WebProNews

Tag: christians

  • Dolly Parton: Judgmental, Anti-Gay Christians Are “Sinning”

    Dolly Parton: Judgmental, Anti-Gay Christians Are “Sinning”

    Dolly Parton is an icon in the gay and transgender community. Two of the most popular “characters” in any drag queen competition are Cher and Dolly.

    Dolly once told Nightline that she once secretly entered a “drag queen look-alike contest — and lost.”

    “They had a bunch of Chers and Dollys that year, so I just over-exaggerated — made my beauty mark bigger, the eyes bigger, the hair bigger, everything,” she said. “All these beautiful drag queens had worked for weeks and months getting their clothes. So I just got in the line and I just walked across, and they just thought I was some little short gay guy… but I got the least applause.”

    Rumors have floated around for years that Dolly is secretly gay and in a long-time relationship with childhood friend and constant companion Judy Ogle. Dolly has smacked down those rumors again and again.

    “[People] just think that you just can’t be that close to somebody,” Parton said. “Judy and I have been best friends since we were like in the third and fourth grade… We still just have a great friendship and relationship and I love her as much as I love anybody in the whole world, but we’re not romantically involved.”

    Dolly has said, “I am not gay, but if I were I would be the first one running out of the closet.”

    Dolly’s concerts have the distinction of attracting gay and transgender audience members right alongside Evangelical Christians. Much to some Christians’ chagrin, she has come out in support of gay marriage.

    “I don’t want to be controversial or stir up a bunch of trouble but people are going to love who they are going to love. I think gay couples should be allowed to marry,” she said.

    Recently, she told Billboard Magazine what she thinks of Christians who judge gay people.

    “[A]s far as the Christians, if people want to pass judgment, they’re already sinning. The sin of judging is just as bad as any other sin they might say somebody else is committing. I try to love everybody.

    “[Gay people] know that I completely love and accept them, as I do all people. I’ve struggled enough in my life to be appreciated and understood. I’ve had to go against all kinds of people through the years just to be myself. I think everybody should be allowed to be who they are, and to love who they love. I don’t think we should be judgmental. Lord, I’ve got enough problems of my own to pass judgment on somebody else.”

    In fact, Dolly says her Christian values are the very reason that she stands up for LGBT equality.

    “In the country field, we’re brought up in spiritual homes, we’re taught to ‘judge not lest you be judged,’ and it’s always been a mystery to me how people jump all over things just to criticize, condemn and judge other people when that is so un-Christian – and they claim to be good Christians! We’re supposed to love one another. We’re supposed to accept and love one another.”

  • Billboard Hitler Quote Leads to Apology

    Billboard Hitler Quote Leads to Apology

    In a blatant case of being completely out of touch, an Alabama Christian organization was forced to apologize this week for a billboard displaying a quote from Adolf Hitler. According to a report in the Columbus, Georgia Ledger-Enquirer, the billboard was put up in Auburn, Alabama on Friday. The sign has now been removed due to complaints and mockery from people across the U.S.

    The sign depicted a multiracial group of children beside two quotes. One was a verse from the Christian Bible: “Train up a child in the way he should go. Even when he is old he will not depart from it. -Proverbs 22:6.” The other quote was a bit more provocative: “He alone, who owns the youth, gains the future. -Adolf Hitler.”

    The billboard was put up by Life Savers Ministries, a Christian outreach group in Opelika, Alabama focused on preaching to needy children. The group requested the billboard be removed after the inevitable outcry began.

    Exactly why Life Savers was quoting the former Fuehrer isn’t entirely clear. At first glance the Hitler quote and the following Bible verse seem to go hand-in-hand, insinuating that Christians should “train up” children to “own the youth” and therefore “gain the future.” Another interpretation, however, could be that of a warning – that Christians should “train up” children before Nazis get to them first.

    Life Savers hasn’t done itself any favors with its response to the incident. The organization’s founder, James Anderegg, told the Ledger-Enquirer that the group “never intended to cause confusion.” Anderegg also stated that the Herbert Hoover quote, “Children are our most valuable resource” would have been better in place of the Hitler quote, implying that the original quote was intended to back up the Bible verse.

