[Vision2020] Marriage and the bible

[Andreas Schou]

> My point is, we all live together in Moscow. I think it wrong to 
> purposely 
> create an organization that has the purpose of dividing the 
> community rather 
> than bringing it together. To me this group is a witch hunt 
> against people that 
> think and believe differently and have a "VISION" different from 
> my own.  It is 
> what has been done time and time again against many minorities, 
> particularly 
> gays and lesbians. People should organize, but they should do so 
> to push 
> issues and unite the community, not attack individuals or bring 
> them down. 


You have the luxury of living in peace with Christ Church, as do I: you are white, straight, Christian, male, and otherwise inoffensive to their belief system. If by some bizarre quirk of circumstance Doug Wilson ruled the world, you would be no better or worse off. It isn't your ancestors' legacy being attacked, it isn't your rights being threatened, and it isn't you that's being threatened.

Not everyone has that luxury.

When members of Christ Church -- politically active members, like one of two public defenders in Latah County -- argue that gays and lesbians should be executed without remorse, it isn't a laughable fringe belief: it's a direct threat on their lives. Whether or not that threat can actually be executed is irrelevant; it creates a climate of fear. When Doug Wilson writes about a mythical South full of joyous slaves and kind masters, Moscow's black citizens are being defamed. When Credenda/Agenda says that those that disagree with them will "become to us Amekelites," it isn't your life, as a Christian, that's being threatened.

It's not often that I, as a white, straight agnostic, feel threatened: if people want to discriminate against me, they have to ask some pretty specific questions. I'm new to this. But my voting rights have been questioned. My right to my beliefs have been attacked. The historical record itself has been attacked from the pulpit, and what's more, the liars that've attacked it have had the temerity to accuse those that defend it of slander.

It's true: you can live in peace with the Kirk, no matter what position it occupies. This is not the case for those whose rights and lives its very existence may threaten. I can't say I'm one of them -- there are others, like Terry Morin from Christ Church and the GSA -- who have made very real sacrifices to stand up to the Kirk's abhorrent beliefs. I'm still proud to stand beside them, and will continue to do so as long as they, and others like them, threaten our democracy.

-- ACS