Palin's church: You can pray away the gay
Published Saturday, September 6, 2008
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Stumble It!ANCHORAGE — Gov. Sarah Palin’s church is promoting a conference that promises to convert gays into heterosexuals through the power of prayer.
“You’ll be encouraged by the power of God’s love and His desire to transform the lives of those impacted by homosexuality,” according to the insert in the bulletin of the Wasilla Bible Church, where Palin has worshipped for about six years.
Palin’s conservative Christian views have energized that part of the GOP electorate, which was lukewarm to John McCain’s candidacy before he named her as his vice presidential choice. She is staunchly anti-abortion, even in cases of rape and incest, and opposes gay marriage and spousal rights for gay couples.
Focus on the Family, a national Christian fundamentalist organization, is conducting the “Love Won Out” Conference in Anchorage, about 30 miles from Wasilla.
Palin, campaigning with McCain in the Midwest on Friday, has not publicly expressed a view on the so-called “pray away the gay” movement. Larry Kroon, senior pastor at Palin’s church, was not available to discuss the matter Friday, said a church worker who declined to give her name.
Gay activists in Alaska said Palin has not worked actively against their interests, but early in her administration she supported a bill to overrule a court decision to block state benefits for gay partners of public employees. At the time, less than one-half of 1 percent of state employees had applied for the benefits, which were ordered by a 2005 ruling by the Alaska Supreme Court.
Palin reversed her position and vetoed the bill after the state attorney general said it was unconstitutional. But her reluctant support didn’t win fans among Alaska’s gay population, said Scott Turner, a gay activist in Anchorage.
“Less than 1 percent of state employees would even apply for benefits, so why make a big deal out of such a small number?” he said.
“I think gay Republicans are going to run away” if Palin supports efforts like the prayers to convert gays, said Wayne Besen, founder of the New York-based Truth Wins Out, a gay rights advocacy group.
Community Discussion
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It's unfortunate that these issues ever made it the Federal Level. Why any Church would stoop to this ignorant behavior is beyond me. People's personal choices are just that - personal - not anything to do with the Government or the Church. I thought Christians were not supposed to judge others? hmm
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Read the new testament about being gay.
One of the wonders of the Internet is how easy it is for those who are thought of as fools, to open their mouths and remove all doubt.
One day soon, Gildy, your attitude will be seen by mainstream America as something akin to that of George Wallace and the racist Southerners who treated blacks as subhuman. Enjoy your descent into irrelevancy.
I will always call 'em as I see 'em. Most people look upon 'gay' creatures with contempt but are afraid to say anything about it. Whilst dealing with a 'gay' person, I do not treat him, her, or it as a sub-human being, I just get away from it as soon as I can....they are not the type of people I care to associate with.
"descent into irrelevancy?" No I call it being honest rather than being politically correct.
Yes, you're very honest about your bigotry and hatred.
As I said, your attitude is a dying one, on a descent into irrelevancy. Every opinion poll shows my generation overwhelmingly accepting of gays and lesbians, and generally supportive even of gay marriage.
You're fighting a rear-guard action, and you're going to lose. Every opponent of freedom always does.
Slavery? Gone.
Women's suffrage? A reality.
Jim Crow? Dead and buried.
Gay rights? Well on their way.
Gildy, if you were lying on an operating table and needed blood to save your life... do you really think we check the sexual orientation of the donor to save your life? Maybe you should add a clause to your advance directives!
Gildy, I'm gay, but I haven't got a limp wrist. Am I missing out?? I think you are basing you opinions on stereotypes. You see, Gildy, the world is changing, you seem to still think all gay men are wilting weaklings, but it just ain't so. The last hetero to give me verbal abuse in the street was taught a very important (and painfull) lesson.
Gay people are harmless, unless attacked for no reason. When was the last time you heard of someone getting mugged/ jumped/murdered by a gang of gays. They just want to get on with their lives, and be treated equally under the law. but by the same argument an awful lot of gays nowadays just aren't prepared to take verbal abuse, especially from poorly educated narrow minded bigots.
There are some really nasty dangerous people in this world, and it might help if so -called 'christians actually prayed about them instead of worrying about gay people.
