The legalization of same-sex marriage in California has caused, predictably enough, concern throughout most of the Christian community. One of my favorite riffs comes from a Pat Robertson-esque World Net Daily column by Bob Unruh.
He quotes Concerned Women for America call to prayer to battle the plague of gay marriage.
“Prayer is the key to this battle. We need to see hearts changed by God at the same time that we’re trying to change minds,” said Phyllis Nemeth, state director for CWA of California. “That’s why I’m inviting my fellow Californians especially to join CWA in prayer and fasting for our state and our nation.”
If someone can show me scientific evidence that prayer works, I would think this was a good strategy.
Concerned Women of America then warned that same-sex marriage will cause “long-term problems” and “damaged lives.” I just don’t see it, and the prediction has a vibe to it that harkens back to Pat Robertson’s and Jerry Falwell’s statements that the terrorists’ attack of Sept. 11 were because God had lifted his protection from America because, among other things, an acceptance of homosexuality.
“CWA was founded on ‘prayer and action,’” said CWA President Wendy Wright. “The decision by the California court on same-sex ‘marriage’ is an affront to God and His plan for marriage and family. It will cause long-term problems and risks for families, churches, and agencies that work with children, and many others – leading to more lawsuits and damaged lives. While many will be working to protect the true definition and meaning of marriage, our first action must be to pray for God to intervene. Please join us in prayer and fasting on June 17.”
I think history will show gay marriages won’t do any more or less damage than “traditional marriages” — which historically haven’t been all that traditional (we’ll hold that for another post).
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5 responses so far ↓
1 Chris // Jun 18, 2008 at 2:33 pm
While I don’t believe that prayer will necessarily change attitudes about gay marriage, asking for scientific evidence that prayer does work is antithetical to the very idea of religion, which is based on having faith. If religion were scientific, it wouldn’t be based on faith at all because you wouldn’t choose to believe or not to believe in it, but would merely have to accept it as fact.
There’s a point to be made by those who say that allowing homosexuals to marry does no more harm to marriage than, say, allowing drive-thru marriages in Vegas, only to be annulled at a (not so) later date. However, I believe that tinkering with the definition of marriage may lead to a slippery slope of other minorities and activists groups making more extreme, unjustified legal demands for themselves simply based on the legalization of same-sex marriage.
2 Drew // Jun 21, 2008 at 4:27 am
Pulease!!! When these self righteous tools can get a handle on their own marriages, stop cheating on each other, and stop other “normal” people from cheating on their spouses, then they may be able to start commenting on what other people are doing that may or may not impact the “sanctity of marriage”. Until then, they have their own glass houses to clean.
I only hope my girlfriend and I have as close a relationship as many gay friends of mine have.
3 Drew // Jun 21, 2008 at 4:33 am
Chris:
There are many people who claim prayer does work. Yet there is no evidence. It is not faith that is needed to see that prayer doesn’t work. Also, the Bible gets into things that effect the physical world, and things that are testable. Unfortunately, these tests all show the Bible to be not just a little wrong, but severely incorrect. IMHO believing in something in which there is no proof is one thing, but believing in something which has been proven false is something altogether different.
I don’t care what people believe in, what they need to feel safe and loved, where they draw strength and closure in a time of grief or need.
I do care however when they try to impose their twisted hypocritical version of morality on others.
4 Kenneth Conklin // Jul 11, 2008 at 12:04 pm
Our scientific understanding in this world is so limited and finite that I suppose it’s no wonder that activities like prayer are not understood, much less studied. Humans are remarkable for their deafness, blindness, and ignorance. This is one area where we have blinders on.
Drew, I’m suspecting you’re feeling some pain due to religious folks in your life causing you distress. I’m sorry for that, but don’t forget, we’re equally hypocritical (if we’re honoest), and we each try to impose some form or version of morality on others. You impose on me with your views (which presuppose that I’m in the wrong), and vice versa. Question is, who’s actually correct? And how do we determine it? (Much less do we want to face it and understand it?)
5 Fritz // Jul 12, 2008 at 1:53 am
The Christian approach to homosexuals would be to minister to them, bring them into the Christian Fold, and help them create meaningful relationships. Instead homosexuals are condemned, prohibited, harrassed- everything but accepted. What would Jesus do?
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