Monday, April 20, 2009

The Day of Truth?

I just read an article in the Christian Post about a student-run counter-protest to the Day of Silence. Now, I disagree with these students and their views against homosexuality. I'm also not a fan of the way they claim to represent all of Christianity with these views. That said, I think they're going about what they're doing in the right way. The "Day of Truth" is merely a non-violent reaction to a non-violent protest. If only we could all air our grievances in such a mature and dignified way.

Unfortunately, I felt the need to read more than the first few paragraphs of the article, and came upon this little gem:

Christian conservatives ... argue that the event politicizes the classroom
to support the belief that homosexuality is moral and forces propaganda and
acceptance of high-risk behavior into schools with little – if any – room for
opposing views.

Now, forgive me if I'm wrong, but isn't staging an in-school counter-protest because you're opposed to disrupting classroom time with politics a little counter-intuitive? They say they're only participating in their counter-protest "outside of class hours", but how likely is that to actually be the case? Also, what difference does it really make? And since we're on the subject, isn't it a bit rich for the Christian right to accuse people of politicizing things that shouldn't be politicized? I'm quite certain that the Christian right have politicized their religious views on homosexuality by passing constitutional bans on gay marriage in 29 states. I'm also certain they've politicized their religious views on abortion by continually looking for new ways to attack Roe v. Wade. I'm downright positive that they've politicized Christianity in general by making the repeated claim that "America is a Christian Nation." Not only that, but they've brought their politicization of Christianity into the classroom by attempting to get "intelligent design" (AKA unintelligent creationism) taught alongside evolution in public schools.

Matthew 22:17-21 says:

Tell us then, what is your opinion? Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?"

But Jesus, knowing their evil intent, said, "You hypocrites, why are you trying to trap me? Show me the coin used for paying the tax." They brought him a denarius, and he asked them, "Whose portrait is this? And whose inscription?"

"Caesar's," they replied. Then he said to them, "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's."


To me, this passage is about keeping politics out of faith, and faith out of politics. Not everyone may read it that way, but it's important to keep in mind that if you're going to go around bitching about people politicizing the classroom, you probably shouldn't be politicizing your faith. Just sayin'. WTFWJD?

P.S. I'd also like to point out that this article's "expert on sexuality issues" is a man named Dr. Warren Throckmorton. You can read more about him here, here, and here.

5 comments:

Seattle Mama said...

Well said, Jocelyn. And I must add, Throckmorton is one of the bet last names ever.

Jocelyn said...

Totally. It's really a shame it went to someone so undeserving.

Lisa said...

So this Throckmorton guy uses the psychoanalytic approach in his research and therapy to "change" people. First off most of what Frued believed is crap and furthermore psychoanalysis was created for upper middle class white woman. Psychoanalysis is hardly ever used anymore, and most of its ideas have been disproven. This guy sucks.

Sara said...

Hi! I just wanted to jump in and say I love your blog! Very interesting post today. :)

Buffy said...

They very much want to politicize LGBT issues. They merely want only *their* political viewpoints to be heard, and decry any attempts by others to speak in the forum.

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