The African bishops have African values, which apparently conflict with some American Liberal values.(so much for multi-culturalism) Some people may think that the criticism of the African bishop is racist. Too often, Africans view Americans as arrogant. I think that we all need to respect our diversity.

Chris Hedges's new book, "America Fascists," examines how Christian dominionists are seeking absolute power and a Christian state.

Check:
http://thephalcon.blogspot.com/2007/02/church-and-state.html

The point being that there are those in the U.S. who would agree with the African archbishop, and they are seeking absolute power, ie. a "christian state" in the U.S.

I think Cultural Relativism is a festering disease hoisted onto students by pseudo intellectual, left leaning, Marxist professors living in ivory towers! We've been trying to kill off the gays for millennia, given they (generally) don't breed, why are they still here? Because EACH generation kicks up 7-10% of 'em! It's time to get over it. I wish I WAS gay, presto, I'd dress better and earn 15-30% more than I do now:-) Also, this is the continent where substantial numbers of men believe that raping a young girl protects one from AIDS so who really cares what he thinks? Oh, and Tyrone (swashbuckling name, ay wot?) I am a Libertarian so diversity shmersity, just leave me alone!!!

As a gay man, I can't believe those of you who say "so what?" to this. Yes, we gay adults have thick skin (by necessity), but evidence of this continual gay-bashing has shown up time and time again in schools and socities at large where children perceived "effeminant" are verbally or physically tortured and abused. If for no other reason, we should be working to eradiate prejudice and racism for the safety of our children.

I'm all for respecting diversity, but not at the cost of my own diversity.

I think that people forget that the Bishop is from mother Africa, not America. His brother African Bishops share his feelings. As I said before, African values are not the same as some liberal American values and many people have shown an insensitivity to the Bishop's African culture. Liberals talk a lot about "multi-culturalism" and "tolerance" but in reality, too many put on the hood and sheet at night and go out "night riddin" in their heart. Too many liberals are really closet racists.

The bishop has plenty of company world-wide within the Anglican Communion, and many of them are Caucasian, I assure you, including many Americans.

And, adding to what Austin said, it wasn't until just a few years ago that the world's major so-called "human rights" organizations decided to do something to stop female genital mutilation. They avoided intervening before because of "cultural differences." Give me a break.

It is time that we go beyond "cultural and gender differences". Male genital mutilation is also a crime against nature.

Let's not forget that these same bishops, who are so horrified at Episcopal kindness towards homosexuals, are more than willing to look the other way when it comes to polygamy, another practice forbidden by the church. But they have to compete with Islam, which allows polygamy (though not homosexuality) for the hearts and minds of their converts.

This sounds to me like hypocrisy. These leaders claim that their opinions are being informed by Spirit, but these opinions strike me as being selectively convenient.

The majority of the Anglican Communion is in third world countries. That is where the power is. The Communion is around 80million and the American Episcopal church is an insignificant player at only 2 milliom members so they are not overly concerned about what we think. But the nature of the article impressed me as being a childish mean spirited personal attack on the African bishop(especially the suggesting that he look at primate(monkey) films. This is highly offensive to Africans). Also the generalization about Christianity due to the views of a few is "anti-Christian". Identity based hate(e.g. anti-Semitism) is when an individual of a group does something(e.g. cheating) we do not like, then we generalize that the whole group is that way. This is stereotyping. Where is the Christian love? We can disagree with others, but still be civil.

If I come across as "mean-spirited," it is only because a person in his very high-ranking position does not have to like the idea of homosexual congregants, but he should be even casually aware of the rampant existence of homosexual behavior in the animal kingdom. To deny the existence of it is the same as insisting people did not really walk on the moon or that evolution does not exist: It is a fact. To deny an easily verifiable scientific fact is not acceptable. And I have written the same thing of librarians in Louisiana, teachers in Kansas and Congresspeople in South Carolina, all of whom are very white.

Pastor Bob is right. Suggesting that an African watch monkey films is highly inflammatory. Tell a cracker to watch a monkey film is not highly inflammatory. Crackers have other sensitivies. African sensitivies are not the same as the majority(White)culture in America. Let us all try to be more sensitive to the various cultures and truly practice multiculturalism and not just give it lip service.

The problem here is that no one ever suggested that the archbishop watch a "monkey film." The dozens of nature films I have seen depicting homosexuality in the animal kingdom have, in fact, EXCLUDED monkeys. The "monkey film" concept comes from Bob, not from me.

