Postmodern Critic
Morgan Bell
Jeff MusallSo, Pastor Hagee - Does God hate Boy Scouts too?
June 15th 2008 22:46
Pastor John Hagee has been in the news for comments stating that Jews were responsible for the Holocaust and that it was God using Hitler as a "Hunter" to force Jews to go to Israel. He also (along with other American evangelical leaders) put the blame for Hurricane Katrina on the gay pride parade that was about to be held. With record flooding and the most prolific tornado season ever in America, who is at fault this time, pastor Hagee?
I must admit I was hesitant to write this. I cannot imagine the crushing loss that would come with the death of a child. I do not in any way mean any disrespect to anyone, in any disaster, who has lost someone. And therein lies my point. Pastor Hagee, why is God selective in his wrath, and who are you to try tell us anything?
For some it seems easy to dismiss his remarks about other groups, especially homosexuals. Not enough Americans are offended when Hagee blames New Orleans citizens who don't subscribe to his vision of sexuality. It doesn't affect them, and in many cases serves to affirm their own homophobia. Can you imagine the outcry if a statement were made saying that the tornado that struck the Boy Scout camp in Iowa, killing four, was because the Boy Scouts don't allow gays? People would call it ridiculous, offensive, hateful, derisive, and more -and they would be right. See where I'm going?
Either your god is all-powerful, or he is not - either he causes all storms, or he doesn't cause any of them. You can't credit him for going after a gay pride parade in New Orleans and not then ask him why he hit the Scout camp. It would be patently offensive to suggest the Boy Scouts are any one is responsible for what happened there. And it was patently offensive that so many listened to Hagee and others about Hurricane Katrina. It is patently offensive that the pews of his mega-church are still full every week.
Here's another question. If God did target New Orleans, why such a broad storm? The actual gay part of town came through the storm fairly unscathed. Yet thousands of others had to die. Even if a person takes such a ridiculous leap as to say God set his sights on the gay community of New Orleans one would have to ponder his respect for life in general. Essentially carpet-bombing the Gulf Coast to stop a parade?
Point is, pastor Hagee, all disasters that cause loss of life are terrible. Be it a storm in Myanmar, an Earthquake in China, a hurricane in New Orleans, or a tornado in Iowa. We need to reach out to all victims, not select who we might agree with. And we need to categorically dismiss you and your mythology that would spread hate on the heels of hurt.
I must admit I was hesitant to write this. I cannot imagine the crushing loss that would come with the death of a child. I do not in any way mean any disrespect to anyone, in any disaster, who has lost someone. And therein lies my point. Pastor Hagee, why is God selective in his wrath, and who are you to try tell us anything?
For some it seems easy to dismiss his remarks about other groups, especially homosexuals. Not enough Americans are offended when Hagee blames New Orleans citizens who don't subscribe to his vision of sexuality. It doesn't affect them, and in many cases serves to affirm their own homophobia. Can you imagine the outcry if a statement were made saying that the tornado that struck the Boy Scout camp in Iowa, killing four, was because the Boy Scouts don't allow gays? People would call it ridiculous, offensive, hateful, derisive, and more -and they would be right. See where I'm going?
Either your god is all-powerful, or he is not - either he causes all storms, or he doesn't cause any of them. You can't credit him for going after a gay pride parade in New Orleans and not then ask him why he hit the Scout camp. It would be patently offensive to suggest the Boy Scouts are any one is responsible for what happened there. And it was patently offensive that so many listened to Hagee and others about Hurricane Katrina. It is patently offensive that the pews of his mega-church are still full every week.
Here's another question. If God did target New Orleans, why such a broad storm? The actual gay part of town came through the storm fairly unscathed. Yet thousands of others had to die. Even if a person takes such a ridiculous leap as to say God set his sights on the gay community of New Orleans one would have to ponder his respect for life in general. Essentially carpet-bombing the Gulf Coast to stop a parade?
Point is, pastor Hagee, all disasters that cause loss of life are terrible. Be it a storm in Myanmar, an Earthquake in China, a hurricane in New Orleans, or a tornado in Iowa. We need to reach out to all victims, not select who we might agree with. And we need to categorically dismiss you and your mythology that would spread hate on the heels of hurt.
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Comment by RubySoho
Music Zone
Thought Zone
I'm sure the answer to this would be something like, "God not only hates fags, he also hates people who support them". Kind of like Jerry Falwell saying 9/11 was God's vengeance on a country that condones abortion and homosexuality.
Of course it was. Three thousand people who only crime was to show up to work on a Tuesday morning died a terrifying death because some other people prefer to do it with someone who has the same reproductive bits as they do.
Ah but we are doing it again Jeff, injecting reason and rationality into a discussion on religion...never the twain shall meet and all that.
Comment by postmoderncritic
Postmodern Critic
Relativity Watch
Padsoc
I wouldn't even give Pastor Hagee the time of day... let him fade out with all the other extremists.
Comment by RubySoho
Music Zone
Thought Zone