The Haggard Story: Not Just Hypocrisy, But Lack of Self-Knowledge

[madmusic]

JB

The story of Ted Haggard's resignation from the Presidency of the National Association of Evangelicals and the leadership of the megachurch he founded reminds us that our political system and our cultural system have not yet caught up with a simple fact: there are a lot of gay and bisexual people in the United States.

Because in our country homosexuality has long been viewed as deviant and sinful, many of these people do not disclose their sexual orientation to others, while others are not even willing to admit it to themselves.

Instead, like Ted Haggard, they view their sexual orientation as a sin and a moral failing that they must constantly struggle against.

In fact, the very presence of these desires, which they conceptualize as sinful urgings, confirms in their mind how dangerous homosexuality is. Precisely because they possess these feelings, they know how close every human being is to sin. And therefore it becomes all the more important to denounce it, to fight it, and to prevent it from undermining the country.

more: http://balkin.blogspot.com/2006/11/haggard-story-not-just-hypocrisy-but.html

[DURHAM D]

1. So, its simple. Religion is the root of all evil. n/t

[madmusic]

2. Religion doesn't have a monopoly on rigid morality policing.

Even some of our own DUers are pretty good at it.

[Erika]

3. Sexual orientation is just that

Many gays lead beautiful lives because they accept how God has made them. Pastor Ted is lost.

[haymark]

4. kick