Letter: Will it be discussion or proselytizing?

To the Editor:

Pastor Tom Johnson summarized the premise of the movie “For the Bible Tells Me So...” as “God approves of loving, same-sex relationships” (R-E, March 6). The quotation marks around this statement make it clear this perspective is not his own.

He goes on to say that he hopes that members and supporters of the gay, lesbian and bisexual community will attend his forum so that he might offer his perspective on the issue of homosexuality and the Bible, and that he wants to have reasoned discussion, where he will offer a rational response.

However well intentioned, I fail to see what response Johnson can offer that is not merely a more polite version of religious gay bashing. Will he recognize that homosexuality is not a choice? If not, then why not say that in his letter? Or will he merely try to say that we are all born in sin, attempting to create a false inclusiveness, while failing to recognize that those without choice will always fall short and be regarded as lesser by this line of thinking?

Will he address how those on the receiving end of discrimination are required to work so much harder to achieve grace than those who are empowered, including denying the way in which they were born? Does his faith allow him to just accept this inequity unexamined?

Johnson complains that he cannot find his voice among the voices in the film. Why is that necessary?

Where has been the voice of respect in the hateful cacophony of religious intolerance toward homosexuality? The film is meant to offer a voice that is most often drowned out. It is not necessary that the film present every nuance of the same tired language of intolerance.

The conservative Christian community always seems to want everyone to conform to its beliefs, rather than allowing for any other way of believing. Somehow, I think that this “forum” will be more proselytizing than listening. Which is the kind of attitude the movie was pointing out in the first place.

Tags: opinion, johnson, brown