There is no need to pretend "NORMALCY" as to things that are aberrant. Isn't it curious how TRUTH so "OFFENDS" there self important and fully convinced "ENLIGHTENED ONES" who have been obviously indoctrinated into the "Progressive Party's Pseudo-Religion" ; The rest of us "HICKS" are obviously (from their warped perspective) too stupid to know what is right and they cannot wait until they pervert every child into joining them in their pseudo-Religion of "Gay is good" and "Global Warming caused by Humans threatens the very existence of the World" false Religion.
Such idiocy must make them feel so very secure in their ignorance. Pity them & pray for them.
Yes I know... the word "there" in the second line should be "their". Big YAWN....
;-)
Stop the presses! Palin's church prays! For gay people, no less. What gall!
I'm sure that there is a story here, but it's not about Palin. It's about a national, and even local, press that has lost all sense of reality and political fairness. Come on, an article about a church praying for gay people. Yea, that's radical. Does that qualify as a "hate crime"?
I sure am glad I dont pay for this crumby newspaper.
To be fair, their not exactly praying "for" gay people. One can infer they are actually praying against the nature of gay people, either because they do hate gays or because they are afraid of the post-death consequences if they don't. Most likely it is a bit of both.
You knew once you heard she was picked for VP scrutiny would increase, and you knew once you heard she attended a wing-nut church this sort of story would leak out.
Again, there is an opportunity here for the republicans to distance themselves from a sort of irrational thinking. In lieu of optimism on my part, perhaps the few remaining gay republicans will abandon the sinking ship.
just another biased rant from the ignorant. Gildy, those of you that slam alternative lifestyles do so to mask their own homosexuality, you should keep that in mind when ranting around others as they probably see right through you. there are many "closet-dwellers" here in Fairbanks, i am out and have been since college. i am not threatened by your stance but rather feel sorry that you can not accept yourself (your sexuality). for those that think carrying a b-stard child in a redneck town is a challenge, try growing up gay in Americas reddest state. you have your Jesus and I have mine.
Obama's pastor made comments and the media went nuts.
Palin's pastor made comments and the media goes nuts.
Biden's pastor will he/she make comments?
McCain's pastor will he/she make comments?
Newsminer - What is this GARBAGE? I have understood all the nit-picky, irrelevant stories that have been regurgitated on your website... you are about the same as the rest of the Media out there (too bad, there was a time that our local paper was more respectable). However, this "story" is over the top. You should remove it immediately. This story has nothing to do with Sarah Palin or really _anything_ that is useful for the news today.
You are fueling a fight between two groups of people for no reason. That church doesn't hate anyone... they are offering a seminar or whatever so that folks can come and pray for themselves if they want to change. Good night, this kind of twisted, low-life journalism just makes me sick.
Stop running stories that are for sensationalism only. You are losing credibility.
Every issue centered around Gov. Palin weren't even something American cared about until she was announced. Gay.. anything... Abortions... these items are NOW taking precedence over the Economy.. over the War... over Health Care, Jobs! This is a Red Herring issue, nothing more.
I want Ms. Palin to tell us how she and McCain will help bring good paying jobs back to the US. What about crime, think prayer will help that? These are the things people in the Lower 48 care about. It's pretty bad right now. Not everyone has mineral wealth like Alaska, or a small enough population to really make sure everyone gets a cut.
So Palin thinks prayer cures "Homosexuality"... Maybe she should keep praying, but in the mean time.. figure out solutions to the problems facing America, not just ideas that you and your Church can't accept.
STOP IT! "(N)o religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office...." (US Constitution, Article VI) What part of "NO" can't you understand?
Freedom of religion means you get to choose where and how you worship and believe in. If you don't like it, you don't have to go to it. If you don't believe in their beliefs, you don't have to change your beliefs. And you have the right not to believe in religion or God, if you so choose. Again, another story to sell papers.
There are more people around you that are gay and you just don't know it they are all around you, watching you, waiting for you to slip.........
Then they'll POUNCE and you'll be "converted" faster than you can say "save me Jesus". Be careful boys- putting people down for their sexual orientation is a pretty DUMB thing to do, unless you agree with gays that being straight is as "evil" as being gay I guess, lol.
Homophobia is a red flag that you're gay, normal people just DON'T CARE. Homophobes get EMOTIONAL and EXCITED when gays are talked about, normal people just DON'T CARE.
