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POLITICS: Ugandan Anti-Homosexuality Bill Causes Big Stir

Posted by PurpleSky on 03.28.2010

Category : Church & State, Politics

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Late last year  a proposal for new anti-gay Screen shot 2010-03-06 at 2.29.40 PMlegislation in Uganda sparked international controversy. While homosexuality has always been illegal in Uganda the new bill proposes increased punishment. Anyone found guilty of engaging in homosexual sex will be sentenced to life in prison. Persons found guilty of having sex with minors could result in the death penalty. Heterosexuals who fail to report homosexual acts could also be penalized for up to seven years. The bill also forbids the “promotion of homosexuality” – including publishing information or providing funds, premises for activities, or other resources. Conviction could result in up to seven years in prison. Needless to say the the battle surrounding this bill rages on.

Purple Sky Perspective

Its appears that the general Ugandan cultural norm is homosexuality is sin and therefore justifiably punishable. What does the culture of the Kingdom of Heaven have to say about this issue? How does Kingdom Culture deal with sin? Guess we have to ask the King of the Kingdom.  Regardless of what you believe, I want to address the underlying idea that Christianity justifies these types of laws. Admittedly I don’t believe homosexuality exists in heaven. Heck-I don’t think heterosexuality exists in heaven for that matter. I don’t know if Jesus ever had lunch with a gay person but I do know he kicked it with an adulteress once. In fact he went against the cultural norms and traditions of His day. It was called the Law. Jesus went so far as to ward off the entire “anti-adultery bill” committee that came to stone the adulterous woman that day. (John 8).  It might surprise some Christians Jesus didn’t earnestly warn her that she was going to hell. Now, He also didn’t tell her to go grab her beau, leave town and go get her freak on in the next city. Instead He responded to the accusation with, “Then neither do I condemn you. Go now and leave your life of sin” (John 8:11) Now without the threat of being stoned to death I wonder what her incentive would be to leave that man alone? Did she in fact leave that man alone? Just a thought. Regardless Jesus definitely wasn’t down with stoning her.  If Jesus was in Uganda right now under this new bill, he would be sentenced to jail for obstructing justice. I wonder how did this woman feel about her sin before Jesus came to her rescue? Did she believe in her heart it was wrong to be with that man or did she believe she was in love, the world just didn’t understand her situation, and life isn’t fair. Was she just horny, a prostitute or a whore who just wanted the next woman’s man?  No doubt, she was guilty of the crime she was accused of. They found her in bed doing “the do” for crying out loud. God Himself gave as a commandment ‘thou shalt not commit adultery’ and yet Jesus chose not to punish her. Was He contradicting the Law He Himself came up with? ….

I asked one of my best friends from Nigeria what he thought about the entire thing. He responded with the following:

How many Ugandans are at or below the poverty line? What is the life expectancy of the average Ugandan? What is the Ugandan infant mortality rate? How many deaths per thousand at childbirth for mothers? How many doctors per thousand? What is the Ugandan literacy rate?How many universities does Uganda have? How many Ugandans have access to reliable electricity, clean water, garbage disposal and decent housing? Which of the preceding questions is LESS important than “homosexuality”?

Why does homosexuality scare Christians so much?  It stresses much of the modern day church out way too much for all the wrong reasons yet it didn’t stress Jesus out. Maybe because He wasn’t bent on controlling folks free will. Jesus didn’t control the woman caught in the act of adultery. He freed her, loved her, protected her from condemnation and empowered her to choose. “Go now and leave your life of sin.” He didn’t begrudge her because of her behavior  even though He didn’t condone it. He went on to say in the next verse John 8:12  “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

What do you think?

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  • Godfrey Sande

    Hello,

    Maybe we should start with the question of BIBLICAL STANDARDS. Religious leaders have wielded the bible as some standard that needs to be consulted on all issues globally. Now, its my opinion that, significant portions of the bible are cultural, they reflect the Jewish culture AT THE TIME when the books were written. From the practice of the patriarchs, Polygamy was normal, to the extent that the revered kings David and Solomon had multiple wives. It was the norm at the time. Today, the same people wielding the bible as a sledgehammer distance themselves away from polygamy and say its not biblical.

