[b]Uganda set to make homosexuality punishable by death[/b]

[ChristShepherd]

Uganda set to make homosexuality punishable by death

While homosexual acts are already illegal in the African nation of Uganda, a new law being discussed would attach a minimum sentence of life in prison for such acts, and practitioners of homosexuality could be given the death sentence.

According to the Guardian U.K. The push for harsher punishments has come mostly from American evangelists Scott Lively, Don Schmierer and Caleb Lee Brundidge. Lively is a noted anti-gay activist and president of Defend the Family International, a conservative Christian association, while Schmierer is an author who works with “homosexual recovery groups�. Brundidge is a “sexual reorientation coach� at the International Healing Foundation. They have pushed stories onto Ugandan officials of European gays "recruiting" men and women from Uganda; and that homosexuality can be cured.

Read more: http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/2 ... z14c4YoGr8

What do you think about American Evangelists influencing politics in foreign countries?
Is it Justice to execute Homosexuals?
Is homosexuality a crime? Is it a civil crime or a religious crime?

[Slopeshoulder]

This is just terrible!
And when did evangelism become fused with literalism and hatred?

It is not justice, and it is not a crime.

The religionists and the govermnent are the criminals here.

[ChristShepherd]

This is just terrible!
And when did evangelism become fused with literalism and hatred?

It is not justice, and it is not a crime.

The religionists and the govermnent are the criminals here.

Yes....it is terrible to execute people for being homosexuals.

But I wonder what would happen to homosexuals in the USA if the religious right ever gained political power to influence the law?

[Zzyzx]

.

This is just terrible!
And when did evangelism become fused with literalism and hatred?

It is not justice, and it is not a crime.

The religionists and the govermnent are the criminals here.

As occurs frequently, I find myself in agreement with a Thinking Theist.

This is yet another example of an extremely negative effect of fusing religion and government -- theocracy -- rule by religion. Most technologically advanced nations have limited the power of clerics. However, that is a relatively recent development in "western nations" where theocracy prevailed for a thousand years of the Dark and Middle Ages (and was imposed by force on conquered lands when possible).

A great deal of influence of religious dogma is still represented in US law -- often criminalizing actions that harm no one, except perhaps the individual involved, (i.e., "victimless crimes") prohibiting actions that offend nothing more than the sensitivities or religious preferences of OTHER people.

Laws prohibiting prostitution, pornography (private, adult), liquor sales, and Sunday sales are examples of areas where religious-based preferences are imposed on even non-religious people.

[Slopeshoulder]

This is just terrible!
And when did evangelism become fused with literalism and hatred?

It is not justice, and it is not a crime.

The religionists and the govermnent are the criminals here.

Yes....it is terrible to execute people for being homosexuals.

But I wonder what would happen to homosexuals in the USA if the religious right ever gained political power to influence the law?

It would be very ugly if and when theocracy happens. Very.
Let's be friends and work to make sure it never happens.

[flitzerbiest]

It is often argued that the church has a positive, ennobling effect on the population. This is a clear case of the opposite being true. It is somewhat comforting that not all Christians feel this way, but the church is sliding hard to the right, and this is a natural conclusion of that effect.

Honestly, the difference between these evangelists and the Taliban is negligible.

[Zzyzx]

.

It would be very ugly if and when theocracy happens. Very.
Let's be friends and work to make sure it never happens.

I agree 100% -- and thus the developing alliance between Thinking Theists and Thinking Non-Theists (at least in our Forum).

"Thinking" is the key word.

I am proud to call many Thinking Theists (here and elsewhere) my friends -- and I truly appreciate the wisdom in your words.


Z

[Slopeshoulder]

It is often argued that the church has a positive, ennobling effect on the population. This is a clear case of the opposite being true. It is somewhat comforting that not all Christians feel this way, but the church is sliding hard to the right, and this is a natural conclusion of that effect.

Honestly, the difference between these evangelists and the Taliban is negligible.

Bingo! Couldn't agree more. I've been saying that John Walker Lind is not the actual American Taliban since the day he was arrested.

[ChristShepherd]

.

This is just terrible!
And when did evangelism become fused with literalism and hatred?

It is not justice, and it is not a crime.

The religionists and the govermnent are the criminals here.

As occurs frequently, I find myself in agreement with a Thinking Theist.

This is yet another example of an extremely negative effect of fusing religion and government -- theocracy -- rule by religion. Most technologically advanced nations have limited the power of clerics. However, that is a relatively recent development in "western nations" where theocracy prevailed for a thousand years of the Dark and Middle Ages (and was imposed by force on conquered lands when possible).

A great deal of influence of religious dogma is still represented in US law -- often criminalizing actions that harm no one, except perhaps the individual involved, (i.e., "victimless crimes") prohibiting actions that offend nothing more than the sensitivities or religious preferences of OTHER people.

Laws prohibiting prostitution, pornography (private, adult), liquor sales, and Sunday sales are examples of areas where religious-based preferences are imposed on even non-religious people.

Somebody famous, [I don't remember who] once said....."You can't legislate the public morals."

People will usually do what they want to do despite the laws that the Theists pass.
Look what happened with Prohibition. It actually increased the consumption of alcohol.
The Theists have tried to suppress gambling, prostituton, drug use, and pornography without success. Pornography is the biggest thing on the internet.

The shame of the system of supression is that we end up making criminals out of people who just want to smoke marijuana, bet on a football game, and watch a little porn.

[Slopeshoulder]

.

It would be very ugly if and when theocracy happens. Very.
Let's be friends and work to make sure it never happens.

I agree 100% -- and thus the developing alliance between Thinking Theists and Thinking Non-Theists (at least in our Forum).

"Thinking" is the key word.

I am proud to call many Thinking Theists (here and elsewhere) my friends -- and I truly appreciate the wisdom in your words.


Z

Me too.
I'd also add "wise." Because thinking isolated from wisdom can also lead us to grief. Beware the certainty of technocrat as well as that of the theocrat.

Which brings up a point. I think that in a world of imperfect knowledge (all of it) and imperfect people (all of us), it is best if we speak in terms of the themes and emphases (rather than the alleged "truths") of our respective traditions, areas of expertise, communities, and worldviews. That kind of civility sort of set the tone between demoninations when I was in Div. school, and I don't see why it can't set the tone between all non-extremist people. For example some here emphasize rationality, some data, some poetry, some justice, some the old, some the new, etc. I wouldn't want to make a major decision on a hot button issue without that kind of committee at my disposal. And as we individually strive to become more learned, more experienced, and more supple in our thinking, we each can represent multiple themes and emphases simultaneously (in my own case, these are sourced from liberal, postmodern, catholic, american, euro-male, northeastern, semi-buddhist and taoist, rational, pluralist, business, baby boomer, romantic, and aesthetic engagements and experiences).

So if we find ourselves having to make policy decisions around hot button issues, we can gather to listen to, respect, and try to accomodate the themes and emphases, "bracketing" the "truths." In that way, certain themes like love, forgiveness, healing, wholeness, flourishing, life, inclusion, freedom, rationality, fairness, justice, transformation, trust, etc all have a place at the table.

But we need moderates of broad mind, big heart, little fear and good intentions to accomplish that. The many clowns in politics and the media aren't helping.

So, to hijack Shakespeare, first we shoot all the incorrigable and belligerant extremists. Or at least call them by their name and deny them intellectual and moral equivalency. Fantasy and hate are never acceptable presuppostisions.

Bad Taliban. They're an archetype, so they're all around us. A few years ago Richard Thompson wrote a song about it in which Charlie Parker, Albert Einstein and others were all called into question and dismissed as, like Socrates, corrupters and decadents.