Religious Bigotry At Its Worst

BY JAMES L. STOVALL

State Rep. Sally Kern recently received some unwanted attention for herself when a recording of an anti-gay speech she gave was posted on YouTube.

Among a wide range of ridiculous statements she made, she stated that homosexuality is a greater threat to our nation than terrorism. She also stated that our nation will never survive if we continue to display tolerance toward gay people.

While I respect Rep. Kern’s right to express her opinion, I want to disagree with her in the strongest possible terms.

I also want to call to her attention that words do hurt people. Words spoken in a public setting by an elected representative especially have very real consequences. Words often contribute to a spirit of intolerance that can strengthen institutionalized discrimination and even lead to acts of violence.

MUTUAL RESPECT EQUALS STRENGTH

When we, as a community, learn to respect one another and live with our differences, we become stronger. Tolerance and a spirit of inclusiveness do not threaten our nation one bit.

The fact that gay people are coming out in growing numbers and being honest about their sexual orientation is a very positive development.

The fact that gay people are participating in the political process and asking for the basic human rights [like marriage] that others enjoy is an important step toward freedom and equality in our country.

In her speech, Sally Kern compares gay people to terrorists. We know what the U.S. has done to respond to the threat presented by terrorism. We have gone to war. We have killed suspected terrorists at every opportunity. We have tortured suspects and locked them up for years without benefit of a trial or any legal process or representation.

So what strategies does Rep. Kern suggest about an even greater threat?

WHAT EXACTLY IS THE THREAT?

She describes a small town in Arkansas where gay people have been elected to the city council. You may now gasp in horror. What she doesn’t explain is exactly what difference it has made [other than bringing in tourists]. Have they thrown out the Constitution? Have they organized forced indoctrination sessions among the citizens? What is the threat that she sees?

She says that gay people have violated God’s word. Once again she is wrong. She uses religion to stir up fears and hatred.

Some of my tolerant friends are of the opinion that all religions are good in their own way. Sure everyone’s beliefs are different but does it all really matter in the end. As they say: “Whatever floats your boat.” Various forms of religion seems to work for different people so who am I to judge?

Given the fact that many people have gone to war over trivial differences in dogma, such a view has some credence.

KERN’S COMMENTS HARDLY INNOCENT

I want to suggest that, like Rep Kern’s comments, religion is not is not nearly as innocent as some would suggest.

The world will not come to an end as a result of her comments but if many others express a similar opinion and go unchallenged then the groundwork is laid for ignorant public policy.

Her comments are an example of bad religion. Bad religion is a system of belief that pulls us farther apart instead of puling us together. Bad religion pits “us” against “them.” It often suggests that those who are different from us are bad and those like us are good.

Religion can draw us into an experience of the sacred depths of life or it can lead to a kind of narrow-minded bigotry.

Religion can lead us to a sense of gratitude and wonder for life as it really is or it can make us intolerant of those we don’t understand.

Religion can serve to facilitate an escape from our world [that many believe to be sacred and created by God] or it can lead us to accept others as they are.

Religion may call us to fully embrace and live our own authentic self or it can lead us away from reality.

– The author is ordained in the United Church of Christ and is an Associate Minister at Church of the Open Arms in Oklahoma City