I, am secure in my sexuality, I am not attracted to guy's, big deal, they don't bother me and I don't bother them and anybody that just puts them down for being who they are is as bad as any skinhead racist out there.
How can anybody much less a "Christian" JUDGE the Love of one human being for another?
(sheeple can't think for themselves, "baa baaa- I only know what I'm told- baaa baaaa")
Homosexuality, like all other sins that destroy men and women, can be forgiven, and the tragedy of perversion overcome. You need to turn to God, and ask forgiveness. You are being called to repent, and worship the God of your creation.
Homosexuality is a lifestyle CHOICE just like accepting welfare generation after generation is a lifestyle choice. When a person feels an attraction to the same sex he or she chooses to act upon that attraction. Biologically there is absolutely no reason for a same sex couple to engage in intercourse. They choose to do it because it feels good. Am I bigoted and homophobic because this is my position on homosexuality? I don't think so. I strongly believe, and I have taught my children this as well, that every human being deserves to be treated with kindness and civility because they are HUMAN BEINGS and not because they are different than me. What is the distinction? If a kid does something abhorrent, like commit murder, does this mean the parents hate their child? I can disapprove of the behavior, or in this case, lifestyle choice, without hating the person.
I was *so* relieved when I read this article. Bush was keen on faith-based initiatives, so I'm glad to be reassured that McCain-Palin will copy Bush's reliance on God and prayer to save America. And how fortunate for us that Palin's church has already started saving America, before she is even sworn in! Pray away the gays first, then what? I'm sure the good Christians of Palin's church will tackle other serious issues facing America, like escalating fuel costs, a collapsing economy, structural unemployment, poverty, toxins in our food, and American imperialist militarism. Perhaps they should also pray to eliminate the ignorance about sexuality that leads well-meaning people to seek a heavenly "cure" for homosexuality.
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Don't get all excited Imusuallyright... it is on a random occasion that I agree with you... at least you keep things interesting!
Good post Lost AK
Rain Again... put down the hateraid and find some self worth!
H20... there have actually been scientific studies linking an enlarged hypothalamus in the brain to homosexuality. Do you really think anyone would choose to be ousted by their family, friends, church, city and state? I don't think so...
I was born and raised in Alaska, lived there 50 years and moved to Massachusetts... Good people and bigots abound everywhere.
I asked god to let me live a life in which I would look at the person as an individual and not as a gender, age, race, sexual orientation, religion or any "abnormal" manifestation (including bigotry), and, for the most part, she answered my prayers. However, I have to point out that the only anomoly amongst those "labels" is religion. Let me get this "straight". It's okay to believe in an institution created by man and fraught with man's foibles rather than believe and trust in my family, friends and neighbors? And if my family, friends and neighbors don't believe or do as I do, they are suspect and the power of prayer will help them think and live as I do?
Dear Lord, please hear my prayer. I pray that the Republican Party moves ahead with issues that concern the nation as a whole and not attempt to legislate individual morality. Oh, yeah, and Lord, I do miss Alaska politics. I know this is selfish, but I pray that when I move back to Alaska that I'll get a shot at public office. My campaign motto will be "If I can clean a fish, I can lead a nation!!"
the left is afraid and reaching for what ever non sequitur garbage they can dredge up. they want the debate sidetracked. they know their views are faulty. they can't win in america with a head to head confrontation. most americans don't want a one world government or european style socialism and don't believe that the earth is not only alive, but a god.
LOL!, Excellent post taigalily, thank you.
Polarmark- we ALSO do NOT want FACIST CONTROL either, you "just happened" to leave that out.
Homosexuality is not a choice. Even if it were, what adults choose to do with other adults should not be an issue. Believe it's wrong? Okay. But try to understand it's not your life.
We should just change it... so that you have two options.
Everyone who wants to be married needs to have a Civil Union, the legal document connecting two adults. While the Marriage is strictly done in Churches (or religious organization of choice). Basically, Marriage is what "God" recognizes, while Civil Union is what the Law recognizes.
Government shouldn't be in the business of religion, and right now it is.
i believe being born gay or straight is not a choice. engaging in ANY behavior is.
lostalaskan... our society is in far more danger of falling into soviet style socialism than nazi style facism. we're a lot closer to the left end of that spectrum. middle of the road is ok. obama and biden is NOT middle of the road.
taigalily, thanks for the belly laugh. If you ever come home to Alaska, you have my vote. Looks like we might have an open senatorial seat, maybe a governor's seat as well... Come on home and take your rightful place among Alaska's capable leadership. PS--you *can* butcher a moose, yes?
