By Melanie Nathan, January 20, 2014
When religious extremists in the form of Lou Engle, Scott Lively and others found that their war against homosexuality was floundering on home turf, they scrambled to capture a world ripe for scapegoating, using the Bible to spin their hateful yarn on African soil. Uganda became a target and they were successful.
Their target included, not only the general Ugandan populace, but also the Ugandan politicians and Members of Parliament, who subscribed to their interpretations, that Gays are not fit to live “because the Bible says so!.” This trend has spread across the continent. And anti-gay laws have been passed, compliments U.S. Evangelicals.
Some Evangelicals have distanced themselves from the fringe and barbaric rhetoric, but others have continued to subscribe to it, including the preachers who took to the Ugandan stages over the past years, where they participated in events that called for the support for bills to kill and jail gays.
Now some may not have overtly sung the dance of death, yet, by virtue of their shared platforms, in some instances, or silence, in others, all are implicit as collaborators in the horrific events that have now befallen all Africa’s gays including those who are suffering persecution under the passage of recent Ugandan and Nigerian laws.
One case in point and challenged on these pages is that of a self subscribed Pastor, Paul Shinners. Oblogdee was one of the Blog sites that took Shinners to task.
Here is an open letter to Mr. Shinners from blogger Daniel Law, United Kingdom:
Dear Mr Shinners,
It has now been over a year since you spoke in Uganda in favour of the Anti-Homosexuality Bill, as I’m sure you are aware the bill has finally been passed and will soon become law if nothing is done to stop it. When your involvement and sentiments were made public in the UK last January, rather than acknowledge your error and apologise to those affected by your words or justify and explain your actions you went on the attack throwing accusations at those who attempted to bring light to the situation. Both bloggers have said that you never demanded an apology, as you claimed in the Hunts Post on 28th January.
You shared the stage with a number of known anti-gay, homophobic speakers on a day that was dominated by the call to the government to pass the Anti-Homosexuality Bill, then known as the ‘Kill the Gays’ Bill. Though the death penalty has now supposedly been removed, it still includes life in prison for homosexuals and imprisonment for any family member or colleague who fails to report homosexual activity within 24 hours. (*)
It also includes a ban on the so called “promotion” of homosexuality, which would, among other things, make it impossible to educate regarding AIDS prevention and treatment which will have a devastating effect on the LGBTI community in Uganda. You said that “there is no other nation world over that has such a plan and through this, Uganda is going to be blessed,” and ” it is conviction that would bring change in society.”
You have not once denied these comments reported in the Ugandan Monitor but only put out one brief statement claiming not to be homophobic, yet this is what the most outspoken, reprehensible homophobes in Uganda claim. “Hate the sin, not the sinner” is a commonly used phrase to allow them to spew vile propaganda and hatred and still claim to love everyone and not be homophobic. Your concern seems only with your business and reputation in the UK and not for the people of Uganda. I’m sure if you did speak about tolerance and acceptance of homosexuals in Uganda you wouldn’t have been invited back so many times and if you were to do it after 31st January you would be arrested for doing so.
Months ago in an email to me, after I asked you a few very simple questions regarding your beliefs on homosexuality you said, “because of the various questions being fired at me it may be best for me to put out a clear statement regarding what I said in Uganda. I will do this in the next few days,” yet a statement never materialised.
You also said, ” It is such a shame that you did not consult with us first to help make sure the legislation is not passed in Uganda. We too are against the bill and could have used our influence to help stop it if we had known earlier.” You have now had a year to use your influence to stop it, yet I have seen no evidence of this. There is still time to act as the Ugandan President has until the end of the month to reject the bill or let it pass into law. What have/will you do to help the countless christian homosexuals and their families who face up to life in prison for just being how “god” made them.
You claim to be a proud member of River Church, a member of the Evangelical Alliance. Their website states, “We believe both habitual homoerotic sexual activity without repentance and public promotion of such activity are inconsistent with faithful church membership,” and “We oppose church services of blessing for civil partnerships and other forms of gay and lesbian relationships as unbiblical.” It also says “We do not accept that holding these theological and ethical views on biblical grounds is in itself homophobic,” and “We welcome and support the work of those individuals and organisations who responsibly seek to help Christians who experience same-sex attraction as in conflict with their commitment to live in accordance with biblical teaching.” Reparative/Conversion therapy has been proven not to work and leads to depression and suicide and is condemned by the American Psychiatric Association and most other organisations and are a violation of Human Rights. Do you share these views?
In a statement from Steve Clifford, the general director of the Evangelical Alliance in response to Steve Chalke’s article in Christianity magazine, he says, “The danger we all face, and I fear Steve has succumbed to, is that we produce ‘a god’ in our own likeness or in the likeness of the culture in which we find ourselves. Steve’s approach to biblical interpretation allows for a god in the likeness of 21st century Western-European mindsets.”
