4ThoughtTV: Stephen Green – Prime time TV to hate on Gays and spread fear of Islam
Well, as I posted a couple of days ago, Stephen Green the virulently anti-homosexual director of Christian Voice, has had his moment on prime time TV.
He used his appearance on the new Channel 4 programme, 4thought.tv, to attack gays and spread fear of Islam.
You can currently watch his performance on Channel 4 OD.
Stephen Green warns us of the “homosexual agenda” and the “homosexualisation” of society, in which we’re not reproducing ourselves except in the Muslim community. He says that gays are likened to dogs in the Book of Revelation, according to his interpretation of ancient Greek slang.
In his message of general societal woe and doom we are warned that this is a dying civilisation, which will duly be taken over by a strong Islam in 30 years. He snorts that gays won’t like this very much….
Is this the Christian message to the world? Is this the hope and good news that Jesus came to earth for?
Sad and dreadfully awful.
Tags: Christianity, Media, Religion Society
August 3rd, 2010 at 12:38 pm
Very sad, such an ugly ugly distortion of the loving words of hope that Paul has for gay and lesbian people. They were in his church – opening chapters of Romans or was it I Cor?
This type of behavior means Christians will need to work all the harder to elucidate the message of the church regarding sexual ethics, which is proving hard enough for some to grasp. It is not easy in a generation that has become intellectually very lazy, complacent, and dogmatic.
August 3rd, 2010 at 12:53 pm
If anyone wants to make a complaint.
Channel 4 Complaints
August 3rd, 2010 at 1:24 pm
The sad thing is that these views are not at all uncommon and are spreading.
They are exactly the same as the old national front idea that asians were breeding faster to take over the world. Protestants in Northern ireland used to say the same thing about catholics.
Christians of the fundamentalist variety are strongly sympathetic to some very right wing ideas to the point of denying aid to others in case that helping someone makes them less desperately in need of a saviour.
Its very sad to see Christianity heading this way but its inevitable as the sensible Christians all seem to have abandoned ship.
August 3rd, 2010 at 4:10 pm
Just saw this in the Guardian:
Giving voice to ‘Christian’ homophobia
August 3rd, 2010 at 6:35 pm
I would be interested to hear, webmaster, in which respect you think Stephen Green is wrong. I have watched the video, and you are twisting what he said. There is no attack, he is merely stating facts, and I wonder in which of these you think he is mistaken.
It is all very well adopting a ‘three wise monkeys’ approach, but Europeans are failing to reproduce. Just to keep the population steady, you need 2.1 live births per woman. Western women are producing something like an average of 1.4 children, whereas every Muslim woman in the same countries is producing 3.5 children.
As they say in the States, ‘do the math’.
August 3rd, 2010 at 6:38 pm
Oops, my stats are way out of date. I read in the Times that the Muslim population is reproducing ten times faster than the rest of society!
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article5621482.ece
August 3rd, 2010 at 6:42 pm
Oh dear Jill.
You would think that on prime time TV, a Christian who has this opportunity, would want to share the Good News of our Lord and Saviour, and spread the love of God.
Yet all he did was spread hate and fear.
You do the math!
August 3rd, 2010 at 6:55 pm
Let’s not be silly, now, Caral – do you really think that someone spouting ‘God is love’ would really get a slot on primetime TV?
August 3rd, 2010 at 9:46 pm
Homosexuality is incompatible with clear New testament teaching, plus Roman catholic and Protestant teaching down the centuries. Only more recent splinter groups such as the Quakers and the Unitarians have taught a truly liberal approach on such matters – inluding viewing Islam as complementary to Christianity rather than as contradictory to it.
‘True to New Testament gospel preachers’, and theologians, would never in their right mind express hatred towards homosexuals; no more than they would to adulterers! They simply show a righteous indignation to such practices, while revealing compassion to the ones who have fallen. Yes, for there, but for the grace of God, go I!
