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5 thoughts on “Letter writer: Franklin Graham’s attack on gay X-men character is ridiculous

  1. Jason

    I was just reading a headline yesterday about how Americans are becoming less and less religious (Christian). I’m sure it’s largely contributed by religious figure heads spewing such ignorant and irrational rhetoric. With people becoming more and more educated thru the information age and formal education; they simply DON’T association themselves with such nonsense. Unfortunately, These fundamentalists take an “all or none” approach and “If you don’t stand for something; you’ll fall for anything.”

    • bsummers

      I was raised Southern Baptist, but I left Christianity at 17 when I visited a friends church, and on the first night, the preacher singled me out on the front row as someone who was going to hell because I had long hair.

      With my friends family behind me yelling at the preacher, I left marveling at how much enjoyment he took in trying to humiliate me.

      There are many wonderful and good people who profess to be Christians, like my friend and his family, who also never set foot back in that church. But there are some of them who simply want to elevate themselves by causing others to be unhappy. I put Franklin Graham in that category.

      • Jason

        Amen! It could’ve gone the other way. You could’ve cut your hair and continued to be blindly obedient.

        I like your Christ, I don’t like your Christians; they are so unlike your Christ…
        -Ghandi

  2. VAL

    Dr. Laura Schlessinger is a radio personality who dispenses advice to people who call in to her radio show. Recently, she said that, as an observant Orthodox Jew, homosexuality is an abomination according to Leviticus 18:22 and cannot be condoned under any circumstance. The following is an open letter to Dr. Laura penned by a east coast resident, which was posted on the Internet. It’s funny, as well as informative:

    Dear Dr. Laura:

    Thank you for doing so much to educate people regarding God’s Law. I have learned a great deal from your show, and try to share that knowledge with as many people as I can. When someone tries to defend the homosexual lifestyle, for example, I simply remind them that Leviticus 18:22 clearly states it to be an abomination. End of debate. I do need some advice from you, however, regarding some of the other specific laws and how to follow them:

    When I burn a bull on the altar as a sacrifice, I know it creates a pleasing odor for the Lord – Lev.1:9. The problem is my neighbors. They claim the odor is not pleasing to them. Should I smite them?

    I would like to sell my daughter into slavery, as sanctioned in Exodus 21:7. In this day and age, what do you think would be a fair price for her?

    I know that I am allowed no contact with a woman while she is in her period of menstrual uncleanliness – Lev.15:19- 24. The problem is, how do I tell? I have tried asking, but most women take offense.

    Lev. 25:44 states that I may indeed possess slaves, both male and female, provided they are purchased from neighboring nations. A friend of mine claims that this applies to Mexicans, but not Canadians. Can you clarify? Why can’t I own Canadians?

    I have a neighbor who insists on working on the Sabbath. Exodus 35:2 clearly states he should be put to death. Am I morally obligated to kill him myself?

    A friend of mine feels that even though eating shellfish is an abomination – Lev. 11:10, it is a lesser abomination than homosexuality. I don’t agree. Can you settle this?

    Lev. 21:20 states that I may not approach the altar of God if I have a defect in my sight. I have to admit that I wear reading glasses. Does my vision have to be 20/20, or is there some wiggle room here?

    Most of my male friends get their hair trimmed, including the hair around their temples, even though this is expressly forbidden by Lev. 19:27. How should they die?

    I know from Lev. 11:6-8 that touching the skin of a dead pig makes me unclean, but may I still play football if I wear gloves?

    My uncle has a farm. He violates Lev. 19:19 by planting two different crops in the same field, as does his wife by wearing garments made of two different kinds of thread (cotton/polyester blend). He also tends to curse and blaspheme a lot. Is it really necessary that we go to all the trouble of getting the whole town together to stone them? – Lev.24:10-16. Couldn’t we just burn them to death at a private family affair like we do with people who sleep with their in-laws? (Lev. 20:14)

    I know you have studied these things extensively, so I am confident you can help. Thank you again for reminding us that God’s word is eternal and unchanging.

    Your devoted fan,
    Jim

    http://www.humanistsofutah.org/2002/WhyCantIOwnACanadian_10-02.html

  3. Dionysis

    Great stuff; excellent! As for Graham, since the only thing he really inherited from his father was his appearance (and money), he has to pander to the sanctimonious hate-mongers and other loons to be relevant, IMO.

    It would seem that someone out there could understand that the biblical prohibitions against homosexuality are the same as regarding prostitution or self-gratification. That it is a “waste of seed”. In those days, women were considered simply vessels to contain the embryo; it was believed that the essence of the person was all contained in the male, thus the admonishment against sexual acts that did not result in pregnancy. Of couse, that would spoil the ability of bigots to claim divine justification for their behavior towards others.

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