Yet what is the bible but a 4th Century interpretation of god created in the culture of that time. Do you agree with this fundamentalist interpretation of the old testament and reject the scientifically supported modern day view that homosexuality is natural, not a choice and a perfectly acceptable way to live your life if you are that way inclined?
Do you disagree with gay marriage and adoption? Someone who claims not to be homophobic would find these questions very easy to answer. Over 1,500 animal species have been observed to engage in homosexual behaviour, but humans are the only animal species to display homophobic behaviour.
You have made multiple visits to Africa over a number of years spreading your message to many openly homophobic countries with anti-gay legislation, where you claim to have “saved” people. If you were a good christian person and not homophobic as you claimed, what have you done in your many visits to improve the treatment of the LGBTI community? If you have nothing to hide, why have you taken down your “passion for souls” charity website with your many testimonials from people in Africa about all the “good” work you have done over the years?
There are many passages in the old testament that I would hope you don’t believe in or observe, such as not wearing clothes woven of two types of material Leviticus 19:19, not eat pork Leviticus 11:8, marrying captive women Deuteronomy 21:10 or that assaulted women should be forced to marry their rapists Deuteronomy 22:28, yet you and your evangelical colleagues in Africa and North America ignore them and instead use a few passages to justify the vile and unchristian treatment of homosexuals.
In Uganda women are subjected to corrective rape to “cure” them and homosexuals are beaten and killed and forced to live in secret or forced out of their homes to the slums and live in fear every day. Uganda is using homosexuals as a scapegoat for all the systemic problems in the country and the vile lies and propaganda are worse than the antisemitism in Germany before the Holocaust. One prominent Evangelical Pastor even shows extremely graphic pornography during church services to degrade and vilify homosexuals.
If you see homosexuality and sexuality as a choice, that speaks more to your inclination than that of others. A homosexual can no more choose to be heterosexual than a heterosexual can chose to be homosexual. Those who see their sexuality as a choice are bisexual.
If you do believe homosexual acts are a sin in the eyes of your god, punishable by death, as the old testament says, then stand by your convictions and face the consequences and if not you have until the end of January to help use your influence in Uganda to prevent this bill becoming law. If you are a good christian person you would reach out to your many contacts and try and reason with them to change their distorted and barbaric views on homosexuality and how homosexuals should be treated.
You have until the 31st of January to make a difference. I hope you do the right thing, either due to your own conscience or through public pressure.
Yours sincerely,
Daniel Law
At Christmas time, 2012 , Shinners shared the stage with those calling for passage of the Anti-homosexuality Bill, at a time when Speaker of the house Rebecca Kadaga was promising to serve up The Kill the Gays Bill, as her gift to Uganda for Xmas. We have yet to hear from Shinners. Now that the Bill has passed, and while it is back in Parliament pending further action, after President Museveni’s diabolical tirade against gays, calling for amendments to the Bill, it is the perfect and imperative moment for Shinners and other Christians to speak out loud against it.
And so while Daniel Law is still holding Mr. Shinners’ feet to the fire, I wonder where all the other Christians are at a time like this, whether Evangelical or not? Why have we not heard from you in mass disgust?
Do you not realize that it is in the name of YOUR Bible that Uganda’s LGBT community is NOW being persecuted? Speak out now.
And let us see you show up as good Christian in the re-education of Uganda’s Christian community while there is still time!
NOTE: (*) Correction – we hear this may be out of the Bill – but we have yet to see a copy of the actual Bill as passed by parliament.
OUR ARTICLES ON PAUL SHINNERS:
First Article mentioning Shinners:-
Apparently a great many Christian pastors, whether Evangelical or otherwise, spent much of their New Year’s messages trumping up support for what has become known as “The Kill the Gays Bill, ” showing their frustration at Speaker Rebecca Kadaga‘s impossible promise to have it passed into law as 2012′s Xmas gift to Uganda. http://oblogdeeoblogda.me/2013/01/01/ugandan-gay-hating-pastors-spit-on-their-constitution-in-mandela-stadium/
MORE:
HATEFUL ANTI-GAY VIDEO FEATURES UGANDAN HOST OF U.K. PREACHER PAUL SHINNERS
by Melanie Nathan on February 23, 2013
Watch this outrageous Video showing Bishop David Kiganda in the presence of David Bahati declaring Death for Homosexuals. By Melanie Nathan, February 23, 2013. This Video is older news but can now be seen in a different light, when noting that U.K. Preacher Paul Shinners has yet to answer questions about his preaching at the […]
ST. NEOTS U.K. PREACHER PAUL SHINNERS HAS YET TO ANSWER QUESTIONS ABOUT HIS ANTI-GAY REMARKS
by Melanie Nathan on February 20, 2013
Should apologize to Uganda’s Gay community, the U.K. LGBTI Community and to Bloggers he unjustly accused By Melanie Nathan, Feb 20, 2013. Since exposing Paul Shinners, as an Evangelical Christian extremist, who spoke at the Ugandan New years eve Rally, where much anti-gay sentiment was expressed by a group of pastors, local UK activists are […]
U.K. PREACHER PAUL SHINNERS CLAIMS HE COULD HAVE STOPPED THE ANTI-HOMOSEXUALITY BILL IN UGANDA
by Melanie Nathan on February 13, 2013 i By Melanie Nathan, February 13, 2013. After exposing Paul Shinners and his shenanigans in Uganda, the preacher from the United Kingdom, tried to court the U.K. press to refute facts that simply could not be denied; and in doing so, his attempt to discredit my report, did nothing much but bring greater attention by activists […]
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Would currently send LANCE BASS and his MOM’s piece to each and every one of the only ‘So Called’ Christians. Found here http://tinyurl.com/mzrv3mp
Two quotes…but really should be read in entirety.