    Whatever the message of the billboard was supposed to be, it certainly didn’t come across as intended. Twitter was filled this week with jokes and angry tweets from those sensitive to flippant holocaust references. There were also some reminders of the Hitler teapot billboard that captured headlines this time last year.

    Image via Youtube

  • Central African Republic Receiving More Troops

    Muslim and Christian militia in Bossangoa, Central African Republic have agreed to put down their weapons according to CNN. This news of temporary peace comes after days of extreme violence between the group. A battle that has already left hundreds dead according to CBC News.

    The U.N voted in the latter part of this week to increase military action in the Central African Republic and the truce has allowed France to send more of their troops peacefully in hopes to aid in the effort.

    Most civilians who survived the chaos, gathered at camps for protection. According to CNN, there are approximately 35,000 Christians seeking refuge in the Catholic Church compound.

    Central African Republic map (Seleka rebellion March 2013)

    For now, peace talks are in progress but may not be near a crossroads. While the thousands of displaced people are being harbored in camps, troops patrol the streets maintaining the peace on the main roads in hopes to decrease crime.

    But the situation is severe. Many families are without food, water, and medicine and while efforts are made to resolve the problem, the task of creating a permanent peace may be out of reach.

    Back in March of this year, the Seleka overthrew the Christian president. With him ousted, the alliance was able cause havoc accross the capital city.

    Photos courtesy of Wikimedia Commons and Youtube.

  • Kuma’s Corner Burger Infuriates Christians

    Kuma’s Corner Burger Infuriates Christians

    Does a hamburger topped with a red wine sauce and a communion wafer sound tasty to you? If not, you’re not the only one who finds such a burger unpalatable. After popular Chicago burger joint Kuma’s Corner added the Ghost burger to their menu, many Christians are furious.

    According to the description of the Ghost burger provided by Kuma’s Corner, the burger includes:

    10oz patty
    Ghost chile aioli
    Slow braised Goat shoulder
    Aged white cheddar cheese
    Red Wine Reduction (the blood of christ)
    with Communion Wafer garnish (the body of christ)

    Yeah, it’s just a hamburger, but it’s easy to see why some folks would be a little ticked off. Kuma’s Corner does say the Ghost burger is paying respect to a heavy metal band of the same name, but there’s no doubt that they knew it would be found offensive. Considering the attention they’ve gotten over the burger, that was probably part of their game plan.

    Do you find the burger in poor taste? Respond below.

    After receiving numerous complaints on the Ghost burger, Kuma’s Corner issued a rather snarky statement on Facebook and offered up a $1,500 donation to Catholic Charities of the Chicago Archdiocese.

    Don’t mistake the long-winded statement or donation for an apology, though, because Kuma’s Corner is pretty clear that is not what they’re doing, nor are they taking the Ghost burger off the menu.

    Kuma’s Corner is aware that in some cases, people have unfortunately found reason to find offense at our recent special menu addition the Ghost. We make hamburgers for a living. We are a small nine table restaurant in the Avondale neighborhood of Chicago. And we love heavy metal. There is a band doing music that we enjoy particularly called Ghost….As with all of our burgers, the Ghost was created to pay homage to the music they’ve created.

    However, in the haze of the past few days, we would like to express the following. We support the rights of every person in the United States as given to them by the Constitution, to do and say what they feel….we feel it is our obligation to not stand down in the face of threats but instead to stand up for something we hold to be much nobler; the First Amendment. If you are not familiar with it, let us provide the text for you:

    “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”

    So, to be clear, the Ghost burger will be available at Kuma’s Corner throughout the month of October. In addition, Ghost will be on tour in the United States all month and we encourage you to familiarize yourself with this amazing band by supporting them at one of their shows across the country.

    In standing with our policy of supporting charity and Chicago at large, we have made a $1500 dollar donation to the Catholic Charities of the Chicago Archdiocese as we understand that they share our mentality of serving anyone in need from any walk of life.

    Long story short, Kuma’s Corner will continue with menu items that could be perceived as offensive, thanks to the First Amendment.

    Image via Facebook