Monday, January 19, 2009
News I can't protest Rick Warren at Ebenezer Baptist Church
Posted by Andisheh Nouraee on Mon, Jan 19, 2009 at 3:20 PM
Just out of curiousity, am I the only Rick Warren-loathing, gay-marriage-supporting atheist who is uncomfortable with the idea of protesting Warren's appearance at Ebenezer Baptist Church today?
To put it politely, I vehemently disagree with Warren's statements denigrating gay people. But I don't think it's a good idea to protest outside a church. How is protesting Warren at Ebenezer any more appropriate than Christians protesting outside a synagogue because the Rabbi won't acknowledge Jesus?
Warren's sickening statements prior to the passage of California's recent anti-gay marriage initiative make him a powerful symbol of anti-gay discrimination. I get that. I just don't think a Baptist church, or any church, is the appropriate venue for me to protest him.
Warren is scheduled to speak outside the U.S. Capitol tomorrow as part of Obama's inauguration. When he does, I'll mute the TV, mutter something nasty, and go check my e-mail.
If I were in the audience at the Capitol, I'd probably protest by turning my back to him. The Capitol is a public space. It's my space. I'm more than comfortable protesting there. I feel obligated to protest is presence there.
But churches are private space. If he wants to be an ignoramus inside a church, I think that's his business.
Comments (9)
Showing 1-9 of 9
I agree with your thoughts, but isn't this post an act of protecting his appearence at Ebenezer? I think it is far more effective as well. I can't recall the last time I saw chanting protesters with signs and pickets and said "What a thoughtful and reasonable group of people."
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"How is protesting Warren at Ebenezer any more appropriate than Christians protesting outside a synagogue because the Rabbi won’t acknowledge Jesus?" It's more appropriate here because Christians have not lobbied against Jews so that they cannot get married, among other things. Christians have not (nowadays) actively made life worse for gay people, whether their own kids, or gay people in other states. This is huge, and churches are at the center of this, so it is very appropriate to protest the grave harms that these church leaders, such as Warren, cause.
sorry, that was supposed to say: Christians have not (nowadays) actively made life worse for JEWISH people, while they have for gay people, whether their own kids, or gay people in other states
JJ, I strongly oppose most of the political initiatives of so-called Christian conservatives. What I'm questioning (but not condemning) is protesting a pastor speaking from a pulpit. I'm not 100% opposed to the protest, but it gives me pause. I'm not comfortable with the suggestion that a vocal group of organized outsiders should be protesting an exchange between a pastor and a Baptist congregation taking place inside a church. I realize MLK Day has civic, as well has religious significance, hence my generous use of weasel-words. As a member of a not-widely-liked irreligious minority, I'm inclined to feel that the ideas discussed inside a church are largely nobody business but the church's. I wouldn't want Baptists protesting Richard Dawkins night at my book club meeting. It's only when the ideas I disagree with are pushed into the civic and legislative arena that I feel compelled to jump in.
I will not watch the inauguration, just as I did not watch the "religious test for office" sponsored by the bigot-- Rick Warren. He is truly an evil man who does not understand the meaning of morality. I almost wish there were a heaven, because Warren is most certainly not going there. (camel, needle's eye, the rich etc.)
That it's a church has nothing to do with it (and as a matter of fact, Ebenezer did not have sway in the decision to invite Warren). That it's Warren giving a *keynote* speech, at Dr. Martin Luther King's church, during the day of the Commemorative Service honoring the legacy of Dr. King, is the crux of the problem. Warren can babble all he wants about people "getting along" at Ebenezer, but that is a bunch of snake oil when put in proper context. Someone who has repeatedly gone on the record, and clarified and re-clarified, to state that there are humans who are less deserving of civil rights than other humans, doesn't deserve the honor of speaking for the King legacy.
Andisheh, we're on the same page. Freedom of/from religion means we tolerate what gets said behind church doors, regardless of how much we disagree. I think a great way to show you don't approve is to not attend that church. It's what folks generally do when what a church/congregation/religious leader holds beliefs that don't jive with their own.
Todd, The Rev. M L King was a man of faith and believed in the Word of the Bible. He would never support gay marriage because it would go against his faith. Listen to his speeches which are actually sermons. He gives all the Glory to God, Yeshua the true ruler of the world!
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