My mom read the Bible four times in a row and bought every book written about Christianity and the subject of homosexuality. When she saw things were not getting any easier at her church regarding this issue, she decided to go against her passive character and let her community know exactly how they were making her feel….In a very open and honest letter to the church, she suggested how true Christians should act towards the LGBT community.
…and from Mom’s LONG wonderful letter about her admitted now 7 year journey.. at the end of which she still has not found peace in her community or church.
‘When I found out Lance was gay, I dove into the scriptures looking for answers. The scriptures that kept jumping out to me were Jesus’s warnings about judgment. The person who wrote that note should heed those warnings. Jesus says in Luke 6:37 “Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive and you will be forgiven.” Jesus is telling us that we cannot lead others to him if we are judging and condemning them.
When I hear fellow Sunday School members, co-workers, politicians, and Christian people on TV and radio say negative, judgmental things about gays, I just cringe and it breaks my heart. Not only are the Christian community pushing away gays who are Christians, we are alienating those who are lost.
I believe with all my heart that Jesus would say to all Christians who are gay that they belong to him and that he loves them unconditionally. Jesus says in John 10:27-28, “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand.”
I feel like I am on a journey and it just continues on each day. I would like to share one final revelation on this journey. Because I am such a tenderhearted person, sometimes my broken heart felt unbearable so I asked God to take away my tender heart. I don’t know why I did this, but I looked up the word “tenderhearted” in the dictionary and it meant “having compassion”. One day after that I read this scripture: “If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any TENDERNESS and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love… Your attitude should be the same as that of Jesus Christ.” (Phillippians 2:1-5) God’s message to me was clear. If he took away my tender heart, I would no longer have compassion for others. If I did not have compassion for others, I would not have the attitude of Christ. I never prayed
that God take away my tender heart again. I believe the church needs to show that some compassion for everyone regardless of gender, regardless of race, and regardless of sexual orientation.
My favorite scripture has always been, “God is my refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” (Psalm 46:1) I truly have found refuge in my Lord but I have to sadly tell you that I have not found refuge in my church. And neither has Lance and so many other Christians like him who want to be loved and accepted in a world that can be very cruel and hateful. I still attend church but admittedly with a heavy heart and with much anxiety. If I feel that way as the mother of a gay child, can you imagine the anxiety that a gay person sitting in my church feels? Once again, there is just something wrong with that.’
let me ask one simple question, do homos have sex and if so which body organs are they using, I have been told men do it in their fellow men’s anus , and the consequences very grave and has lead to serious ramifications ,.Each body organ has its specific purpose biologically , in fact I would equate homos to wild animals because they lack the simple human understanding, they are very dirty pple that deserve to isolated and their are subjected to cleansing and serious counseling, its unfortunate the a whole world can pile pressure on a leader elected by the national, and the laws passed by elected parliament and then you hear threats we shall cut aid , you are violating human rights , by the way I have been getting confused by the talk ; human rights in relation to thse homos, if one subject poor pple bse of simple pay to advance the sexual vice or he does it to young children, who is more of a human rights violator, we support Africa , we support humanity and we shall die for it,
hahahhaha been told or been your own experience? because the ramifications you speak of from anal sex may apply equally to men and women, I am sure and maybe men with women do or dont have such ramifications and maybe men with men do or dont have such ramifications???? So what? People are adults and they can take care of themselves. The rape laws take care of situations where people do not consent. BUT if people consent let them have whatever sex they want!! I know many straight men who have bragged about anal sex with women – do we then BAN all heterosexual relationships? There is zero difference between dirty disgusting straight men and I am sure there are many and dirty disgusting gay men and I am sure there are many… and then there are the very nioce warm loving gentle straight men and the very warm nice gentle loving gay men. TOM from how you speak my guess is you are of the dirty ilk? ANd why do you care if we cut AID – it all goes in M7’s pocket anyway. This Bill will prove to be the demise of M7 – in his old age he is no better than IDI Amin… STRAIGHT men do more harm than gay men. They trafiic little girls for money around the world and you dont give a shit about that… and the gay men just want privacy. No one is recruiting that is the Bullshit your politicians have fed you to keep your eyes off the road… so so lame…