I don't care what she believes in. I don't care who her church thinks is a sinner, or why they pray for them! I care that when the people speak out about an issue that concerns our well being, that the person I elected to speak for me DOES WHAT WE ELECTED HER TO DO! If she can not do that because of her beliefs then I have a problem! So far she has done exactly what we have asked of her and then some! So when it comes to these kinds of articles, that is all we should have to say! Any thing more is just feeding the fire of hate!
A tremendous amount of rhetoric and emotion can go into condemning a person or a group of people. The few thoughts I have are:
1. The only God of Heaven created us in his image and is no respecter of persons--he loves us all equally and unconditionally.
2. There are many sins listed in the Bible. . .but if you have accepted the Lord as your Savior your sins have been forgiven. Sin is sin. . .there is no hierarchy for sin---lying is a sin as is murder as is homosexuality as is stealing etc.
3. As a Christian I am not to judge others. . .because I am equally fallible. I am not in a position to judge an individual/their actions/decisons--this is not my place.
4. I have been directed by my savior to pray for and with my fellow man/woman.
5. Our leaders must be scrutinized--people want to know what the basis is of their faith or their character. What makes them think or operate the way that they do.
6. Let us all be thankful that our forefathers built a country that allows all of us to speak freely and openly about the things that matter to each of us. Our freedoms and rights as Americans are highly sought after. . .even this Blog is a right. . .not all countries allow their citizens to speak up or against each other.
7. Whether you prefer Sarah or Barack please make sure that you vote. . .and don't just talk or blog about it--let the best candidate win!
Good Morning!
I just prayed away Palin, her church, and Republican bigotry and corruption. I'll know by the response in the forum if it worked.
If it does I'm going to pray away the Democrats, hypocrisy and free speech. Really, I promise.
have a nice day.
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Apparently you all are missing the big picture of what the story is saying. It's saying that the church Palin attends when she's back home is hosting one of these 'if you just pray, you won't be gay anymore' events.
Now, there are movements like this all across the country. And as far as praying to change someone from gay to straight .... it's about as usefull as praying for your leg to grow back when it gets blown off in Iraq. It ain't gonna happen folks.
The 'gays' always say that people that don't approve of their queer lifestyle are closet 'gays'. That is just one of the many lies they tell to get people to accept their abnormal ways. Because of political correctness normal people pretend to accept their strange ways, but most people are disgusted by it.
Well darn. It didn't work.
draconianslacker, I couldn't agree more. What a concept: acceptance of marriage AND civil unions. I pray that at least one state will take the lead and recognize civil unions...hmmmm, as I recall one of the Commonwealths already did that. Separation of church and state. Yes!!! I love this country!!!
glow, thanks for the vote of confidence, but thankfully I've successfully run FROM office. PS sorry, I brake for skunks and other creatures, especially ungulates. They make terrible hood ornaments! :~) My father, a/k/a Mr. Alaskan Wilderness Man, would gratefully take you up on the offer!
LostAlaskan99712, Sheeple!! I love it. I can't wait to share that with my gay, Hispanic and Jewish neighbors!
Gildy, I'm in the minority because I'm not "most people" and I hope I would never "look upon 'gay' creatures (creatures???) with contempt". Whilst dealing with a person who claims not to "treat him, her, or it as a sub-human being", I just get away from it as soon as I can....it is not the type I care to associate with. Let's agree to disagree but both agree that "We love this country!!" (...creatures??? I still can't get over that...well, I suppose it's true, we're all god's creatures...right?)
All, this has been fascinating! My friends and co-workers all want to know what the Alaskan transplant thinks about the recent political changes. If asked I share my views with them, but having been on the periphery of politics for all of my working life I've learned that my opinion is just that. But, hey! How about those Red Sox????
I have to wonder if the church has been promoting these views from before when Palin became so popular. Church or not, they wouldn't be the first to capitalize on a members celebrity.
Gildy - Creatures? Really? Are gay people now sub-human? I'm cringing at imagine the recoil if someone said "black creature" or "native creature" instead of black people or native people.
