Desmond Tutu 'Would Not Worship a Homophobic God'

[William769]

Nobel Peace Prize laureate and South African archbishop emeritus Desmond Tutu said he does not believe religion provides justification for homophobia at a rally hosted by the United Nations Human Rights Office in Cape Town, South Africa, on Friday.

"I would refuse to go to a homophobic heaven," Tutu said, according to Australia's Herald Sun. "No, I would say sorry, I mean I would much rather go to the other place… I would not worship a God who is homophobic and that is how deeply I feel about this."

Speaking at a launch rally for the UN's new "Free and Equal" campaign that seeks to raise awareness of antigay violence and discrimination throughout the world, Tutu compared the fight for LGBT equality to the struggle to end apartheid in South Africa.

"I am as passionate about this campaign as I ever was about apartheid," said Tutu, an Anglican archbishop who was a prominent force leading to the racist policy's eventual demise. "For me, it is at the same level."

http://www.advocate.com/politics/religion/2013/07/26/desmond-tutu-would-not-worship-homophobic-god

[Rosa Luxemburg]

1. Wow!

excellent!

[William769]

2. Today is also the day that the United Nations unveils global LGBT rights campaign

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023345950

The video at the link is excellent.

[bluestate10]

3. Homosexuality is a natural state of being, just as valid as me being a heterosexual.

The religious right need to drive that fact into their damned thick skulls.

[William769]

17. ...

[closeupready]

4. No religious person with any semblance of reason WOULD.

Only a cruel and sadistic deity gives its creatures an instinct for sexual activity and then demands that they deny that instinct's expression, for LIFE.

The fact that so many people who claim to be Christian DO worship such a deity goes part of the way towards explaining why they are, in real life, cruel and sadistic to the gay people they know.

[William769]

14. Very well put.

[Donald Ian Rankin]

29. Which part of the word "omnipotent" didn't you understand?

I'm not religious, but if a being with the ability to torture me for eternity demanded that I persecute gay people, I'd be out there waving torches with the worst of them.

That said, I don't know of any religious people who don't believe that the god they worship is good.

[closeupready]

30. Um, it is you, amigo, who is confused. "Reason" was key

in my response to William769.

The homophobic traditions and teachings of modern Christianity are inconsistent with the values they claim to value - ironically, love and forgiveness.

That is, no Christian (or for that matter, any other religious person) who is reasonable can deny that the deity most of them worship who created gay people but demands celibacy from them is a cruel deity.

[JI7]

5. one of the best when it comes to gay rights

and especially important in an area of the world where gays have harder time gaining equality and acceptance.

[William769]

6. Exactly.

[xchrom]

7. du rec.

[William769]

8. Great picture!

[xchrom]

10. desmond is one of those who makes me very proud to be Episcopalian. nt

[wryter2000]

22. Me, too

I'm also pretty proud of our bishop (Marc Andrus) who was part of a friend of the court brief against DOMA and Prop H8.

[sigmasix]

9. that's downright human of him

It is statements like this from faithful beleivers that renews my commitment to the notion that American Christianity can evolve beyond the homophobia that grips so much of church dogma and control. Tutu deserves a big recognition for this gesture- especially given the recent history of violent government and NGO homophobic pograms in the African continent.

[William769]

11. Agreed.

[Nye Bevan]

12. What was that Gospel verse where Jesus condemns homosexuality?

Oops, there isn't one. My bad.

[William769]

13. Exactly!

[joeybee12]

15. This guy is so great...I would LOVE to meet him...

KNR

[William769]

16. His whole life is truly an inspiration to all

I too, would love a chance to me this phenomenal man.

[SunSeeker]

18. I wish more so-called men of God would follow Tutu's example. nt

[Iliyah]

19. This

a man of GOD. Hey so called Christianites - take notes!

[azurnoir]

20. Good for Bishop Tutu

[aquart]

21. I do like him.

One of those people I could stand being marooned on a desert island with...except he'd make me get off my duff and work.

[Mnemosyne]

23. He is indeed a compassionate and honorable man. nt

[jtuck004]

24. If I belived in your magic Holiday Inn Express in the Sky, I wouldn't stay where you would.

Besides, they probably wouldn't allow dogs, and that automatically takes them off my list.

[BlueStreak]

25. I'm pretty sure God doesn't have genitals

If it did, then there would be a Mrs. God and lots of baby Gods.

And if God doesn't do sex, then it follows that God wouldn't have much of an opinion about our sex parts.

I'm thinking if there is a nanny God, it is much more concerned with what we make of this life.

[RainDog]

26. k&r n/t

[CindySessoms]

27. Curious about the word "worship" - sounds like "warship"... hmmm

[idwiyo]

28. K&R

[William769]

31. ...

[idwiyo]

32. It's always great to see that kind of support. Thank you for posting it.

[Scurrilous]

33. K & R