Comments on: Jewish Weekly News Opposes Proposition 8

By: Reuven

Reuven — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 22:06:32 +0000

Much as people are trying to keep this from being a religious battle, that’s exactly what it has become.

From Today’s New York Times:

“This vote on whether we stop the gay-marriage juggernaut in California is Armageddon,” said Charles W. Colson, the founder of Prison Fellowship Ministries and an eminent evangelical voice, speaking to pastors in a video promoting Proposition 8. “We lose this, we are going to lose in a lot of other ways, including freedom of religion.”

Do we really believe that marriage equality is a Jewish issue? Are we sincere? If so, then we need to address what’s going on: An organized effort from religious organizations to outlaw a Jewish (as well as many progressive Church’s) practice. It’s probably fair to say that but for the actions of progressive Clergy, same-sex marriage wouldn’t be where it is today.

After they succeed with this, what’s next? Outlawing circumcision? Outlawing Kosher slaughter? Both these things are already on the radar, admittedly far away. (And, right now, not backed primarily by religious groups.)

Don’t we need a way to address the true challenge here: some religious groups seeking to outlaw the actions of other religious groups, solely on religious principles?

The official “YES ON 8″ page says this: (http://www.protectmarriage.com/testimonials)

“We are at one of those moments. This is THE major change point of the last few decades. While the abortion issue is a foundational issue, the marriage definition issue is a survival issue. No single social issue has threatened to forever muzzle Bible believing Christians like this contest.

For us not to be able to point out the religious threat can potentially cause serious problems for Judaism in the future.

By: Ben in Oakland

Ben in Oakland — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 15:08:14 +0000

I’ve been a busy boy the past few days. The Jewish Bulletin is going to publish my letter reminding jewish people about the nature of prejudice.

It might cost me some business– I do a lot of bar mitzvahs. But i met a prop. 8 supporter yesterday– a fairly stupid boy full of talking points but no sense. He inspired me to say Screw it!

By: Ben in Oakland

Ben in Oakland — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 19:58:10 +0000

I thought the guy writing the article was You-Know-Who, or Voldemort (apologies to Harry Potter) but it turns out that You Know Who actually prefers to speak a truth instead of an innuendo.

By: Emily K

Emily K — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 08:27:16 +0000

I don’t think that person is doing really anything different than before. I think that his attitudes are the same – except maybe now he’s no longer touting bisexuality. He’s taking the “side B” path and saying “gay+celibate for religion”. But it IS refreshing to see one of “their own” refute their rhetoric.

By: Timothy Kincaid

Timothy Kincaid — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 22:30:12 +0000

cd,

Interesting. Well I’m glad to see that he’s doing well. I wish him happiness and hope that he is now embracing honesty and truthfulness in his life and his writing.

By: cd

cd — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 21:35:57 +0000

Hey Tim: well-known short term denizen of this site has posted an interesting and selfrevealing bit of information in the following thread. Check out reply #253. :-) (If I mention his name, he’ll get a Google alert to here.)

http://www.aish.com/spirituality/odysseys/The_Straight_Path_Home.asp

By: Emily K

Emily K — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 20:49:18 +0000

Absolutely right. As a religious minority, we KNOW what it’s like to have our liberties encroached. Maybe for some Jews banning SSM for religious reasons would align. But after that, things like Christian prayer in school and reproductive rights, such as access to birth control, would greatly diverge from even the most orthodox Jews.