Aug 11, 2012

So You Stll Think Homosexuality is Sinful?

One of my students just sent me these wonderful 'cartoons,' which very aptly and efficiently say it all.
P.S. I haven't been blogging for awhile because I've been in the Czech countryside teaching at a wonderful summer camp for young Czech students - and it's been such a wonderful experience. More later. 

In response to some comments about the witticism and sarcasm of the above, here is the most balanced response I've seen so far and one with which I would agree. The chart is essentially helpful, if somewhat judgmental in its language. And just for the record, Stephen Colbert is a devout, practicing Catholic, though some might wish to debate that.

A couple of questions come to mind when I see things like this:

1. Will language, diagrams, media like the above help with building a bridge with heterosexual church leaders or will it prevent them from engaging in respectful dialogue?

2. What is the role of such pieces of media?

3. Are there times when it is neccessary to be blunt in an effort to protect people rather than build bridges?


Interested to hear your thoughts.

Ben



Hi Ben

Thanks for posting. I agree – it is funny and mostly helpful.

The bits I would take out are where it says "Grow up" in blue at the bottom right hand side. I think the rest of that square says what needs to be said without insulting someone. And I'd take out the other blue box on the bottom left hand side that says about someone being xenophobic and a whole lot of other descriptives.

In my opinion, the biblical things are helpful as is the layout of the flow diagram. I like that it's condensed and easy to read. However, the emotional, insulting parts are not helpful and will only create a block to reconciling people. As I read those parts, they made me want to distance myself from this because that's not how I want to be with others.. and it's not how I want our community to represent itself.

I must admit though that I am chuckling at the sarcasm overall and the green writing where it congratulates the person on being part of civilised society. I agree that acceptance of homosexuality is part of being in a "civilised" or loving society. However on a more serious note, this comment contains a judgment that implies that anyone struggling with the idea of homosexuality being OK would be uncivilised. And I think that's unfair and could be hurtful. Descriptive words carry a lot of subjective meaning and can be interpreted in so many ways so we need to be careful not to harm others and ourselves in the process of using them.

Blessings,

Ann Maree

6 comments:

Invictus_88 said...

It says it all?

It says "Agree with us, or you'll be cast out of society, you hateful backward unintelligent bigot!".

Which is, I suppose, 'it all', if that is all the substance of one's argument.

...is it?

Richard Demma said...

Invictus, I think you are engaging in projection. No where in the diagram does it say anything about casting out. That spirit of rejection is really more characteristic of those who would exclude gay people in committed relationships from active participation in the life of the faith community. And the diagram itself is a summary of the argument, which you have chosen to ignore. Could it be because you have no adequate answer to any of the points raised?

Invictus_88 said...

"Projection"? "Spirit of rejection"?

Not so much.

More, the diagram's extreme polarity between labelling those who agree with the Church as "sexist, chauvinist, judgemental [and] xenophobic", and those who disagree with the Church being told simply "Congratulations of being part of civilised society".

That is not really civilised, or mature, or any kind of engagement with the reality of the matter.

Invictus_88 said...

As for adequate answers to the points raised, I actually discussed it with a friend to the tune of many many hundreds of words.

But for the sake of brevity, I'll refer you here:

http://www.patheos.com/blogs/badcatholic/2012/08/so-you-still-think-homosexuality-is-sinful.html

William D. Lindsey said...

Jayden, this is a clever diagram. I had seen it at my Facebook page when someone in my circle of friends posted it, and thought it was great when I saw it there, too.

I like Colbert's analysis: he's a media-savvy man worth listening to.

Enjoy your time in the Czech countryside.

Richard Demma said...

Thanks, Bill, it is quite a witty exercise in social critique and appears to have hit quite a few nerves, justly so.