I have nothing against gay people. If two men or two women are in love, that is their business. However, that being said, I personally am against gay marriage. Marriage is defined as a union between a man and a women. Others will disagree but that is their opinion and this is mine!
Out of curiosity, who defined marriage as such, what makes them the authority, and why can't it be redefined?
I am informed that Governor Palin's church takes the Bible very literally. I am informed that this is the basis for her belief that creationism should be taught in public schools. I also recognize that the only reason she believes that it should be taught side-by-side with evolution is that she doesn't have the votes to have creationism replace evolution outright in public school curricula - just like she didn't have the votes to fire the head librarian at the Wasilla Public Library.
With that in mind, I thought before I vote for president this year it would be wise to quickly review some of the platitudes and standards of conduct that are expressly set forth in the Bible beyond those Ten Commandments that are so very well known.
The Bible says that defilement of the body is an abomination, (Leviticus 19:28) as is homosexuality, (Leviticus 18:22) and eating shellfish (Leviticus 11:10). It also says that it is okay to possess slaves, both male and female, provided they are purchased from neighboring nations, (Leviticus 25:44), or to sell your daughter into slavery, (Exodus 21:7), and that persons working on the Sabbath should be put to death (Exodus 35:2), along with anyone who trims their hair around their temples (Leviticus 19:27), or any farmer who plants two different crops in the same field, albeit in the case of the farmer, you need to get everyone in town together to stone him to death (Leviticus 24:10-16).
So I am warning all farmers in the Matanuska Valley to carefully review their growing plans for 2009 as there may be new standards in place after the general election. I only wonder how it is that shellfish is still on the menu in any restaurant in the State of Alaska and why there still are so many tattoo parlors in the State.
MarieBarr,
It was GOD who defined marriage as this way. Even other cultures in other countries will agree with this statement (except they will say it was their GOD who said it.) God created the heavens and the earth so I think he pretty much has the authority. It can't be redefined because it was GODS words. I would like to add something to this that many may get mad about. But please think about it. Men and woman are really the only species that get interested in the same sex. Male dogs go to female dogs. Vise versa. Bulls go to cows. Vise Versa. Animals are not attracted to the same sex. Just something to think about.
Luckily in this country we have the separation of Church and State, "god's word" and the law are constitutionally separate. So, let Churches who follow god's word define religious marriage as between a man and a woman, and lets let the law define it as a legally recognized union between two adults.
Humans are not the only species who participate in homosexual relations. I'm not going to bother finding the link again, I've posted it on here before, but there has been homosexual behavior documented in something around over 1500 other species. Not just one time sexual acts, but long term relationships between animals.
all this god stuff gives one a wicked headache don't you all think. personally i don't believe in the invisible man or santa claus. church and state should be seperate don't you think...come on!! lets stick to true issues that are going to affect us and our childern. not ones beliefs on make believe stuff..!!
God did no define marriage. Man defined God (in his own image, I might add), and then had that God define things the way man saw fit. The Bible is no more a work to take literally than the Ramayana, the Iliad, the Odyssey, the Communist Manifesto, Harry Potter, Fear of Flying, Martha Stewart Living, or Mad Magazine (actually, Mad Magazine is worth listening to; in my experience it gets closer to the truth than just about anything ever written).
The Bible is a work of literature, as well as a marginally reliable work of history. It was written by men. Every word it places in God's mouth was placed there by men.
Homosexuality is as old as humanity. You can't pray it away. Partly because for some people it's their natural inclination, but mostly because there is no God to answer that or any other prayer.
Are there not any people out there that believe in God anymore? No wonder our nation is falling apart. I bet people one day real soon will want "in God we trust" removed from our currency and "Under God" removed from our pledge of alligence. I guess the final days are around the corner. In the final days, man will question the existance of God.
MarieBarr,
You are correct, in the United States there is a separation of Church and State. However, people, who make up the population of the United States, participate in both Church and State. Many, if not most, of those people acknowledge the origins of marriage as being of a religious and holy nature. Thus, it is the people that will decide, one way or the other, whether civil unions involving same sex couples will have a place in this country or not.
