Paradigm Shift
I know that this issue is already old news and that I'm probably going to get a lot of flak of this (especially after the previous post, but there is a fundamental difference many people seem to miss), but it is time I throw in my two cents on the issue. On Friday, South Africa will become the fifth country in the world (and the first republic and the first African country) to allow homosexual marriages. This is a direct consequence of our constitution and a court ruling on the matter last year.
Of course, this is a matter that has enjoyed much attention from the press (hence the handy little facts I just regurgitated: I don't keep tabs on things like that). Most people who have commented about this (in the media) have welcomed this. The law will be passed based solely on what the constitution says and without any real consideration of the Christian, Jewish and Muslim opposition there is to this matter. To boot: homosexuality is considered a severe taboo in many ethnic African cultures. It is not that homosexuality itself was outlawed, but suddenly it seems like there has been this dramatic paradigm shift. Most of the first reactions I observed from my peerage is one of joy and happiness about the matter. They feel that the discrimination can now end and good for them: they are also people, after all. The law makes provision that no-one has to bind homosexuals in marriages if they are not comfortable doing so (something the gay-rights activists are bitching about now), however suddenly pastors and ministers seem to throw open the church doors to them. Homosexuality has been a heatedly debated subject in the Christian churches in South Africa for several years now, but the fact remains that the Bible is very clear about this: “If a man lies with a man as one lies with a woman, both of them have done what is detestable. They must be put to death; their blood will be on their own heads.” - Leviticus 20:13 (NIV). (I prefer the New Afrikaans translation, though) I know that I have probably just unleashed all matter of condemnation on myself, but I refuse to enter a theological discussion on this matter. For me, the important part is where this sin is called “detestable”. That is pretty powerful. Bare in mind, that passage comes from the same part in the Bible where the all-Holy Ten Commandments come from: its all rules and guidelines to live by.
I'm not advocating the death of anyone. At the moment, I am not concerned about gay marriages. One could jokingly ask: why should only straight people suffer under the burden of marriage? On a more serious note, for me marriage, as an institution, is not sacred (not where people marry for money, citizenship or as joke with anullments and divorces running rampant). Rather, if there is anything sacred about it, it is on an individual level. From a political point of view: there is no stopping this either: it simply is unconstitutional. Whether the constitution reflects the majority of the country's citizen's point of view and wished, is another matter.
I am not even concerned with the homosexuals themselves here, believe it or not. The issue that is weighing on my mind is how heterosexuals, especially those claiming to be Christian, Jewish or Muslim, perceive this matter. Now that gay marriages are going to be legal, suddenly everyone wants to be everyone else's friend. What was the issue about, man? Can't we all just make up and move along? I feel strongly that these people are selling out on their faith.
The issue is that we are going to see less discrimination against homosexuals and more discrimination about people who are conservative on this matter. Since the dawn of the New South Africa, many white people have fallen into the habit of being apologetic about everything. They make sacrifices and give up things they believe in and which is a part of them simply to try and make up for the past. I, however, refuse to pay for sins which are not mine. I am proud of who and what I am and I apologise for nothing. I do not compromise myself. And if I have to suffer because of it, then so be it. I believe that homosexuality is fundamentally wrong. Period. You do not have to agree with me. I say this because I feel it needs to be said: too many people are quiet and too many people are swaying.
Lastly, a few technical points: I only have issues when people engage in homosexual behaviour, meaning the sex. If two same gendered simply enjoy each other's company, want to share an income, whatever, I'm fine with that. People can even be disinterested in the opposite sex: Paul says that it is a good thing for a man not to marry (see 1 Corinthians 7). To me, its as black and white as the sex-issue. I also believe that sexual orientation is a choice and you will never convince me otherwise.
At least there is one good thing that is going to come from the new law: I now longer have to watch two middle-aged lesbians periodically bitch and moan on the news after some court ruling. That was just getting terribly tedious.
Of course, this is a matter that has enjoyed much attention from the press (hence the handy little facts I just regurgitated: I don't keep tabs on things like that). Most people who have commented about this (in the media) have welcomed this. The law will be passed based solely on what the constitution says and without any real consideration of the Christian, Jewish and Muslim opposition there is to this matter. To boot: homosexuality is considered a severe taboo in many ethnic African cultures. It is not that homosexuality itself was outlawed, but suddenly it seems like there has been this dramatic paradigm shift. Most of the first reactions I observed from my peerage is one of joy and happiness about the matter. They feel that the discrimination can now end and good for them: they are also people, after all. The law makes provision that no-one has to bind homosexuals in marriages if they are not comfortable doing so (something the gay-rights activists are bitching about now), however suddenly pastors and ministers seem to throw open the church doors to them. Homosexuality has been a heatedly debated subject in the Christian churches in South Africa for several years now, but the fact remains that the Bible is very clear about this: “If a man lies with a man as one lies with a woman, both of them have done what is detestable. They must be put to death; their blood will be on their own heads.” - Leviticus 20:13 (NIV). (I prefer the New Afrikaans translation, though) I know that I have probably just unleashed all matter of condemnation on myself, but I refuse to enter a theological discussion on this matter. For me, the important part is where this sin is called “detestable”. That is pretty powerful. Bare in mind, that passage comes from the same part in the Bible where the all-Holy Ten Commandments come from: its all rules and guidelines to live by.
I'm not advocating the death of anyone. At the moment, I am not concerned about gay marriages. One could jokingly ask: why should only straight people suffer under the burden of marriage? On a more serious note, for me marriage, as an institution, is not sacred (not where people marry for money, citizenship or as joke with anullments and divorces running rampant). Rather, if there is anything sacred about it, it is on an individual level. From a political point of view: there is no stopping this either: it simply is unconstitutional. Whether the constitution reflects the majority of the country's citizen's point of view and wished, is another matter.
I am not even concerned with the homosexuals themselves here, believe it or not. The issue that is weighing on my mind is how heterosexuals, especially those claiming to be Christian, Jewish or Muslim, perceive this matter. Now that gay marriages are going to be legal, suddenly everyone wants to be everyone else's friend. What was the issue about, man? Can't we all just make up and move along? I feel strongly that these people are selling out on their faith.
The issue is that we are going to see less discrimination against homosexuals and more discrimination about people who are conservative on this matter. Since the dawn of the New South Africa, many white people have fallen into the habit of being apologetic about everything. They make sacrifices and give up things they believe in and which is a part of them simply to try and make up for the past. I, however, refuse to pay for sins which are not mine. I am proud of who and what I am and I apologise for nothing. I do not compromise myself. And if I have to suffer because of it, then so be it. I believe that homosexuality is fundamentally wrong. Period. You do not have to agree with me. I say this because I feel it needs to be said: too many people are quiet and too many people are swaying.
Lastly, a few technical points: I only have issues when people engage in homosexual behaviour, meaning the sex. If two same gendered simply enjoy each other's company, want to share an income, whatever, I'm fine with that. People can even be disinterested in the opposite sex: Paul says that it is a good thing for a man not to marry (see 1 Corinthians 7). To me, its as black and white as the sex-issue. I also believe that sexual orientation is a choice and you will never convince me otherwise.
At least there is one good thing that is going to come from the new law: I now longer have to watch two middle-aged lesbians periodically bitch and moan on the news after some court ruling. That was just getting terribly tedious.
posted by phantom-99w at 09:23
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