We all have conflicting temptations, and what is a battle for some to fight against can be no temptation at all for another. The virtue is in resisting what is tenptation to ones self; and no one can – in their right mind – affirm that as followers of Jesus we are not called upon in many ways to deny ourselves. We are called upon – as Believers – to take up a cross daily; Not a cushion!
There is real need for self denial and bodily mortification as well as enjoying life in the fullness and liberty – Not licentiousness! – of the Holy Spirit.
August 4th, 2010 at 12:38 am
@ Jill
Exactly. You have just proved webmaster point.
August 4th, 2010 at 8:23 am
Does anybody actually care that much these days whether someone is gay or not? In places where they do it tends to manifest in very negative ways. I was hearing last night about a gay friend who is going to study in Minsk. Apparently in Byelorussia research has been done that shows that 60% of the population believe that homosexuals should be rounded up and put in prison without trial.
I suspect that if people like Stephen Green were in charge of Britain we would end up with intolerance and eventually violence towards minority groups, because they would be viewed as of less value to God.
August 4th, 2010 at 11:09 am
Let us examine what Stephen Green has actually said, instead of putting words into his mouth and imputing him with other people’s views.
I will paraphrase briefly.
1 Homosexual activity is prohibited in the Bible. This is true.
2 Heterosexual model based on God’s design for mankind. This is true.
3 Homosexual lifestyle is destructive. This is true.
4 Bodies are not designed for same-sex activity. This is true.
5 Society secularised – divorce, fatherless children, etc. This is true.
6 Muslims are reproducing more quickly. This is true.
7 Islam is not sympathetic to homosexuality. This is true.
Every person who complains about this video is beating the drum against our freedom of speech and religious liberty, and, more worryingly, is showing an inability to speak – or even recognise – the truth, and is playing into the hands of those who wish to drive Christianity underground.
August 4th, 2010 at 12:36 pm
So what if Muslims are reproducing more quickly.
This is not a bad thing is it?
August 4th, 2010 at 4:48 pm
I do hope that the Christians will speak out about this vid.
These fundamentalists whilst espousing their narrow and literalist view, seem to incite homophobic hatred and islamic fear all in the name of God.
Is this the Gospel of Grace?
August 5th, 2010 at 7:13 pm
i appear in fridays 4 thought tv as a christian and lesbian woman and i found this video from mr green to be a bigoted attack on the gay community. to be gay is not destructive certainly not as destructive as living a life of abuse and restriction of oneself all in the name of doing what is right for 25 years as i did and its reactions like his that force people to deny who they are. god loves us all unconditionally and i for one am not ashamed to call myself gay and christian and we all have the metropolitan community church to thank for that amen
my partner is adding that our body is a temple not for reproduction alone as not all women can have children lesbian or not and plenty of straight couples actually shouldnt be aloud to ever have children
August 7th, 2010 at 7:15 pm
I had to laugh at this Ignorance! He quoted Adam and Eve/ If Man came before Woman, Why does every baby form as female in the womb? Why do men have nipples? ovaries in place, drop to form testicals? and most IMPORTANT every Man has XY chromosome? Every Woman has double XX. therefore every male is formed and develops from female to Male, which gives us a wonderful spectrum of; Hermaphrodites, Intersexed, Gay, Transsexual, Bisexual etc, Get a Grip! and Green by name Green by nature! haha . Religion controlled people in its day! Some of us with a brain believe in facts, proof unlike religion, Evolution needs to be promoted to these Bigots who haven’t moved on? he even looks 2.000 yrs old.
August 8th, 2010 at 12:09 am
“In his message of general societal woe and doom we are warned that this is a dying civilisation, which will duly be taken over by a strong Islam in 30 years.”
There is no contention with this point.
August 8th, 2010 at 9:12 am
Er, Yes there is Goy. Many will agree that Green’s contention is preposterous.
This may be many things but it is in no way a dying civilisation. Do not confuse the waning of Chritianity with the waning of a liberal society. Christianity will not automatically be replaced by Islam.
You can be sure that a serious threat to a secular state by Islamism would be opposed to the utmost extent.
