evergreen branches during the New Year, and ancient inhabitants of northern Europe cut evergreen trees and planted them in boxes inside their houses in wintertime. Many early Christians were hostile to such practices. The second-century theologian Tertullian condemned those Christians who celebrated the winter festivals, or decorated their houses with laurel boughs in honor of the emperor:

‘Let them over whom the fires of hell are imminent, affix to their posts, laurels doomed presently to burn: to them the testimonies of darkness and the omens of their penalties are suitable. You are a light of the world, and a tree ever green. If you have renounced temples, make not your own gate a temple.’ “

As a former believer, I can respect Christian doctrine that goes against my own life choices. What I cannot respect is someone that speaks out of both sides of their mouth. Christ said:

“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men’s bones and everything unclean. In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness. ” Matthew 23:27-28

Maybe Linda Harvey should watch out for the gay and the “emergent” pagan evangalists that have infiltrated her support network and her church!

Three things really amused me about this person.

1. She doesn’t address any of the scripture that I posted in her blog. Most likely it’s either because she doesn’t know her scripture or only picks out what scripture upholds her hatred and bigotry. The words that pour out her mouth betray her own scripture. If I am the man she says I am, she obviously is commanded to shut up. “I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man; she must be silent.” 1 Timothy 2:12

2. She posted a response in the comments of her blog, under anonymous. She claims to be intelligent but doesn’t even log in to her own blog!

3. She posts a picture of me, from like 4 billion years ago, but I don’t see one pic of her on her website. I think someone is jealous.

Gays and lesbians shouldn’t be parents! Why? Because Jesus said so!

Persecuted? Christians in the Sudan have been persecuted for their religious views. I think Mr Patterson needs an education on what persecution is. An opinion writer does have the right to SAY what ever they like but the paper has no legal duty to publish it. Furthermore, the Star has no legal obligation to keep a Christian on staff just because of their religious affiliation.

Mr Patterson went on to say that “The Star not only discriminated against me, but they actually have waged a campaign people with strong Christian beliefs. Both of us were editorial board members and we should have the right.” “We should have the right to express our religious views, especially as opinion writers. That’s what opinions are for right?”

It’s ironic that fundamentalist Christians are running around crying about employment discrimination yet they were the main opponents of Prop 68 (which would have banned employment and housing discrimination).

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“In the case Lawrence V. Texas, the Supreme Court of the United States of America struck down every sodomy law in this country. You see, they found the Constitutional right to sodomy. Does anyone believe that the framers of our Constitution intended for it to be there? By no means. Well if it’s not there, how did the court decision get there? By reading into the Constitution what they wanted to find, which isn’t there, but is constructed there, by expanding the Constitution by re-interpretation. Now, of all people, we ought to be the folks who understand that. Because we as Christians have had to understand there are people who will take the word of God, and say it’s really not about the text. It’s about what’s behind the text. We can take the text and make it say what it doesn’t mean. We have seen that pattern. And God’s people have had to learn to discern and say, no, the text is the inerrant and infallible word of God. It is what God said it is, and what God revealed it to be. And that’s what must constrain our interpretations. God bless you for believing that and affirming that.”

Thomas Jefferson:

“I never will, by any word or act, bow to the shrine of intolerance or admit a right of inquiry into the religious opinions of others.” –Thomas Jefferson to Edward Dowse, 1803. ME 10:378

“Whenever… preachers, instead of a lesson in religion, put [their congregation] off with a discourse on the Copernican system, on chemical affinities, on the construction of government, or the characters or conduct of those administering it, it is a breach of contract, depriving their audience of the kind of service for which they are salaried, and giving them, instead of it, what they did not want, or, if wanted, would rather seek from better sources in that particular art of science.” –Thomas Jefferson to P. H. Wendover, 1815. ME 14:281