This whole article is a bunch of junk. The very nature of Jesus was one of love. The whole reason for His existance and sacrifice was and is God the Father's love of His creation, man. When a Christian begins to love others the way God loves us, then he/she desires that everyone, including his/her enemies (I'm talking real enemies here, not political/social/ethical foes) would come into relationship with Him. Prayer is a powerful and beautiful tool to be used to enlist the aide of the Holy Spirit and a whole army of Heavenly hosts to move powerfully on earth. There are thousands upon thousands of individuals in this country alone who have lived openly homosexual lives for many years and have left that lifestyle once they came to truly know and understand who God is and how much He loves them. I would fathom a guess that there were lots of people praying for, and possibly with those individuals as well. Don't believe me? Here's the website of an organization that's been working with and praying for homosexuals for many years. Most of those working within the organization are former homosexuals themselves. http://www.exodus-international.org/
God the Father desires nothing more than that each of us would enter into relationship with Him. He won't force that relationship upon any of us, and Christians should not either. But they can pray, quietly, silently and powerfully for anyone and everyone (and yes, they can and do also pray about all of the things that are taking place in this world that most people would agree are wrong or evil).
Con't on the next post...
Sex is one of the most powerful influences in our lives, and there are so many titillating deviations that the list is almost endless. Take for example all of the heterosexual girls kissing girls that's been on television and in the movies. Why is it so popular? Because it turns people (mostly men I assume) on. And if it gets viewer ratings or internet hits, then it'll get promoted by the media.
There are very few people in this world that aren't turned on by something sexual that's out of the ordinary. But does that mean we should pursue it? Does that mean it's good? Does that mean it's an "okay" thing? If someone likes sex with donkey's, do we avert our eyes and say, "For each his own. As long as it's not hurting them or the donkey it must be okay." We can come up with almost endless examples of this type. Are we to avert our eyes and say the same thing for each of them?
What happens when the pedophiles of the world want to normalize their desires? Eventually those individuals were successful in normalizing such behavior in Rome. Are we going to being accepting of them as well when they start marching through our streets, protesting and telling all of us that they're being discriminated against because of their sexual desires?
When the U.S. eventually goes down the road to normalizing homosexuality (and I believe it eventually will), that will simply be the trickle that will eventually lead to a flood of what today is still considered perverse sexual behavior. When people no longer attempt to resist their sexual fantasies, their is simply no whetting of the sexual appetite, and it results in a downward spiral of societal norms. It's happened to numerous civilizations throughout history, and as we're no better (when it comes to sexual desires) than any of those other civilizations were, it will happen here as well.
Of course there are people who believe in God... but not one that banishes you to the gates of hell for homosexuality, abortions, premarital sex, indecent thoughts, masturbation, or any other heinous act that can be considered lude or crude behaviors of a sinner’s lifestyle. God is all loving, all forgiving... and there for you as you choose your relationship with a higher spiritual power... in whatever shape, name or creed you find it! There is not one way to believe in God, to have a relationship with God, to have faith in God... Our nation is falling apart because of greed, poor leadership and a very selfish man named George Bush who did not listen to one of his advisors over the past 8 years because no one could tell him what to do!
"in god we trust" was put on the paper permanatly in 1966. "UNDER GOD" was added in 1956. what was going on before this? was everyone going down under?? eventually man [and women] will evolve above this nonsense and realize their is no god and we are all animals on this earth, waiting to die.
Go McCain and Palin in 2008!
"What happens when the pedophiles of the world want to normalize their desires?"
This disgusting comparison shows you to be a clueless bigot. The moral difference between a consenting relationship involving loving adults, and a coercive assault upon an unwitting child, is blindingly obvious to any informed person.
"When the U.S. eventually goes down the road to normalizing homosexuality (and I believe it eventually will)"
"Will?" I suggest you check your calendar. It already has. The largest state in the union is now marrying same-sex couples, and all the polls say the state's voters are about to ratify that decision. 90 percent of Fortune 500 companies prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation, and more than half voluntarily provide benefits to same-sex partners.
Newsflash: the culture war is ending, and you lost.
Gildy,
My biggest wish would be to know you personally, see you have a gay child that you "run away" from, only to be there to hug your child to comfort him/her from your indescretions.
SlyArcticFox stated: Apparently you all are missing the big picture of what the story is saying. It's saying that the church Palin attends when she's back home is hosting one of these 'if you just pray, you won't be gay anymore' events.
