Originally posted by: jackschmittusa
Sometime in the future, historical analysis may show that the gay and abortion issues became the self-constructed doomsday device for the Christian churches and groups in this country.
Already, churches are dividing over these issues, diluting their wealth and influence. More and more we see people coming to the conclusion that many groups like Focus on the Family as well outside of mainstream society; inching them ever closer to being a voice in the wilderness. We have the Westboro Baptist Church to constantly remind everybody that religion CAN make you crazy. Claims that it is a sin to vote for anyone not opposing abortion is making a lot of people scratch their heads and wonder at the wisdom of their church leaders.
The creationism/ID argument is icing on the cake, making some see religion as at least quaint, if not completely bogged down in superstition.
The issue is control. Control over one's sexuality and that of others. Control over women and children. The monotheistic churches have a central premise the subordination of man to god and of women and children to man. Feminism is such a refutation of that belief that it is literally driving a lot of men crazy. Whole societies are now mobilized to stop the advance of women. But they will not win. And gays will get their rights too. You can't put the genie back in the bottle.
These religious leaders and follower?s have a incalculable fear of losing their grip on power and control. Demonizing the gays is much more socially acceptable than to rant and rave about women who carry on without a husband or with a man but outside the religious sacrament of "marriage".
Unfortunately for these religions, the harder they try to hang onto their control, the faster they will surely lose it. Another reason for all the fear is that these religions have always been based on power, money, and men. Gay men threaten these religious men more than women ever will or could.
The link between gay rights and feminism is long overdue. I've long felt the real reason so many (mostly conservatives) object to gay marriage is that when you look at a gay couple, it isn't readily apparent who's in charge. Some may invision how gay couples are redefining power sharing in marriages and as a result are able to settle disputes in more lasting ways. If our society is truly interested in strengthening marriage and reducing our notoriously high divorce rate, it should pay attention to this development and respect gay couples' wish to marry.
There's very much a divide and conquer strategy among religious goups that seek out disaffected minorities for support against gay rights. Religion uses the same tactics as Lee Atwater and Karl Rove. Focus on the Family is so pleased with their victory but they now must lay off many in these economic times. How proud the leaders must be. Imagine the blessings at empty tables.
With the will of God behind unjust wars, denying freedom of choice and used as the battle cry behind endless condemnation of everything, perhaps it is time to admit that in America these churches are the facists that they are. Isn't the masculinization of the Deity the greatest blasphemy of all? And also the humanization of the Deity (if any)... The Deity (if any) of the big bang, a gazillion nebulae, quantum physics, etc. etc. dwarfed into a desert warlord who wants all his male subjects to be big bad warriors. It's so absurd that it baffles me that anyone buys it.