And also for anyone out there who knows a gay kid whose Christian parents don’t accept them, and so on and so forth…
This is Matthew Vines, a young Christian man who spent two years, while on leave from Harvard, diving into a deep, respectful study of what the Bible teaches on homosexuality. While many of his conclusions [and they are scholarly...no wishy washy nonsense here] will already be familiar to readers who have studied the issue, his delivery and obvious respect for the topic at hand make his a quite disarming and refreshing lecture to watch.
I’m not a Christian, but even I was riveted by his talk. It’s an hour long, so watch it in whatever small pieces you have to, or if you’re like me, start it with the intention of watching a few minutes of it, and then we’ll see you in an hour when it’s over.
[h/t Kathy Baldock]
This is really making the rounds – I’m seeing it everywhere on the bloggosphere. What an incredible presentation of the latest research/knowledge and modern understanding of these oft-used verses against LGBTQ people.
Although I don’t subscribe to the whole sinner/salvation theology, the fundamentalist bigotry has just been knocked on their petard.
Matthew, you’re an inspiration to many young people. Thank you for this incredible, intelligent and heartfelt presentation.
Great to see this out there. Hope those who most need to see it do so.
This guy is brilliant; and what a public speaker. I was only going to watch some of it out of curiosity, but ended up watching the entire thing. The depth of his insights and research into history and theology puts to shame the shallow and self-serving exegesis of both the Catholic Church, as well as, and especially fundamentalists/evangelicals.
And a Child shall lead them (like Matthew Vines).
I will not watch this. There is no such thing as a gay Christian. A Christian is made into a new man by the Holy Spirit. Therefore a true Christian could not continue to be homosexual. Do not try coming to my church talking about gay Christians!
If your faith were true, Charles, then your faith would not be shaken by watching this video. So what would be the harm in watching it?
To the homosexual PhilipJ,
Since there are no gay Christians, this video can only be filled with lies and enticements to sin. Christians are forbidden to expose themselves to enticements to sin. Matthew 18:9.
PhilipJ do not believe the lies of Wayne Besen and TWO. Wayne Besen cannot save you from hell. Only the true Christians will be spared this fate. Consider your fate PhilipJ!
You do make me giggle, Charles.
Watch the clip.
Or are you afraid it will confirm what you deep down already know?
That you are wrong.
Is this wacko troll Charles B. for real? Seems like a stereotypical self-loathing gay cartoon character…
Dave, dude, unfortunately, he’s the real thing.
Charles B. is a classic example of why it’s necessary to have Poe’s Law.
http://rationalwiki.org/wiki/Poe%27s_Law
As a gay xtian I find Charles the Troll to be quite hilarious. The fact that he cannot believe in a gay xtian even existing is his way of denying the fact that the church is full of gays. They just might be sitting in the same pew as Charles – one never knows. As far as ‘becoming a new man’ is involved, when this ‘new man’ appears, he has the same color hair he always had, he is right or left handed as he always was, his eye color remains the same, and his sexual orientation remains the same too. But that is too difficult for Charles to accept because he is so terrified of gays.
Or, you know, you could just accept the reality that there are no gods and get on with your life.
This kid seems smart, but how smart can he be if he left Harvard to spend two years interpreting one subject in a collection of fairy tales? I could have explained to him in two minutes that bigots are bigots and that gay people are just fine, thanks. Just ditch your imaginary friend and grow up already.
@justme, I’ve been thinking the same thing. But you said it better than I would have.