Ya, that didn't work on South Park either...
and pixyfae, I think that ex-gay movement is a load of crap. That's what her church is pushing. Pray and you won't be gay anymore.
polarflack - Isn't Alaska the largest state in the union? Followed by Texas?
Dana - I'm pretty sure they mean largest population wise, which would be California.
I just want to clarify... when I mentioned lude and crude... I had not read ADF posting realting the sexual crimes against children and the loving relationships between homosexual and hetrosexual couples of consent!
ADF... your statement is so sick and distorted! Sexual crimes against children are so vulgar, stripping and painful... for you to relate a consenting relationship to a manlipulated power controled attack on an innocent child... is just awful! Hopefully sexual assaults on any person will never be normal in our society!
And thanks to our current legislation, sentencing for sexual assault crimes has increased... and people who are taking their sexual fantasys and dysfunctions out on the public in nonconsentual attacks are going to be seeing 10-30 years... which may give them the opportunity to find God... whatever their God may be...
If homosexuality is a choice, does that mean you can be gay.
CHOICE... there is that word again..ugh
SlyArcticFox... I was simply making a funny comparing (parity) the article written to the episode of South Park where..OH never mind! I think this article is ridiculous! I think a church doing that is ridiculous! I dont care if you are gay or not! And I dont care what kind of church Sarah goes to. All I care about is who will do the better job for ME and America in office in reguards to the big issues, IE economy, war on terror, special needs, education, etc.
That's what I thought, Marie, but you never really know - especially since Alaska is usually displayed on maps as a little island in a box next to Hawaii.
riotwo - Bingo.
I just wish I could pray away the French.
All creatures great and small. Ha, ha, ha, ha. So sorry youse folks got so stirred up, glad to help. Now go to your PFLAF meeting and cry in your wine cooler.
Wow.....Just wow....it still amazes me that people can be so bigoted and judgmental against people they don't even know.
Did anyone else see the Daily Show this week where they tried to get attendees at the RNC to simply say the word "choice"? Funny how the word has vanished (undoubtedly a political device) until the single-most motivating topic is brought up in an election year.
I must agree with The_Alaska_Curmudgeon. The Bible is a collection of old literature on the subject of religion and philosophy. There is no reason to believe it is entirely factual (or has more truth than other old religious texts) and it should not be taken literally.
Therefore, there is no reason to think you can pray away the gay anymore than you can pray away rain or disease or anything else. There have always been gay people.
However, since it is not possible for 2 males or 2 females to produce offspring, I would say that homosexuality is not what "nature" intended. I believe that many gay individuals are so due to sexual trauma suffered at a young age, or a predisposition at birth. In the case of trauma, there may be hope to stop gay behavior through therapy if that is what the individual desires.
I do not think that being gay is a question of right or wrong but if everyone was gay the human race would die off rather quickly.
Another Sunday letter reiterates to people that Mr Obama professes being a Christian, but the lady Governor Sarah Palin gets critcized in the paper for going to church.
Let me know when the church has a prayer to get rid of some of these idiotic editorials that have been published lately.
polarmark- You don't have to be a nazi to be fascist.
P_Davenport
My apoligies, I was not commenting on your post, just happened to be after your post.
Mine is just commenting in general.
I commend you for the posts, you provide good information and thought.
Remember the same Evangelical movement, headquartered in Colorado Springs, had their leadership tossed out for exchanging homosexual sex for Meth. Obviously praying away the Gay didn't work there.
I'll try praying away the stupid, but Alaska can't afford a smaller population.
Curious why the DNM has not reported on Obama's Muslim slip up today? Does seem very one sided
Gay is all according to gods great plan. God changed his mind and told me a new-new testament. Not that Mormon frap or that L-ron Hubbard jive, but a new new new testament. How? A burning bush told it to me - you see I was out picking berries one day and I found these mushrooms, and... Just like Moses. Prove I'm wrong.
here's the deal guys: I read all this to entertain myself over my morning coffee. that there are still people in the USA in the 21st century who believe that G od wrote the bible and decided what marriage is, who should live with whom and how, is really quaint. More than that, I respect you all for having such strong beliefs -- good for you! I say...And that's why Sarah Palin is your Governor. Because her beliefs align with such views. Good for her! Good for you all!
