Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

MineralMan

(147,386 posts)
Fri Apr 5, 2019, 01:49 PM Apr 2019

"Let's count Christian ministers who've advocated death for gays"

In a letter to the editor, a writer lists the names of some Christian Pastors who have said they supported the death penalty for LGBTQ people. Now, we see the occasional quote from some nutcase minister saying that, but it's interesting to see an actual list of such pastors. Given the criminalization of non-heterosexual sex in a number of Islamic countries, it's disturbing to see religious leaders here who would apply similar laws to LGBTQ people here in the United States. There may be more names that could be added to this list. In fact, I'm certain there are.

https://www.laconiadailysun.com/opinion/letters/let-s-count-christian-ministers-who-ve-advocated-death-for/article_af57d7c9-9315-5bf6-b967-4561f2e9e5d8.html


Let's count Christian ministers who've advocated death for gays

To The Daily Sun,

Poisonous M&Ms? How about Don Ewing's mixed nuts and moldy swiss cheese? Ewing wrote that I implied, "that since so many Americans kill each other, we shouldn’t care that there are a 'few' terrorist victims. That’s crazy!" It certainly is crazy and I implied no such thing, liar. Both are very serious issues. It's about balance, because far more die at the hands of Americans than terrorists here. Gun violence is simply more important, number-wise, if preventing the loss of life is one's chief aim. According to The New America Foundation, which tracks terror incidents, your chance of being shot by an American is over 3,000 times that of being attacked by a terrorist. Last year there were 12,000 gun murders but bigots have more important things to rant about. There have been 152 mass shootings this year and it took Republicans being in the crosshairs to notice gun violence.

Mr. Ewing says Imam Farrokh Sekaleshfar, an advocate for killing gays, was invited to speak in Orlando. He forgets to mention Christian Pastor Kevin Swanson, who advocates killing gays. (Huckabee, Jindal, and Cruz attended his 'Freedom 2015' knowing this.) Or televangelist Ben Bailey of the "Gospel of Christ' TV program preaching God commands Christians to stone gays and prevent women from teaching. Or Baptist Pastor Roger Jimenez telling his congregation the Orlando massacre was "great" and "helps society." Or Pastor Donnie Romero of Stedfast Baptist Church agreeing 100 percent with Romero. Romero advocates the death penalty for gays. Or Steven Anderson of Tempe's Faithful Word Baptist Church applauding the Orlando massacre and calling for the death of all gays. Or Pastor Curtis Knapp of New Hope Baptist Church in Seneca, Kansas, who wants the government to put gays to death. Or Jeff Smith, Emmanuel Baptist Church in Florida who equates homosexuals with serial killers, rapists, and child molesters. Or Pastor and Republican Andy Gipson in Georgia whose Facebook rants include saying gays, according to Leviticus, "are to be put to death." Or Lake Independent Baptist Church Pastor Dennis Leatherman’s fifty-minute sermon titled ,“Homosexuality and the Bible,” where he describes his struggle not to kill gays. Want more?

12 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies

msongs

(70,104 posts)
1. the bible says adulterers should be put to death yet there those 2 are still flying around
Fri Apr 5, 2019, 01:53 PM
Apr 2019

on air force one and living in the white house

MineralMan

(147,386 posts)
2. Here's a link to another example:
Fri Apr 5, 2019, 01:54 PM
Apr 2019
https://www.cnn.com/2017/09/11/politics/kfile-roy-moore-kevin-swanson/index.html

Alabama senate candidate repeatedly appeared on radio with pastor who preaches penalty for homosexuality is death

(CNN)Roy Moore, a Republican candidate for US Senate in Alabama, has appeared multiple times on a radio show hosted by a controversial pastor who preaches that the biblical punishment for homosexuality is death.

Moore, the former chief justice of the Alabama Supreme Court, is in a runoff primary race against fellow Republican and incumbent Sen. Luther Strange. Moore is a hardline conservative, who made his name in Alabama by championing social and cultural issues popular with the religious right.

Moore has appeared on pastor Kevin Swanson's Generation Radio at least five times and as recently as this February, a CNN KFile review finds. Swanson is a Colorado-based pastor who on several occasions has preached that the biblical punishment for homosexuality is death. Most recently, Swanson tied Hurricane Harvey in Houston to the city having "a very, very aggressively pro-homosexual mayor."


Ted Cruz is also buddies with Kevin Swanson. Surprise, surprise!

https://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/16/opinion/campaign-stops/ted-cruz-and-the-anti-gay-pastor.html

EarnestPutz

(2,565 posts)
3. Kill the gays, save the zygotes, because, you know, life is precious.
Fri Apr 5, 2019, 01:55 PM
Apr 2019

These folks will have a lot to answer for if they ever get to meet their god.

EarnestPutz

(2,565 posts)
12. You're right of course. The meeting is strictly hypothetical...
Sat Apr 6, 2019, 12:46 AM
Apr 2019

...but it's nice to imagine their discomfort if it were to happen.

trotsky

(49,533 posts)
5. Something something "not real Christians" something something"intolerance is a human characteristic"
Fri Apr 5, 2019, 02:01 PM
Apr 2019

I know the responses by now.

MineralMan

(147,386 posts)
6. Christians label themselves.
Fri Apr 5, 2019, 02:04 PM
Apr 2019

Who am I to say they are not Christians? I don't do that. Apparently, one can be an evil, murderous, bigoted creep and be a Christian, too. Even a leader of Christians, apparently.

So, if they say they're Christians, they're Christians, in my book.

uriel1972

(4,261 posts)
11. There are those Christians...
Fri Apr 5, 2019, 08:15 PM
Apr 2019

who label Christians who behave differently from them as "Not True Christians(tm)", so they can protect their cherry-picking ways.

MineralMan

(147,386 posts)
10. Unfortunately, yes. The SBC has a full complement of
Fri Apr 5, 2019, 03:56 PM
Apr 2019

right-wing fundamentalist churches that are members. Since there is no real central authority in the SBC, it has not real power to keep the nutcases at bay.

gtar100

(4,192 posts)
8. The hatred some have for LGBT people is insane
Fri Apr 5, 2019, 02:51 PM
Apr 2019

and having their religion to justify their cruelty is seriously scary. Given the latitude, they'd apply all the rules laid out in the Bible, even declaring themselves the hand of God's punishment, a role they particularly relish. It has absolutely nothing to do with concern for anyone's soul, I see only a lust for blood in their eyes.

Major Nikon

(36,899 posts)
9. What's the point of having one or more gods otherwise?
Fri Apr 5, 2019, 03:17 PM
Apr 2019

If you can’t use your preferred deity to provide cover for your hate and self-righteousness then there’s really no excuse for being an asshole.

Latest Discussions»Issue Forums»Religion»"Let's count Christian mi...