We are powerful.

[NathanATX]

I was part of a discussion panel at the local community college yesterday. The topic was "Men on the Down Low."

There were four panelists: a psychology professor, a fundamentalist minister, an AIDS hospice worker, and myself the "gay progressive Christian."

As much as we tried to keep the focus on topic, the discussion came back relentlessly to religion and whether homosexuality was right or wrong.

The fundamentalist minister laid out a very simplistic arguement about sin being in the world and if people would just obey the Bible, everything would be fine. He had a printout of the "bashing verses" in Romans and the moment he used the verses, I pointed out how the word "homosexuality" wasn't in the original text of the Bible.

The he went off on "picking and choosing." I said that's exactly what he's doing. I said that if any of his clothing is made of two fabrics, he's committing an abomination. If he loves eating pork ribs, he's committed an abomination. etc...

Over and over again I reiterated that as Christians we are called to a standard of love. These "men on the down low" are not loving themselves and they are certainly not loving their wives, whom they are infecting with HIV.

My point is that I was a nervous before this meeting started. My adrenalin was racing. I wasn't sure if I'd be able to respond well. I was worried about getting offended by what people might say.

That all changed instantly. As soon as I started hearing the misinformation, I knew I could dispel it.

There was no question in that room about who was the most informed, well-spoken, and effective panelist. And I realized that I am indeed very powerful.

So much so that I knew I had to be careful to not attack the minister personally... only the arguements.

We are powerful, my friends, because we are speaking truth.

Don't be afraid.

[keltic63]

That is excellent Nathan! Congratulations on a job well done!

will you be able to hear some feedback from people who attended or those who sponsored the event?

[BruceChris]

But I want to second what Keltic suggested. Can you please take a short survey of some of the audience members, and get back to us when you can? :pray:

As I recall, there were only two times in biblical history when everyone understood each other. One was before the Tower of Babel, and the other was on some miraculous occasion, briefly, in the New Testament. :agree:

To listen to some people tell it, the bible was obviously written by God himself, in modern English, about 7500 years ago, and probably in one sitting. :eek: :confused:

I think it's great that you were on top of your knowledge base, and that you felt good about it. :applause: :)

But I've got this book by Spong, that I've just got to get back to. :reading:

Peace and Love, Bruce Chris

[Daniel]

That all changed instantly. As soon as I started hearing the misinformation, I knew I could dispel it.

There was no question in that room about who was the most informed, well-spoken, and effective panelist. And I realized that I am indeed very powerful.

So much so that I knew I had to be careful to not attack the minister personally... only the arguements.

We are powerful, my friends, because we are speaking truth.

Don't be afraid.


Bravo Nathan!

I am convinced more than every that by focusing on what really matters and keeping one's heart warm and head cool is the way to go. And the steps that you enacted above - and which I have put in bold- are what it's all about. This is something that I have to remind myself of constantly- and not just in matters of gay rights. It's just a better way to live.

There is something to keep in mind here- and this is something I endeavor to remind myself of constantly- and that is that when those who are able to hear misinformation responded to are often- I would say always- lead to 'change their tune' based on the manner in which the information is offered. This means sticking the the principles of nonviolence: going after the misinformation, not the person. We see this in political discourse all the time: discussion of an issue/topic usually degenerates into how what was said was said- not what was actually said (the person is essentially reviewed- not the issue). And it takes time for new information to get past people's defenses. This takes time- and with an issue like homosexuality- may not happen 'in the moment'. People are usually looking over their shoulders (pyschologically speaking) to see how they measure up to other's opinions. Breaking away from a dominant view is hard to do.