Until you want to export this kind of thing down here in the form of the Vice Presidency. Then we have a problem. Because down here in the States, we have a variety of ethnicities, religions, lifestyles, colors and ways of doing things. It's hard at times to deal with all the varieties of mindsets, values, attitudes, yes. But given that there are immigrants from the four corners of the world living within a block of my home, given that my immediate neighbors are lesbians with kids, Jews, Christians, Muslims (all within a 3 minute walk away) -- I can't say "my way or the highway."
So no, I don't believe what you all believe, and you have no more chance of changing my mind than I have of changing yours. The difference here is, I have no desire to force you to believe what I believe. But if you all think that you can send your Governor or anyone else as an emmissary of the mentality that says that your Christian bible is in some way a blueprint for how the rest of us are expected to live -- well, you all can just dream on.
Pinhead, ummm...where did you get "all" of you in AK? "So no, I don't believe what you all believe" that sounds just as hypocritical, and speaks volumes of your mindset,values,and attitude. All of us here in Alaska do not feel that way and for you to judge an entire State by a column you read, as well as the value of our Governor by what Church she may or may not attend screams volumes of how bigoted you yourself are. So before you speak of your self righteousness try talking to yourself in the mirror first!
Few things push as many buttons as the Gay/Straight/Bi issues.
Everyone is entitled to their own opinions. However, before passing judgement on those around you whose sexuality differs from you, take a realistic look at the studies on animals that show the prevalence of heterosexual/homosexual/bisexual behaviors common in animals, then try to tell me that there is something against nature in people who exibit the same behaviors. For those of you looking at this from the religious front: If God created the animals to act the way they do, then how can it be against His Will? If we are all made in His image, then how is it against His Will?
And for those of you who would use the Word of God to heap hatred on your fellow man, I have a few scriptures for you that you might want to brush up on:
Leviticus 19:18
Matthew 7:12
Matthew 19:19
Matthew 22:35-40
Mark 12:28-34
Romans 13:8-10
Galatians 5:14
James 2:8-9
This is all I am going to say on the matter.
AKladyphotographer_ like your comment! Yes, I can tell you my dogs dont care if you are man or beast, or male or female...anything that will stand still long enough can become a victim..LOL!
James 4:11
Do not speak evil against one another, brothers and sisters. Whoever speaks evil against another or judges another speaks evil against the law and judges the law; but, if you judge the law you are not a doer of the law, but a judge. There is one law giver and judge, who is able to save and to destroy. So who then are you to judge your neighbor.?
that's all.
My goodness.
gildy you are a really nasty peice of work.Live and let live.I don't care who you love,or what you do so long as you harm none.
I like being wiccan.No one can tell me Gays are unnatural when you can spot it in the animal kingdom.
I wonder if I can pray hard enough for my cat stop molesting my sweaters....:)
The Church pretty much ran things for many years, we call it the "Dark Ages". I wonder why?
Oh yeah, it was the fear mongering and bigotry.
Ignorance brings out ignorance , that brings out the ingorant , then pretty soon you wonder who is really the moost ignorant of the ignorant !!!! The bottem line is no one really knows . All there is ,is faith . Then Mankind , Womankind , and all the Otherkind have had great faith in manny different things down thru time .
H20s- You said "Homosexuality is a lifestyle CHOICE just like accepting welfare generation after generation is a lifestyle choice."
So, when did you wake up and decide to choose to be heterosexual in orientation, hmmm? Just as you didn't choose to be straight, people don't choose to be gay.
To others-as for this read the Bible, I'm burning in Hell nonsense, the divine being loves ALL that she created. People wrote the Bible, not divine beings. When you use the Bible as a tool to spread hate, misunderstanding and division, you discredit anything that it has to offer. Remember, too, that great religions have come and gone, so too shall yours when people get sick of it enough or when it is ruined enough. Using your Bible as a tool of hate puts it well on the way to being cast aside. I'll take my neo-paganism over what you offer any day, and,no,I am most certainly not going to Hell for that.
Here's an idea for everyone- use your time here on Earth to work for good things, for a better world for ALL, rather than getting worked up and hating/misunderstanding. Go pick up trash, teach a kid to read,feed the hungry, shelter the homeless, get involved in a positive way to build a better life for all.
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