    Homosexuality trends, or sexuality in general goes through cultural evolution. The writer of Romans condemns homosexuality, with a few verses in the Torah also condemning it. We should not forget that the same Torah condemns the ingestion of Pork, yet we frown on the homosexuality portions but excuse the ingestion of Pork as a personal decision.

    I don’t subscribe to the notion that ones relationship with God is defined by ones sexuality as much as ones capacity to ingest pork. There is a higher standard.

    In the past three decades, it was totally unacceptable for one to ingest alcohol, especially in the born again circles. Today, alcohol, in the form of wine, is acceptable in certain circles. What happened to the hell fire concept of ingesting alcohol a few decades ago? Has the biblical standard changed?

    Its my suggestion that the biblical standard notion is used only to justify the leaders at that time’s biases. Its also my submission that in the next fifty years, homosexuality will be legal in the region, catholic clergy will be permitted to marry, the catholic ban on condoms will be repealed, and the religions will generally agree that there are multiple routes to heaven. This is because religion is intrinsically tied into culture and culture is progressive, not static as many would wish us to believe.

    We also need to regard the bible as a largely cultural book that reveals the details of history of the Jewish nation, especially the old testament. We also need to appreciate the fact that a large portion of the epistles were written by Paul, a Pharisee, so a lot of the Pharisaic norms were also expressed, including women covering their heads, women not speaking in public, etc. This doesn’t represent the Unchanging Word of God, rather it represents the norms of the day that didn’t raise any eyebrows then, but do so now.

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  • ==J@$0N==

    It is truly sad that a few people in crucial positions of power continue to perpetuate hate and discrimination against their human brothers and sisters in this dawn of a new age. Especially when they attempt to conceal and legitimize their hatred through the twisting and misinterpretation of sacred texts to their political advantage.
    It is also unfortunate that their followers believe blindly in their interpretations and misinformation without questioning and investigating the facts for themselves.
    I have yet to find a believing Christian who can irrefutably present a Biblical New Testament reference which supports homophobia. And yet we know intuitively and through many different religious teachings that to kill someone is a sin. These evil leaders preach hatred and death to us in the name of God, yet this is surely from the pulpit of the Devil himself?
    The time of the evil overlords is coming to an end and humanity is rediscovering its worth and its grace and that love will overcome hatred in a world that our children can be proud to inherit.
    Let us use our personal power now to place leaders of love in our countries.
    Each and every one of us has the power to make a difference, but the decision to make a difference is in our hands.
    Let us use this opportunity to protect the human rights and lives of our Ugandan brothers and sisters and not desert them in this critical time of need.
    Love and blessings
    Jason

  • faasI

    It’s time that people stop hating and killing in the name of their Imaginary Friend! :(

  • Cyril Manthorpe

    Religion ruins everything! Not a single church is moral and never has been. Do not tell me how to run my life. I am an American and no government owns me! Freedom is what this country is about not Christian repression and stupidity. Freedom of choice is the only way to operate a government. Enacting laws to hinder choice is never a good position for a government to take. Look at what happened to England. The same thing will happen here if the church and fairy tale believing people force all Americans to consent to be governed by religious idiots making draconian laws. Freedom of choice is paramount to a safe society. Without freedom of choice the people of the states may in fact remove their consent to be governed by the US government. This would be very bad for us all. One person’s moral belief is not shared by all. Don’t try to make laws that hinder personal choice for all just because portions of the people are christian.

    American Atheist

  • http://www.feelnubia.com LB

    First Malawi, then Zimbabwe, now Uganda. Makes you wonder… Read: “Malawi all set to follow Australia’s example…” Read more @ http://bit.ly/bbDY8R

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