Comments on: Christianity Today: Doug Coe’s vision for the Fellowship

By: Fiona Mackenzie

Fiona Mackenzie — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 03:10:54 +0000

What a bunch of backpedaling balderdash. I don’t suppose ANYONE remembers that it was only after not one, not two, but THREE admonitions from President Obama that Family members in the U.S. Congress promoting murder of gays in Uganda reluctantly pulled back their support. Before that they tried claiming it had nothing to do with them (because Republicans don’t believe in the power of videotape), even though they instigated it by arranging and importing a “cure the gay” speaker to address the parliament and persuade them that (a) homosexuality is a choice, and (b) gays spend all their time trying to convert children, and (c) killing them would either persuade them to make “a better choice” or, at the least, save their immortal souls which would burn forever in hell if they died unrepentant of natural causes. I am not making this up.

By: David Blakeslee

David Blakeslee — Tue, 18 May 2010 14:07:38 +0000

Are we all writing documents to reinforce the beliefs of our friends?

As a conservative with a liberal education, I thought we were supposed to collect the facts, as best we could and lay them out for discussion so people could make informed decisions.

There are very bright, articulate people on all sides skewing facts to make the discussion process a forgone conclusion…

Is a quality education a moral obligation to speak and write thoroughly and perhaps, to persuade thoughtfully; or is it a means to coerce conclusions through artful articulation of selective data and subtle fears?

Fears of religion, fears of homosexuality…

By: Jeff Sharlet

Jeff Sharlet — Tue, 18 May 2010 13:11:53 +0000

I’m glad to hear Bob’s wife is getting better. In case anyone else is reading this: I wrote a long response to his points above, but then decided that before I get into tit for tat, I’d better try practicing what Bob preaches, and take my concerns to him personally. We clearly disagree on a great many things–the importance of history, the meaning of Jesus to Jews, the balance between justice and reconciliation, the definition of candor, etc.–but those debates are better saved for a day when Bob can fully engage. In the meantime, I’ll keep Carole’s health and recovery in the questioning conversation with God that passes for my prayers.

The only thing that must be clarified now: I certainly did not, as Bob suggests, intend some kind of sneak attack on Warren. I discussed my points with Warren before I posted them. I’m incredibly thankful for the forum and reporting he provides, and as a pro-gay person I consider him a brave man of conscience, a rarity regardless of one’s views.

By: Bob Hunter

Bob Hunter — Mon, 17 May 2010 23:46:46 +0000

Thanks, Jeff. I just got home with my wife from the hospital at 6 PM tonight. More than all the prayers she received from around the world I am most grateful for yours. She is still very sick but much better.

By: Jeff Sharlet

Jeff Sharlet — Mon, 17 May 2010 19:04:33 +0000

The quickest response to Bob is to say that I’m glad that his wife is ok. I contacted Bob last week to ask him about some allegations made by Ugandans. We were scheduled to talk, but then Bob said his wife had fallen gravely ill. I told him I’d put her in my prayers and hope to hear from him when things were better. I’m assuming they must be, since Bob has time to attack. I still haven’t heard from Bob. So, in response to the allegations made by Ugandans, I’m going to have to put down “no comment.” What’s been startling about my dialogue with Bob over the last seven months is that he seems to have only time to attack me, not address real issues. Maybe this is what he means by love. It sure is a puzzle. I’ll try to answer his points below.