A series of articles by Robert Buchanan, D.Min., on gay prejudice and
Christianity in order to challenge the church and help provide for the
spiritual needs of sexual minorities
Please bookmark this page and come back.
|
A series of articles by Robert Buchanan, D.Min., on gay prejudice and
Christianity in order to challenge the church and help provide for the
spiritual needs of sexual minorities
Please bookmark this page and come back.
|
|
|
Bullying is Not a Christian Virtue
Just when I
think nothing they do could surprise me, the so-called “Christian” right comes
up with a new angle to pervert Christ’s teachings. My latest surprise comes
from Rick Forcier, director of Pat Robertson’s Christian Coalition of
Washington state. He has opposed a bill in the state legislature designed to
stop bullying in schools. Since when is it a Christian virtue to bully
others?
The new law
would mean that school districts would have to write policies against bullying
and train employees and volunteers to stop harassment. The problem of bullies
in school has become more acute with all the examples of school shootings and
violence related to bullying in some way. I would think this would be a
no-brainer. Preventing bullying at the early stages can help prevent a great
deal of pain and suffering throughout society.
The reason that
the Christian Coalition is involved is because they think this is a gay rights
bill. They think the young people who are the victims of harassment are
primarily gay, and obviously they want to make sure that bigoted straight kids
can continue to pick on queer kids. I wonder if Mr. Forcier would be so upset
if other kids picked on his children because of their religion, or because one
of them were gay.
Perhaps the
Christian Coalition needs to remember only a few years ago when European
culture had some similar views toward minorities, resulting in the Nazi
atrocities towards Jews, blacks, gypsies, homosexuals, and anyone who
disagreed with them. Those who think that Pat Robertson and his coalition are
just harmless ideologues on the fringe need to remember just how dangerous
bigots can be.
From 1933 to
1945, between 100,000 and 150,000 homosexuals were arrested by the Nazis. As
many as 15,000 were sent to concentration camps, of which only about five
thousand survived. This with gays only making up a very small segment of
society. Many of the gay men who survived the war remained in prison for
years afterward because the allies saw them as criminals instead of
prisoners of war. I wonder if the Christian right wants to stop protection
from harassment of gays and lesbians in schools because this is only the
beginning of what they would like to see happen to all queers in America.
One thing all of us should know for sure is that genuine Christianity never espouses harassment and bullying. As far back as the ancient prophet Isaiah spiritual people were called to lives of peace, acceptance and harmony. "Be just and fair to all," says the LORD. "Do what is right and good, for I am coming soon to rescue you.” (Isaiah 56:1) Harassment and oppression of minorities, sexual or otherwise, is not something that Christ taught.
I hope
believers and all thinking people can learn from the past and stand against
allowing harassment of others, starting with our kids in school. Only then
will the grown-up bullies like Mr. Forcier be quiet and allow peace in our
schools to become a starting place for peace in our culture.
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Robert Buchanan is a minister of the Ecumenical Catholic Church and a psychotherapist who lives with his partner of many years in Durham North Carolina. He is the author of Love, Honor & Respect: How to Confront Homosexual Bias in Christian Culture and serves as director of the Institute for Inclusive Christianity. a training program for ministers and clergy who do not discriminate against gays, lesbians, bisexuals, or because of financial, familial or social status. Additional resources for inclusive Christians can be found at our Resources page.
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