The other day, Jill wrote a post about how Sarah Palin’s church insults the Jewish religion and supports those who actively work to convert Jewish people to Christianity. Well apparently they also support those who actively work to “convert” gay people to heterosexuality.
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 prayed for about six years.
[. . .]
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.
*Sits back and waits for that media scandal* (What do you mean it’s most likely not coming?)
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Who knew gay people had so much in common with Sarah Palin? She prays for the gays to go away and we pray for Sarah Palin to go away.
@ BadKitty: LOL!
Yeah, it pisses me off that this won’t get as much attention.
c.f. the “thespian away the lesbian”, “cry away the bi”, “surrender away the transgender” and “beer away the queer” movements.
“Converting gays” won’t be seen as scandalous or bigoted.
Converting gays is accepted as conventional wisdom by large parts of the american electorate, particularly in greater wingnutotopia.
“Converting” gays is obviously a stupid and bigoted idea.
But why all the hate towards trying to convert Jews to Christianity? Working to convert non-Christians is one of the fundamental tenets of many branches of Christianity (which has had unfortunate historical consequences of course).
Would we be so judgmental about a Muslim candidate? After all, Muslims actively seek to convert non-believers to their belief system. I do not find it offensive at all when Muslims do this – maybe I’m alone here.
Rhonil — setting aside my personal all around distaste for attempts to actively convert others to any religion (or non-religion), the fact is that they’re targeting a specific group in this instance as the heathens that need kind-hearted Christian saving. It would be less offensive and simply annoying if they were trying to convert everyone. But it’s the focus on Jewish people specifically smacks of prejudice.
Ugh. Haven’t they already proven that these don’t work? Reminds of one of my favorite movies BUT I’M A CHEERLEADER.
Rhonil,
I agree with Cara that I have great distaste for evangelizing in general, but another issue with that wasn’t the urge to convert but the belief that the people of Isreal were being punished BECAUSE they hadn’t converted to Christiantity.
It doesn’t seem like outright bigotry..true some is hatred towards gay pple. But is it really about keeping us under control.
The matter with Christians trying to convert Jews is not working rather OPPOSITE
But faith is *personal*! It shouldn’t concern us at all if Palin might believe we’re marching steadily toward Armageddon! Why are you picking on Palin’s faith? Isn’t it sexist to pick on her faith? Her family goes to church with her – why are you targeting her family?
In all seriousness, the specifics of Palin’s faith is an area where we still know *very* little and have reason to suspect it could deeply impact her decision-making, should she become president. It’s one thing if ordinary citizens believe that the Rapture is imminent, though even that is not a healthy thing for democracy. It’s quite another if the president believes she’ll be spirited up to heaven while I’ll be “left behind.”
Great post, Cara. Andrew Sullivan has picked up on the “conversion of gays through prayer” theme, so let’s hope the Log Cabin guys will get stirred to action.
Rhonil, as someone who grew up in an evangelical church, I guess my perspective is a little more insider-y (and obviously I am making an assumption about your own experience w/ religion, and I could be wrong).
This type of Christian has contempt for Jewish people because they’re Jewish. They don’t actually care about Jewish people; they want to work with them in order to bring about the “second coming” of Jesus. In other words, they think they’re going to hell, but they’re useful insofar as they can help Christians get to heaven faster. It’s hard to explain but it’s a repulsive, callous worldview.
Maybe I’m mis-reading, but can you explain how “some hatred towards gay people” coupled with trying to keep gay people under control isn’t outright bigotry?
it isn’t bigotry because “good, Christian” people are the ones doing it – those of you who hate the haters are just anti-Christian bigots
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