When religion loses its credibility

[TechBear_Seattle]

When religion loses its credibility

What if Christian leaders are wrong about homosexuality? I suppose, much as a newspaper maintains its credibility by setting the record straight, church leaders would need to do the same:

Correction: Despite what you might have read, heard or been taught throughout your churchgoing life, homosexuality is, in fact, determined at birth and is not to be condemned by God's followers.

Based on a few recent headlines, we won't be seeing that admission anytime soon. Last week, U.S. Roman Catholic bishops took the position that homosexual attractions are "disordered" and that gays should live closeted lives of chastity. At the same time, North Carolina's Baptist State Convention was preparing to investigate churches that are too gay-friendly. Even the more liberal Presbyterian Church (USA) had been planning to put a minister on trial for conducting a marriage ceremony for two women before the charges were dismissed on a technicality. All this brings me back to the question: What if we're wrong?

Religion's only real commodity, after all, is its moral authority. Lose that, and we lose our credibility. Lose credibility, and we might as well close up shop.

The opinion piece continues at http://news.yahoo.com/s/usatoday/20061120/cm_usatoday/whenreligionlosesitscredibility

[ixion]

1. the sooner the better. Institutionalized relgion has been no friend of mankind

IMO.

[peacebird]

2. more snips - great editorial. I emailed it to everyone on my list.

"For those who have lingering doubts, dust off your Bibles and take a few hours to reacquaint yourself with the teachings of Jesus. You won't find a single reference to homosexuality. There are teachings on money, lust, revenge, divorce, fasting and a thousand other subjects, but there is nothing on homosexuality. Strange, don't you think, if being gay were such a moral threat? "

"On the other hand, Jesus spent a lot of time talking about how we should treat others. First, he made clear it is not our role to judge. It is God's. ("Judge not lest you be judged." Matthew 7:1) And, second, he commanded us to love other people as we love ourselves."

[TechBear_Seattle]

3. There is one indirect reference, possibly

After this the Lord appointed seventy others, and sent them on ahead of him, two by two, into every town and place where he himself was about to come.

...

Whenever you enter a town and they receive you, eat what is set before you; heal the sick in it and say to them, `The kingdom of God has come near to you.' But whenever you enter a town and they do not receive you, go into its streets and say, `Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet, we wipe off against you; nevertheless know this, that the kingdom of God has come near.'

"I tell you, it shall be more tolerable on that day for Sodom than for that town."

Luke 10:1, 8-12, Revised Standard Version

In other words, the "people of Sodom" will receive a warmer welcome from God on the Day of Judgement than on the people of a town that refuses to live Christian charity.

[TlalocW]

4. U.S. Roman Catholic Bishops took position that gays should live lives of chastity...

U.S. Homosexuals responded, "You first."

TlalocW

[TRYPHO]

5. Excuse my ignorance..

But aren't there (some) "outed" gays in the clergy? Shouldn't they ex-communicate themselves forrhwith or something? How can a gay man be a Christian in today's climate? How can a gay man be a Christian Clergyman in today's climate? I'm not a Christian (although I study EARLY Christianity), but I really do not understand either the Churches stance, or that of gays that accept the church but suffer the doctrine.

Please explain.

TYPHO

[TechBear_Seattle]

6. The essayist isn't writing about gay Christians

Rather, he is writing about the attitude of many Christians (specifically theologians, preachers and other religious leaders) towards homosexuality.

He starts by mentioning that when reputable newspapers discover an error in their reporting, they print a correction. In doing so, they maintain their credibility as a reputable news source. He then draws a comparison with churches and other religious institutions and errors they might discover in their doctrine. By way of specific example, he notes that a large and still growing body of evidence shows homosexuality as an intrinsic characteristic and not a matter of choice; thus (according to ancient Christian doctrine) homosexuality is not a matter of sin. If churches are to retain credibility as a reputable source of moral authority, he asserts, they must be willing to correct their doctrine in light of new facts.

Further analysis I leave as an exercise to the Reader. :hi:

[cosmik debris]

7. Religion's only real commodity?

Religion doesn't just push moral authority, it also is the world's largest provider of "pie in the sky when you die"

Now consider that in light of the law of supply and demand. With a virtual monopoly, a good advertising organization, and salesmen paid only on commission, it looks like a long term winner to me.

[TRYPHO]

8. IN the bad old days...

That's exactly what you used to do. BUY you're way to heaven from the church. These days you have to become a queue jumping conversion crusading evangelical to get high enough up the ladder to feel confidant of an afterlife worthy of wasting this life to attain, (or conversely blow yourself and get the job done in a fraction of the time).

Now back to the point, in England and Europe in the dark ages, money really could* get you through those pearly gates.

TRYPHO
*emphasis on >could<

[SidDithers]

9. Good editorial...thanks for posting...nt

Sid

[Evoman]

10. How can religion lose something it never had? nt

[NMMNG]

11. Oh, ye of little faith.

:P