“I am really mortified to be told that, in the United States of America, a fact like this [i.e., the purchase of an apparent geological or astronomical work] can become a subject of inquiry, and of criminal inquiry too, as an offense against religion; that a question about the sale of a book can be carried before the civil magistrate. Is this then our freedom of religion? and are we to have a censor whose imprimatur shall say what books may be sold, and what we may buy? And who is thus to dogmatize religious opinions for our citizens? Whose foot is to be the measure to which ours are all to be cut or stretched? Is a priest to be our inquisitor, or shall a layman, simple as ourselves, set up his reason as the rule for what we are to read, and what we must believe? It is an insult to our citizens to question whether they are rational beings or not, and blasphemy against religion to suppose it cannot stand the test of truth and reason. If [this] book be false in its facts, disprove them; if false in its reasoning, refute it. But, for God’s sake, let us freely hear both sides, if we choose.” –Thomas Jefferson to N. G. Dufief, 1814. ME 14:127

“History, I believe, furnishes no example of a priest-ridden people maintaining a free civil government. This marks the lowest grade of ignorance of which their civil as well as religious leaders will always avail themselves for their own purposes.” –Thomas Jefferson to Alexander von Humboldt, 1813. ME 14:21

“In every country and in every age, the priest has been hostile to liberty. He is always in alliance with the despot, abetting his abuses in return for protection to his own.” –Thomas Jefferson to Horatio G. Spafford, 1814. ME 14:119

I’m wondering when Jefferson’s writings will go to the Ministry of Truth… I remember reading 1984 but now I’m living it.

“I will always discriminate against unhealthy addictive behaviors.”

“Most importantly, I love Jesus because He gave His all for me, and so I will give my all for Him in honoring why He created sex to be within the boundaries of heterosexual marriage. He came to rescue us from our unhealthiness/sins. I will vote NO!”

“It is never helpful to condone and justify someone’s unhealthy chosen addiction. Homosexuality is an addiction to unhealthy sexual behavior. It can be overcome with proper treatment. Check out Exodus International for confirmation of this.”

“The Bible is clear that sex was created and intended within the confines of heterosexual marriage. It is meant to mirror our relationship to our Creator. Who would want to pervert that? Satan… is the author of sin. Jesus came to overcome sin’s power over us so that we can live and live abundantly! He came to rescue us…not condemn us. Thus, we need to help those who are entrapped in any kind of unhealthy lifestyle. I will never support something that is meant
for destruction of human beings and our civilization.”

Prop 68 isn’t about marriage. Even if one wants to make this about marriage, the logic still doesn’t fly. The standard line put forth by fundamentalist Christians is that it is the responsibility of the government to codify and support the growth of strong families through civil marriage. Is marriage strictly a matter of reproduction? I have experienced being in a heterosexual marriage and I’d venture to say that most heterosexual couples marry because they are “in love”, not to reproduce. In our modern day society, reproduction is seen as an
outgrowth of the love within a marriage, not the other way around. These so called “shotgun marriages” (marriages that come about from pregnancy) are looked on with distained within present day society.

I do understand where Councilor Cain is coming from though. I have a very traditional history, before coming out transgender. I was raised to believe that gays and lesbians were promiscuously fractured adults that were stunted in their psychological development. I believed that homosexuals couldn’t love a same sex partner the way I loved my wife. Unfortunately my beliefs were built to support my own fears and self hatred. My observations were based on ignorance and lacked any real life exposure. They were simply constructs to fit my beliefs. I believe that Mrs. Cain suffers from much the same thing. Luckily I’ve been educated by others.

Saturday night I had one such “education.” I attended a silent auction (held for Rock Indiana Campaign for Equality) during the IndyIndie event at Jesus MCC church. Jan Williams and her partner Val also attended the auction/show. I’ve worked with Jan on the two dollar bill campaign but I’ve never seen them in a social setting. Seeing them interact together, their love for each other was obvious. I came to learn that Jan and Val have been in a committed relationship for 15 years. I began to survey the room and observed many couples that emitted this same kind of light that is given off by a couple that shares a deep love for one another. Such relationships are testaments of commitment that gays and lesbians live every day. It’s obvious to me today that Jan and Val’s love for each other isn’t one borne out of promiscuity or any other kind of unhealthy behavior, but borne out of love.

