In Reply to: Re: Sexual ambiquity & Christian dogma posted by PB on March 21, 2007 at 14:06:48:
I know, I know. I said I'd be very busy these next few weeks and don't have much time to respond, but these are just too interesting not to pass along.
First, here's an article containing some interesting opinions of Bishop Carlton Pearson, a former "leading light of the contemporary Pentecostal -- or charismatic -- movement", concerning Ted Haggard and his sexual predicament.
http://www.alternet.org/rights/49229/
That article also mentions that Oral Roberts' oldest son, Ronald, committed suicide in 1982 at the age of 37, apparently because he was gay and surrounded by fundamentalists, including his own father, who condemned homosexuals.
That bit of info and these recent discussions here reminded me of four recent interviews I saw on a news digest program on the CBC and CBC Newsworld program The Hour. I've provided the links to each short video interview of about 10 minutes.
The first two, Franklin Graham - son of Billy, and Tony Campolo - spiritual advisor to Bill Clinton, provide an interesting comparison. Franklin, a prodigal son who returned to the fold spewing brimstone and hellfire, really reminded me of TF, whereas Campolo, with his social gospel was at least someone I could listen to without wanting to puke.
Graham emphasised the message that you must be born again or go to hell, a capital punishment message, whereas Campolo emphasised a message of compassion and mercy.
The interview with Richard Poplak is a fascinating look at South African apartheid through the eyes of a white child growing up under that extreme Christian patriarchal and racist society. Listening to him speak of the corporal punishment inflicted on children on a daily basis ("I've been hit with every imaginable object") is horrifying and reminds me of some of the Family SG stories.
The final interview is with the son of Jim Jones. His is an incredible story and I can't help draw some comparisons to Ricky's story.
Franklin Graham
http://www.cbc.ca/thehour/video.php?id=1443
Tony Compolo http://www.cbc.ca/thehour/video.php?id=1401
Stephan Jones
http://www.cbc.ca/thehour/video.php?id=1459
Richard Poplak
http://www.cbc.ca/thehour/video.php?id=1497