I recently had the privilege of attending a screening of a very intelligent and informative documentary entitled “For the Bible Tells Me So,” which was hosted by Christ Chapel in North Hollywood, California. It was the second consecutive night of screenings of the video and I understand that both screenings played to a packed house like it was on Sunday night. It is understandably so… for this film tells it like it is with no holds barred. Written by Daniel G. Karslake & Helen R. Mendoza and Directed by Daniel G. Karslake, “For the Bible Tells Me So” is an honest and provocative exposé of how literalist religious leaders and their unquestioning, sometimes mindless followers have taken scripture out of the context of history and how they twisted their intent into hatred, bigotry, prejudice and violence.

All of the stories told in the film; and especially one tragic case that ended in suicide, demonstrate how forcing people into a closet often has devastating consequences for all concerned. Moreover, this video also demonstrates the fact that many more people; within the Christian faith at least, are beginning to realize that fundamentalist ideology has nothing to do with the original intent of the kindness, love and compassion that was taught by Jesus.

The documentary’s official website asks clear cut questions: Can the love between two people ever be an abomination? Is the chasm separating gays, lesbians and Christianity too wide to cross? Is the Bible an excuse to hate? In this year of the Presidential elections, these questions are very pertinent to some of the consequential activities that can be found in right wing politics, not only within Christianity in America, but in those religions around the world where radical fundamentalism has created hell on earth through senseless wars and killings.

The video features interviews with such diverse people as Gay Episcopalian Bishop Gene Robinson, whose election to his theological office has stirred a lot of controversy within the Episcopalian faith; along with Bishop Desmond Tutu, Harvard’s Peter Gomes; Rev. Dr. Mel White who was a former associate of Jerry Falwell, but who came out when he was installed as Dean at the Cathedral of Hope of the Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches; Orthodox Rabbi Steven Greenberg, Reverend Jimmy Creech and Former Democratic House Majority Leader Richard Gephardt, whose daughter, Chrissy, is openly gay. (Admittedly, this last individual was a little difficult for me to fathom, personally, since it was Gephardt’s hard-line bullying; his almost Soviet-like tactics that prompted me to make the decision to leave the Democratic Party, but I had to put my own feelings about the man aside. I couldn’t help thinking that Vice President Dick Chaney could have been a part of this documentary in respect to his Lesbian daughter.)

The stories of several LGBT people are explored in this video; the most poignant of which was, for me at least, the story of a woman who blindly followed the edicts of her fundamentalist minister to chastise her daughter who eventually committed suicide. The bereaved mother now supports members of the LGBT community against the hatred and prejudicial machinations of fundamentalism; something she cannot ever do for her late daughter, but it is something which she can do today to save other people of the LGBT community from theologically inspired hatred.

One very important fact is brought out in this film which many people are unaware of. Members of the LGBT community may be the primary scapegoats of religious hatred; but in effect, what is done to members of the LGBT community often extends to people of color and people of other religions. And it doesn’t stop there. Look at how much violence is occurring in the world today because of religion… and I might add, which is being perpetrated by members of the heterosexual communities against each other.

This is a very important documentary for everyone to see; especially in this election year, since it not only poses the obvious questions listed above, but it also provides some food for thought which I hope the Religious Right-wing might wish to ponder. Are your spiritual leaders representing the kindness, compassion and love of Jesus, or are they fostering hatred and violence in His name? Do the actions of your followers promote peace and understanding, or do your words and actions encourage the dark side of humanity to hold sway over what should be intelligent, thinking individuals? Is your faith attracting more people, or are your thoughts and actions forcing people to react with disgust and fall away from religion altogether, thereby enabling the growing atheistic factions within this country to become even more powerful over our lives? Yes, indeed, this documentary will give you something to think about! Hopefully, it will enable us all to take more responsibility for what is happening in America and around the world.

For more information about “For the Bible Tells Me So,” you may access the film’s website: www.forthebibletellsmeso.org/

Timothy Kincaid writes a good article about the difference between “sin” and “sinful”.  I doubt that “The Huck” considers himself sinful, therefore, he is free to label others with this category, including gays and lesbians… 

Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee made some remarks about the sinfulness of homosexuality on Meet the Press on December 30. Some have found them similar to those made by Rudy Giuliani on December 9. (Transcripts below)

At a first glance it would appear that both candidates agree: homosexual acts are sinful. And all people sin.

But a closer look may illustrate why these two people, Mike Huckabee and Rudy Giuliani, are saying very different things. And to understand the difference we have to look at difference between “sin” and “sinful”.

Read the entire article here: http://www.boxturtlebulletin.com/2008/01/03/1219

This item broke yesterday on the Internet:

Soldier: Policy on Gays May  Be Shifting – by Suzanne Gamboa, Associated Press Writer  - Wed Jan 9, 4:03AM EST

WASHINGTON - Even if no one is asking, Army Sgt. Darren Manzella has been telling anyone who’ll listen that he’s gay — without serious retribution so far from the military. Manzella, a medic who served in Iraq and Kuwait, has acknowledged his sexual orientation in national media interviews and again on Tuesday in a Washington news conference.

“This is who I am. This is my life,” said Manzella, who received a combat medical badge for his service in Iraq. “It has never affected my job performance before. I don’t think it will make a difference now. And to be honest since then, I don’t see a difference because of my homosexuality.”

Aubrey Sarvis, executive director of Servicemembers Legal Defense Network, said Manzella’s case demonstrates the military is arbitrarily enforcing its “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy now that the country is at war.

The “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy prohibits active-duty service members from openly acknowledging whether they are gay or lesbian.

Manzella still could be investigated now that he has left the battlefield. Every time he has said he is gay publicly can be counted as a violation of the policy, one of his attorneys said.

Manzella first told a military supervisor about his sexual orientation in August 2006 while he was stationed at Fort Hood, Texas, and working in division headquarters. Three weeks after Manzella made the revelation, his battalion commander told him an investigation had been closed without finding “proof of homosexuality.”

A month later, Manzella was redeployed for the war in Iraq.

Paul Boyce Jr., an Army spokesman, said he was unaware of an investigation of Manzella being opened or closed. He said the investigation would have been done by Manzella’s Fort Hood unit, and officials there are on leave and unavailable to discuss the case.

“This particular soldier’s unit only recently returned from the war to Fort Hood, Texas, so it’s premature to speculate on any future actions until the young man’s situation can be considered by his chain of command,” Boyce said in a statement.

Manzella, originally from Portland, N.Y., returned from the Middle East last month and went on leave shortly before Christmas. He will return to the 1st Cavalry Division at Ford Hood at the end of the month.

A bill to eliminate the military’s sexual orientation policy, filed by Rep. Ellen Tauscher, D-Calif., is pending in Congress. Sarvis said the bill is unlikely to get out of committee during this election year, but hearings could be held.

Elaine Donnelly, president of the Center for Military Readiness, said Manzella’s commanders should have discharged him when they learned he was gay. Her group opposes allowing gays to join the military.