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Theological Views of Homosexuality, Part 4With Reverend George Blair of First Congregational ChurchRelated Content
ANCHORAGE - KTVA CBS 11 Senior Enterprise Reporter Bill McAllister has conducted interviews with Anchorage clergy about their theological perspectives on homosexuality, in the context of the pending municipal ballot initiative that would add homosexuals to protected groups under the equal rights ordinance. Here is the complete interview conducted Tuesday, February 7 with Reverend George Blair of First Congregational Church. A story drawing from the four interviews will air Thursday, February 9. |
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Anonymous said on Tuesday, Feb 14 at 11:52 PM
Freethinker is funny...Christianityis a way to control the herds of humanity...too bad theydidn't have cell phones then, hey yo we got a cat named Jesus, what up there, yeah we got one like that too...lol...
81397547anon said on Friday, Feb 10 at 11:20 AM
Rev George please do mistake amusement for 'anti-christian anger'... or that I do not love you .... because I do:) The difficulty I have is you lead people to their knees for God ... rather than extending an outreaching hand that they might stand and walk with God... Enoch walked God... perhaps to the benefit of both... as for xtianity... the least of you are handmaidens to one of the most predatory groups on the planet... that broad brush paints you all.. unless of course you ascribe to 'boutique' xtianity... and are somehow excused? Special dispensations? I used fruit of the poisoned tree .. because there is culpability
81184282George Blair said on Friday, Feb 10 at 11:10 AM
Amanda, I agree. No religious viewpoint on this should determine whether all residents of our city should be treated equally and fairly. Whether one thinks homosexuality is a sin is beside the point. My religious tradition insists that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. The One Anchorage initiative is about justice for all, not about theological perspective on homosexuality.
81183719AmandaB said on Thursday, Feb 9 at 11:42 PM
The question is: Should Alaska protect a minority against hate crimes? This question should not have ANYTHING to do with religion. This country is NOT a CHRISTIAN country. Nor is this state a Christian state. This country was based on freedom of religion! Why are we looking to religious leaders to give us their opinion on a matter of someone's safety? They are not the ones experiencing hate crimes. This enrages me so much. Speculating about what the Bible says is irrelevant in this case. Anyone that would decide not to protect the LBGT community against hate crimes, despite their religious beliefs, are just heartless and brainless. I am not anti-Christian, I just think Christianity should NOT dictate who should and who should not be protected against hate crimes. In fact, it is anti-Christian to not protect and love a human.
81155816AmandaB said on Thursday, Feb 9 at 11:39 PM
The question is: Should Alaska protect a minority against hate crimes? This question should not have ANYTHING to do with religion. This country is NOT a CHRISTIAN country. Nor is this state a Christian state. This country was based on freedom of religion! Why are we looking to religious leaders to give us their opinion on a matter of someone's safety? They are not the ones experiencing hate crimes. This enrages me so much. Speculating about what the Bible says is irrelevant in this case. Anyone that would decide not to protect the LBGT community against hate crimes, despite their religious beliefs, are just heartless and brainless. I am not anti-Christian, I just think Christianity should NOT dictate who should and who should not be protected against hate crimes. In fact, it is anti-Christian to not protect and love a human.
81155759Sue said on Thursday, Feb 9 at 6:19 PM
Good job, Pastor George! I find the essential differences we all have regarding scripture are in how we interpret it, and you have given us just a hint of the complexities involved in that dialogue.
81143964Rev. George Blair said on Thursday, Feb 9 at 5:30 PM
I appreciate your kindness cooljulie. I also understand the anti-Christian anger that appears on this page. The world does not, however, divide up between ignorant and cruel Christians on the one hand and atheist kind and intelligent people on the other. Or visa-versa. It is important to try to find the good, the intelligent, the kind and the decent in people of all faiths, and in people of no faith. "The fruit of the poisonous tree" is a good phrase, though used out of context. Usually, it is used in the law to describe evidence collected from an illegal arrest or search warrant. I would never go so far as to paint Christians, Muslims, freethinkers or anyone with a broad brush. Let us listen and learn from each other. And all of you are welcome in our church, regardless of what propositions you believe to be true. The question is whether you have an open mind and heart. If so, join the discussion. If not, I am sure you can find a close-minded religious community to support.
81141711anon said on Thursday, Feb 9 at 11:50 AM
Remember what they did to the 'prime example'... those are now the ones who conduct xtianity's choir... some conductors are very good .. but it is fruit of the poisoned tree
81123539cooljulie said on Thursday, Feb 9 at 10:38 AM
Holy sh*t! I finally have seen a clergyman I can respect! When I saw the camo garb I thought hmmm, this guy is different than the others interviewed, all of whom came across as insincere and unloving, as well as close minded and bigoted. George, I may not believe in a god or any of the myths in the bible, but I find you to be amazingly intelligent and open minded, as well as a very balanced individual. THANK YOU, for saying what needs to be said, so that people don't stereotype all religious teachers as being homophobic or, sad to say, just plain stupid. Instead of spewing rhetoric or ignorance, you actually give thoughtful responses, and tell the TRUTH about the bible. Something tells me that if there is such a thing as a true christian, you sir are very close to a prime example.
81119528anon said on Thursday, Feb 9 at 10:36 AM
BobD is that the book that starts off with two naked people and a talking snake??
81119367RonAK said on Wednesday, Feb 8 at 8:50 PM
Well, when we all die...we'll know who was right...but then...too late.
81092409well... said on Wednesday, Feb 8 at 4:44 PM
What's your logic? we're the results of a cosmic burp from billions of years ago? we all came from washed up slime? all this happened by chance? Are you kidding me since your so full of logic, tell us where all the matter and energy for the BIG BANG came from. You want proof of a spititual being? first show us proof of your theory. Thats right! Theory...thats all it is, no proof!
81082486free thinker said on Wednesday, Feb 8 at 1:43 PM
Christianity...The belief that a cosmic Jewish Zombie who was his own father can make you live forever if you symbolically eat his flesh and telepathically tell him you accept him as your master, so he can remove an evil force from your soul that is present in humanity because a rib-woman was convinced by a talking snake to eat from a magical tree. Perfectly logical.
81072882BobD said on Wednesday, Feb 8 at 1:06 PM
If you study the scriptures , you don't need someone else telling you what they say..
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