The article suggested "nature films"... "primate". The Primate order is divided informally into three main groupings: prosimians, monkeys of the New World, and monkeys and apes of the Old World(per Dictionary).
I know that many animals are highly sexed and do incest,rape, polygamy and etc. But the idea of religion is to raise humans above the law of the jungle(social Darwinism). I am sure that many will agree that we do not want to behave(e.g. gang bang) like animals.
I accept the author's retraction of the offensive word "primate"(e.g. monkey, ape) that was included in the recommended watching of the nature films. I suggest that "doggy" nature films take the place of "primate".

Pastor Bob, where is this article concerning primate (monkey) films? I'd like to read it. Tyrone, Ms. Dees never used the term primate so how could she retract it? Anyone, where did Ms. Dees suggest or say that an African man should watch a monkey film?

From the above article: "Archbishop Akinola Needs To Watch Some Nature Shows" WHAT NATURE SHOWS? "Hundreds of species, from beetles to primates". I think that I made my point on the need for cultural sensitivities.
Let us also be sensitive to the Sami and their reindeer.

It seems to me that both Tyrone and Pastor Bob, since they lack a cogent argument against the author's post that can be advanced in terms of legitimate proof, must resort to an attack based on supposedly racial language that doesn't even exist.

If you want to resort to name-calling based on inuendo and 'mean-spirited' rhetoric, there is plenty of evidence of unbecoming conduct on the part of pastors from the religious right, conducted in direct opposition to the tenets for which they stand before congregations and profess. Clean up your own houses before you start accusing anyone of being 'mean-spirited'.

Why was the Black man singled out in this article when " many of them are Caucasian"? Why not talk about the many Whites(majority race) instead of picking on the Black(minority)during Black History Month? This appears to me to be latent racism that is too prevalent in our Cracker society. Give me a break. Crackers have 11 months to pick on me, but don't do it during Black History month.

The term "Caucasian" for European, that was used by the author in one of the posts, is as appropriate as Negroids for Africans, and Mongoloids for Asians. It is more proper to use continents of origin, not the old racist terms. In addition, we do not use "colours" anymore to describe the human race. Let us all try to be more politically correct in our writings so as not to offend anybody. Peace and harmony to all.

Tyrone and Pastor Bob are so uncomfortable admitting that they are homophobes that they've invented a smokescreen about racism. Tyrone, you are a classic hypocrite - espousing a desire for tolerance for your ethnicity while calling pink, light peach, medium beige, ecru, blanched almond, rose, milky clay, tan and vanilla people as 'Crackers'. Get real. Your attitude does NOTHING to diminish the presense of bigotry in the world.

I did not put "white" in front of the word "Cracker" because that would be "racist". Tyrone is not a racist. I used the word "Cracker" as a state of mind. Remember, the good folks in Georgia call themselves the "Cracker" state. "Cracker" is similar to the term "Redneck" which some of the blogs use. The term "Redneck" is usually used as a state of mind. During February, the Crackers singled out Washington and the the ex. NBA player for Rehab. I just say, wait another 4 days before you start picking on Tyrone. You have 11 months of the year for that. We only ask for one month out of 12 months for a ceasefire. Tyrone is not a hypocrit, only handicapable, (Dissociative Identity Disorder) so don't pick on me.

Funny - I never think that when people disagree with my opinion it's based on my ethnicity. And you're still smokescreening.

What this blog is all about is: Peter Akinola, has declared that homosexuality is "an aboration unknown even in animal relationships". Diane is right in calling him on this misinformation. I was raised on farms and spent my young life in the country, observing animals, both domestic and wild, I can assure you, she is right.There are more reasons for this than sex, more likely, dominance. Picking a word or phrase and trying to make it the message, is a typical fascist way to change the nature of the message to trun a harmless message into a Hate message. When I see so much of this nonsense, it makes me wish i wasn't of the species; Homo sapiens. When people in leadership positions make erroneous statements, they need to be corrected. We should rise above nit picking words. Who really gives a crap about the cover of the book, it's what's inside that counts! Our country needs a real attitude adjustment! Can we not learn to be civil to one another, even if we are slightly different? Mother Nature makes us this way for a reason and it's about time we learn REASON ! Peace Brothers and Sisters! .