I lived and observed the “heterosexual Christian lifestyle” that Miss Cain, advocates. Since coming to terms with my transsexuality I’ve also been exposed to many flavors of family from within the GLBT community. The most ironic of observations is that I’ve felt more of “Christ’s love” from with the GLBT community, than from self professed Christians. They’re too busy being Pharasitical in their damnation to fulfill Christ’s ultimate mission of love. Jesus never spoke about homosexuality. His ministry was centered on love, not laws.

Christian “family values” should be based on Christ’s admonishment to “Love one another, as I have loved you.” Christian fundamentalists can spout 1 Corinthians 6:9 from memory, but can they do the same with Romans 13:8? (“Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law.”) Jesus repeatedly broke the laws of within the Jewish faith. He did it for reasons of love. His message was transparent. It was a message that love trumps the law. Marriage isn’t a contract (or covenant) of pregnancy. When two people marry they take a vow “to love and comfort,” to “honor and keep in sickness and in health”, to
“forsake all others,” and to “be faithful as long as both shall live.” The standard of marriage is one of love, not an ability to bring forth children. Marriage is not a covenant of child production, but of love.

Whatever Councilor Cain argues, it’s obvious that it doesn’t come from a position of love, and certainly not from any kind of “agape” or spiritual love. Prop 68 isn’t about marriage. It isn’t about sex. It’s about having some human compassion and understanding for your fellow man. It’s about not sanctioning hatred of another human being. Mrs. Cain’s fundamentalist ranting misses the boat. If she wants to speak of Christ’s love, then she needs to start showing some consistency in her own words and deeds. Can she love another, as Christ loved her, by denying another human being their most basic civil rights?

“I’m a radical! I’m a real extremist. I don’t want to impeach judges. I want to impale them!” – Mark Schwartz, Republican Senator Tom Coburn’s chief of staff.

This extremist tone permeates the Congress and the White House.

“Our next step, whatever it is, must be more than rhetoric.” – House Majority Leader Tom DeLay

Today’s theocratic mindset is exposed bare and naked by reading Virginia Republican and writer, James Atticus Bowden. He writes that:

“Today, America is engaged in another Civil War, a long Culture War, to determine the consensus culture, the world view, and purpose of our Nation. Judeo-Christian or Pagan Human Secularism. The issues; Ten Commandments, public prayer, partial birth abortion, homosexual marriage, euthanasia, etc., are stalking horses for the intolerance of Tolerance and Multi-Culturalism. These Liberal Puritans are culturally cleansing Judeo-Christian America. Their judges are today’s tyrants. The Liberal Human Secularist Totalitarians are hand maidens of Islamist Totalitarians seeking to destroy Judeo-Christian America.”

“The Confederate battle flag is a racist symbol only to racists, demagogues (liberals, thus Democrats), and dummies. To Southerners, Confederate symbols stand for courage, sacrifice, and fidelity.”

“Tolerate homosexuals — they’re your kin — but don’t honor them.”

“We don’t give a damn what foreigners think of us. And, frankly, my dear, we don’t give a damn what Yankees think of us (and that really bothers them).”

“As a man actually named ‘Bubba’ all my life, I’m proud to be disdained by any non-Southerner – and non-conservative, non-family, anti-evangelical Christian – ‘youse guys’.”

“Red States will never abandon Israel – it’s an Evangelical Christian thing about loving the Jews. So, fighting the Islamists for centuries appears not to be a problem.” – Virginia Republican and writer James Atticus Bowden

Um…ya. PLEASE hurry Lord. These people really need to go. America needs the rapture….. and I need a new car.