In “Diatribe: To All Da Haters” (originally entitled “Queers and Destiny: Who Hates Who”) an article published a few years ago in Critic (the student magazine of Otago University) I wrote the following:
… If teaching that homosexual conduct is wrong is akin to racism or propagation of apartheid, then the aforementioned religious organisations are the moral equivalent of the Ku Klux Klan. Those who propagate such arguments need to reflect on the implications of what they affirm. Imagine a society where the local synagogue or Mosque is treated as though it were the local Klan headquarters. Or where Muslim students are perceived and treated the way we currently relate to white supremacists. It is not difficult to see that the widespread dissemination and acceptance of this argument would lead to an atmosphere of pervasive religious intolerance – such intolerance is the very antithesis to what many of those protesters ostensibly claim to stand for.
The solution to intolerance is tolerance. Tolerance of those ideas you may fervently disagree with and recognition of another’s right to freely hold and express them. Tolerance requires one to respond to disagreement with rational persuasion, not vilification. This cuts both ways.
I was widely vilified and ridiculed for my comments and denounced as hate filled and bigoted. It is interesting to compare what I said with the comments of Chai Feldblum, the Georgetown University law professor nominated by Obama to serve on the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
Just as w
e do not tolerate private racial beliefs that adversely affect African-Americans in the commercial arena, even if such beliefs are based on religious views, we should similarly not tolerate private beliefs about sexual orientation and gender identity that adversely affect LGBT [lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender] people,” the Georgetown law professor argued…
For those who believe that a homosexual or bisexual orientation is not morally neutral, and that an individual who acts on his or her homosexual orientation is acting in a sinful or harmful manner (to himself or herself and to others), it is problematic when the government passes a law that gives such individuals equal access to all societal institutions.
Of course those religions that believe homosexual conduct is sinful include Roman Catholicism, Eastern Orthodoxy, evangelical Protestantism, many neo-orthodox Protestants, Islam, Orthodox Jews, Mormons, Jehovah’s Witness’s, Seventh Day Adventists and so on. So presumably, if we are to take Feldblum at her word, none of these groups should be tolerated in Obama’s society and all should be denied equal access to societal institutions.
Tags: Barack Obama · Chai Feldblum · Freedom of Conscience · Freedom of Religion · Homosexual Conduct · Religion in Public Life4 Comments
A common objection to belief in the God of the Bible is that a good, kind, and loving deity would never command the wholesale slaughter of nations. In the tradition of his popular Is God a Moral Monster?, Paul Copan teams up with Matthew Flannagan to tackle some of the most confusing and uncomfortable passages of Scripture. Together they help the Christian and nonbeliever alike understand the biblical, theological, philosophical, and ethical implications of Old Testament warfare passages.
I’m struggling to understand exactly why you were vilified. I must be missing something obvious. I thought this sums it up, and it indeed cuts both ways:
The solution to intolerance is tolerance. Tolerance of those ideas you may fervently disagree with and recognition of another’s right to freely hold and express them. Tolerance requires one to respond to disagreement with rational persuasion, not vilification. This cuts both ways.
.-= My last blog-post ..Phil Goff – Santa Claus to Ordinary Kiwis =-.
Very good article Matthew. Nowhere in the article did you or Destiny express the view that homosexual behaviour should be criminalised again let alone advocate violence of any sort against homosexuals.
I also do not suggest criminalising homosexuality. However, I have been outspoken in opposing homosexual adoption, surrogacy and teaching school children that homosexuality is an equally valid lifestyle choice. I also point out obvious links between homosexuality and STDs including HIV when the lunatic fringe of homosexual rights movement argues for New Zealand Blood Services to allow homosexuals to donate blood.
I get labelled as a homophobe as it is easier than logical debate. Occasionally, I even receive abusive and arguably threatening posts and emails. I recently, received one from someone who supported Jim Peron. For those who do not remember Peron he was kicked out of New Zealand for amongst other things his strong links to NAMBLA (North American Man Boy Love Association).
I find it ironic that those who accuse others of promoting hate and violence are often guilty of that themselves.
The reformation of Rome?
…it was good to see the backdown of Harridan Harman.
Will Chai Feldblum, Obama’s version of Harridan be led to a similar recantation? Matt of mandm blogs on the tensions in Feldblum’s ideology.
Yes I agree. We should not threaten homophobic people with violence or exclude them from society as this is counterproductive. As is the case with racist or sexist people what they require is education. Accept them and try to show them the error of their ways at the same time.