You may remember that, at the beginning of this month, Dan Savage accepted Brian Brown’s challenge to a debate about religion and LGBT issues. Savage pledged to “name the time and the place, per [Brown's] offer, as soon as possible.”
Well, it turns out that there is an update to report (thanks to David Badash at the New Civil Rights Movement). On his podcast yesterday, Dan announced the details: the duel will take place at Dan’s dinner table. David transcribed Dan’s remarks as follows:
“So, what I’d like to do is invite you to dinner. Bring the wife. My husband will be there. I will hire a video crew and we will video sort of an after dinner debate.”
“You have to acknowledge my humanity by accepting my hospitality, and I have to acknowledge yours by extending my hospitality to you.”
Badash reports that Savage has also invited Mark Oppenheimer of the New York Times, just to ensure fairness. The debate will last about an hour and be posted, unedited, on YouTube — provided Brian Brown makes good on his word, that is. We’ll see.
Brown is such a slimy worm, he will weasel out…
Cue hyperventilating meltdown by Brown in 3, 2, 1….
I don’t really approve of debating the Bible. Even though Jesus didn’t say anything about homosexuality there is still some crazy crap in the Bible. But mostly, I just don’t see the point. Why not debate the Nibelungenlied or whether Galactus is on his way to suck the energy out of the Earth.
Daniel said ” Why not debate the Nibelungenlied or whether Galactus is on his way to suck the energy out of the Earth.”.
Because, unlike the bible, those things are not used to justify oppressing minorities on a global scale.
Priya, I still don’t see the point of debating the Bible. Whether we like it or not there are anti-gay passages in the Bible, but we don’t have to follow the Bible, we have a Constitution.
Daniel, the point in debating the bible is to show its fallible when it comes to moral advice and therefore people should not assume its got it right when they read the anti-gay passages.
Brilliant idea, inviting Brown for dinner. I would not be surprised if he comes up with some weak reason for why “we can’t agree on a venue,” however. You just can’t take many of those people on their Word (no pun intended).
I think this debate will be one or lost on two things: first, the facts, although fundamentalists are great at rationalizing, so he will definitely have answers for Dan’s insights, no matter how correct.
Second, on style and likeability. Brown will act like a loving Christian; they’re good at that. He’ll walk into the room and hug Dan and will tell him that he “loves” him. Dan’s graciousness will be crucial here.
Christopher, I’d be surprised if Brown didn’t come up with excuse not to attend.
meh – I don’t think Brown is particularly gracious, he’s got a temper. Personally I think he’d be hard pressed to keep his cool when Savage doesn’t let him get away with telling lies, biblical or otherwise.
I don’t think Brian Brown is going to respond at all, and completely ignore Dan Savage’s acceptance to the debate. Brown is, after all, a total coward at heart.