Soulforce, a Christian gay rights group, is on a 19 school tour to spread their message that homosexuality is not a sin. Their latest stop was Wheaton College (Billy Graham's alma mater, ha) and they were welcomed by students and faculty.
Soulforce, a Christian gay rights group, says it uses tactics borrowed from the 1961 Freedom Ride for civil rights. The goals are to seek equality for gay students at Christian colleges and raise a new generation of gay activists.
But some really fucked up shit.
"Wheaton College not only expels students who practice homosexuality but who also affirm homosexuality. We do not believe that students should have to face this kind of discrimination.""Sexual intimacy belongs with the confines of marriage," Jones said. "We don't single out homosexuals. But we do stand on historical and biblical Christian beliefs that have remained the same over the centuries."
College officials say Soulforce won't have an impact on the "community covenant" that students must sign that forbids all sex outside of marriage and says homosexuality is a transgression against God.
"Religious institutions have certain boundaries," said Gary Burge, New Testament professor at the college. "We believe that the Bible teaches that homosexuality is a sin."
Snore. When will these freepers quit? What a scary environment to be gay in. I thank goddess everyday I live in the Bay Area, I am telling you...
Read about the equality ride here.
via Sun-Times. and Chicago Tribune.
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This group has been doing positive stuff for so long! I infiltrated a creepy gay conversion conference in February, and Christians came out to protest the event. One told me about Soulforce, and I've been a huge fan ever since! Thanks for posting this!
WOOT! Go, Gays for Jesus!
I do not condemn nor condone homosexuality. Who am I to judge?
But I know that my religous beliefs do teach that sex outside of marriage is a sin. Period.
So I think it's a biased and with no foundation that religious schools are critized for not being "accepting" of homosexuals.
But the thing is, if thats what they teach, than you either adhere to it or you don't. It's really not something that is up for debate.
I do think even the religious schools need to remember "hate the sin, not the sinner" but it does not mean one must change the rules or whatnot for students who choose alternative lifestyles.
If you do not agree with the religous right or left about certain beliefs than do no attend those schools.
But they are not in the wrong, for teaching what they believe. It's not a win win situation, but it doesn't have to be a win lose situation either.
So do they kick out straight students for having sex outside of marriage?
If churches kicked out every minister who had sex outside of marriage, there would be a shortage of ministers.
There is a professor at UT Austin who gives a lecture saying that the condemnation of homosexuality in the Bible is a result of translations over the years. According to him, it isn't explicitly stated in ancient texts. Don't know about his accuracy, but I think it is interesting.