We have talked about the victimization complex so often employed by the religious right. Well represented in our political system, and hardly discriminated against, the victimology is a little tiresome. But not terribly surprising, as that has been their MO for the last 30 years.
Now, those opposed to same-sex marriage are claiming that they are now the victims and one even claiming that they are "more scorned than homosexuals." Forget the tacit admission that they have been scorning others for years. This is the part of the evangelical world that drives me crazy. When people criticize you, it isn't necessarily because you hold dear to values while others around you change with the wind. You are not always the principled one and they are not always the people without any morals. In fact, Christians have demonstrated one hell of a lot of scorn and hatred toward gay people over the years. They had their chance a long time ago to embrace their gay brothers and sisters and push for equal rights. Opposing gay marriage might have looked ok in that light, because they could have claimed some vague "traditional" marriage claim, but held up their allegiance to legal rights and treatment of gay couples. But they didn't. They opposed every step out of that closet, and scorned and shamed along the way. They told gay people to get therapy and force themselves to be straight.
As Josh Marshall wrote yesterday, religious conservatives are watching the polling changes too, and fear that they might be witnessing a sea change where openly espousing anti-gay sentiments may be politically and publicly unacceptable. Just as the 1960s saw that change where politicians and public figures could no longer espouse white supremacy without a backlash.
Here is my prediction. In 20 years, most evangelical organizations and even evangelical individuals are going to be claiming that they were always for committed and monogamous gay marriages. They will rewrite their past and claim that their only objection was promiscuity, but they were always for committed relationships.
Mark my words.
5 comments:
Maybe, but what I have seen is more and more younger evangelicals going against the social conservatives with a kind of libertarian belief system. In other words, they may think it is wrong, but they also don't think that the govt needs to enforce morality.
Polling seems to show that support for gay marriage is strongest among younger people. Eventually, the opponents are going to die off.
Yeah, I realize that about younger evangelicals. I am talking about the organization itself. In fact, given that the younger people support gay marriage, the point where the church starts claiming they were always for gay marriage might come sooner than 20 years.
I don't know what others will do, but I know what I will do: I will continue to believe the Bible which clearly condemns homosexuality and defines marriage as the union of a man and a woman. I will continue to oppose both homosexuals and the perversion of marriage.
Of course you will, Gary. That is what trolls do.
I think that younger evangelicals will view this like many libertarians...that the govt does not need to legislate morality. There are many other sins that are condoned by the state, including lying, adultery, and sex outside of marriage.
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