Comments on: Lutherans in Tanzania shun those in the West

By: Piper

Piper — Tue, 11 May 2010 00:34:15 +0000

Yeah Timothy, the Lutheran Church in SL actually doesn’t even have a headquarters building, they spend almost all their money and effort helping to rebuild the community. They are a true example of what I wish all Christians were like.

By: toujoursdan

toujoursdan — Mon, 10 May 2010 20:21:04 +0000

It was the West that turned Africans homophobic. Before that attitudes towards homosexuality varied greatly between ethnic groups. We caused this.

By: Timothy Kincaid

Timothy Kincaid — Sun, 09 May 2010 20:56:22 +0000

Piper,

that is a delight to hear.

By: Fred

Fred — Sun, 09 May 2010 12:17:23 +0000

It shows clearly there is a realtationship between development and the acceptance of minorities;)

By: Piper

Piper — Sat, 08 May 2010 18:35:28 +0000

Not all African Lutheran Churches are this way. My Church’s sister congregation is in Sierra Leonne, and despite the problems still going on there, the Lutheran Church is an active humanitarian force there, and this month we hosted their Bishop here in Amarillo, and our ties are stronger than ever.

By: Bruno

Bruno — Sat, 08 May 2010 17:43:31 +0000

Where did this religious homophobia begin though? Not in the Tanzanian Lutheran church, but in the “western” churches. It’s kind of like the role someone like Engle or Lively plays, except the mentors have disassociated themselves with the homophobia, while the students continue on in that vein.

By: Norris

Norris — Sat, 08 May 2010 16:49:23 +0000

Thank you, Pomo, for your words. I agree whole-heartedly. My contributions will continue to reach people in need through Lutheran World Relief and the LWF. It has taken centuries for our church in Europe and North America to grasp the acceptance of the outcast modeled by Jesus. Lutherans in Tanzania are a few centuries behind.

By: Andreas

Andreas — Sat, 08 May 2010 12:22:30 +0000

The reason that Sweden have so many Lutherans was that every swede as soon as we where born was considered part of the Swedish church (Lutheran church) and while that has changed now a lot of people simply doesn’t bother with sending in the papers to leave the church even though they aren’t Lutheran or even Christian at all.

By: Désirée

Désirée — Sat, 08 May 2010 09:33:33 +0000

“a bit laxly” wins the understatement of the year award. When I read this to my Swedish wife, her response was “We’re Lutheran? Um…OK, good to know”

I know, nothing to do with the article, but I just thought it was funny and I’d throw it out there.

By: ----

---- — Sat, 08 May 2010 03:07:06 +0000

If it took a few white men to give that mentality to Africa, what would it take to change it?