August 9th, 2010 at 2:33 pm
What a loathsome broadcast! Pretty much every sentence dripped with poison. Comes over as a classic repressed homosexual, which would be sad if he weren’t so toxic.
I particularly noted the way he smoothly linked secularisation to divorce when research shows divorce is more common among conservative Christians than among atheists.
http://www.gallup.com/poll/6592/future-marriage-part-iii.aspx
I thank God this nasty piece of work represents a minority – and a shrinking minority at that.
August 19th, 2010 at 2:02 pm
Sophie; i agree? the Bible was written by heterosexul Men, ti dominate women and repress Gays! Stephen did come across as repressed, but he said you can repent if you have tried this? haha! As for Jill: not sure where she is coming from? You have to be indocrinated from a child to believe in religion and even then some of us are Intelligent enough to see through it!
Jill; August 4th:
Q3; Are you saying Heterosexuals do not have destructive lifestyles??
Q4; tell a Lesbian another Woman cannot give her more pleasure than a Man! hehe!! Also Why do Men have a Prostate in their Anus which creates a lot of pleasure and can make them ejaculate simultaneously? maybe it’s not just your stats that are wrong?
Can I also add! I gave my explanation that Women developed before Men? that’s why Adam and Eve never happened, But if we were all made in Gods Image? how do you explain Intersex, Hermaphrodites? and people like myself, with Kline Feltz Syndrome? I was born with XXY Chromosome?
August 19th, 2010 at 2:06 pm
Ooppss! The Bible forgot to mention? (all seeing-all knowing God!) didn’t mention, Intersex, Hermaphrodites or lesbians?? He must have known? Surely! haha xxx
August 19th, 2010 at 2:37 pm
Stephen Green is scum. The encouragement of prejudice, the distortion of Christianity, his attempts at whipping up hostility against minorities…
For an alternative Christian take on this issue see Rev Rowland Jide Macaulay’s broadcast.
http://www.channel4.com/programmes/4thoughttv/4od#3107837
August 19th, 2010 at 6:56 pm
If anyone agrees! they are basically ignorant? or barbaric? i just seen a Bull fighting for it’s life and jumped into the audience maimimg people! I don’t feel sorry for the people but the poor bull! Barbarism has to stop! nail bombing Gay Pubs the cruelty that is caused to children often leading to rejection or suicide! It’s barbaric, we need to rid the planet of these bigots which include religious ignorance they cause so much death, destruction and misery. I said the Bible was written by Heterosexual Men! the ProoF? the only Women they revere is a young Virgin and a Prostitute? Even God? the name is reverse of Dog! Man’s best friend!
The Bible was based on fear! the fear of Hell, Fire, brimstone, the devil etc, When I asked my teacher at School, Was the Tide going out? when jesus walked on water? I was shot down in flames and told I have to have Faith? Blind Faith. yes! it is ridiculous! We have to move on? I saw a programme last night saying Mary appeared to 6 people in Croatia? She spoke pure Croat and looked Eastern European? People would rather believe this than listen to the truth? We believed the world was flat, until it was proven round! What is wrong with these people? You want to believe we were all interbred from 2 people? Incest then is the way forward? but we know it leads to inherent defects and eventually anialation? Noahs Ark do people realise how many different spieces there are 2 dogs? what Alsations? where do Chihuahua’s come from? Stop being stupid! If you believe the world was formed in 6 days 2,000 years ago? then you need help! Stop persecuting people!!
August 19th, 2010 at 7:07 pm
P.S And if you knock on my Door again preaching your beliefs, I will follow you home and inconveniently knock on your door and preach my beliefs to you! Get a Life! Yankee Soldiers in a Helicopter 30 years ago Dropped a coca cola bottle on a small African tribe! They worshipped it as a God! Now they drink Coke from it??? Ignorance Breeds Contempt! Please put a stop to it?
August 19th, 2010 at 8:53 pm
If you Inbreed 2 animals, you get Genetic deformities, You get males with one testicle ( Monorchids) if you keep Inbreeding you get (Cryptorchids), males with no testicles end of Breed! This proves Noah’s Ark is a fable! and fabrication also If we came from Adam &Eve same result. This is a fact ask any Dogbreeder, or read a book other than the Bible!
August 24th, 2010 at 10:49 am
Homosexuality in itself is not a sin. The verses employed to condemn homosexuality are few and their meaning obscure. Significant issues of translation, of interpretation and of cultural context arise. See here for further examination of the verses and of same sex relationships in the Bible.
Some of the verses refer to commercial or otherwise exploitative relationships which would also be seen as sinful between heterosexuals. For example, the precise meaning of one of the words translated as homosexual in the Bible actually means male temple prostitute.
Temple prostitutes of both sexes were part of life in Biblical times. Respectable gay couples who lived together openly were not. In our more open society it becomes clear that gay people don’t differ greatly from heterosexual ones. We all want to love and be loved. Committed gay couples want to formalise their relationship in marriage, a desire both natural and laudable. Gay or straight, marriage is good both for the individuals and for society. Loveless sex is a sin for all Christians.
Chad Jones, a Methodist pastor, writes:
“In my own conversations with people about (homosexuality) I found they were more than able to give ready answers about why God has forbidden us to lie, cheat, steal or murder. When I ask them why God would have called such actions “sin” they are quick to say (and right to say) that these sins hurt other people who are created in the image of God. And yet, when asked why God would call a committed, monogamous homosexual relationship “sin” the answers revert back to “Because God said so.””
Chad Jones then examines what the Bible says in detail and concludes that homosexuality is “God’s gift to the church… It is a gift that in this time and place has called into question our understanding of family, sex and marriage… It forces us to consider what exactly is sin and how might two people who love each other, who are living into the very design their Creator has given them, be nurtured in such a way that they may blossom in sanctifying grace and communion just as heterosexuals are.”
The author, lecturer and theologian, Tony Jones, issues the following challenge:
“If you are one who thinks that homosexual sex is sinful, can you please explain to me WHY a gay or lesbian person who is in a long-term, monogamous relationship would not be able to wholeheartedly follow Christ?”
“My only stipulation is this: You may not quote one of the six verses in scripture that mentions homosexuality. Instead, you must use theological and/or philosophical arguments to attempt to convince me that when you have genital contact with someone of your own gender, it somehow inhibits your relationship with Christ.”
Read more of this debate at http://blog.beliefnet.com/tonyjones/2009/08/an-honest-question-about-gays.html#ixzz0xVYHfq9j
Committed same sex relationships are no longer considered either sinful or immoral by a number of churches. However, just as Christian slavers quoted scripture to justify their trade and people still use the Bible to endorse racism or sexism, there are those who employ what Chet Jones calls “the clobber verses” to justify their bigotry. These people might do well to consider how they themselves would regard the Christian slavers who relied on Exodus:
“When a man strikes his male or female slave with a rod so hard that the slave dies under his hand, he shall be punished. If, however, the slave survives for a day or two, he is not to be punished, since the slave is his own property. ”
The slavers had more verses to call on than those impelled to justify their distaste for homosexuality, but the parallels are striking. The ideal of equality for both sexes, for all races and for LBGT people is long past the debate stage in Western society. It has mainstream acceptance in society at large, and increasingly in our legal systems and among Christians. Just as support for slavery died out, those who condemn homosexuality are moving gradually but inexorably into history.
To my mind, the promotion of hatred and prejudice by judicious selection and interpretation of holy texts is a far graver sin than any of the sins of the flesh.
August 24th, 2010 at 7:01 pm
Thankyou Sophie! It’s complete ignorance, Gay people contribute more taxes as single people to provide services for children! Theres no services provided specifically for gay people? we do not overpopulate the world, there are more women available for hetero men, I find in general Gay people contribute in many of the caring and protective and nursing professions! Why aren’t religous people speaking out against peadophiles? especially in the Church??? Gay people contribute greatly in society unselfishly paying for your kids. So how about some appreciation for Gay people? Stop the fear ignorance and Prejudice!!!