Find us on Facebook
Follow us on TwitterGay activist group debates homosexuality at Liberty University
KIM RAFF/THE NEWS & ADVANCE
Liberty University students challenge Soulforce members on their beliefs in the courtyard at the school on Wednesday. Members of the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender activist group rallied at Liberty as the first stop of this year’s “Equality Ride.“
The dialogue began slowly.
Five members of the gay activist group Soulforce held hands Wednesday afternoon and stood to face about 50 Liberty University students behind the school’s DeMoss Hall in Lynchburg.
They had just returned from donating five gay-affirming Christian books to the school’s library, and Caitlin MacIntyre invited onlookers to join them in singing “Amazing Grace.”
“No thanks,” one student said.
Across the sidewalk, students paged through Bibles as the hymn’s familiar first verse filled the air.
Liberty student Lawanda Sowell said she was searching for passages to describe her belief that homosexuality is a sin.
“They believe in what they believe because they are blind,” she said.
The song ended, and the two groups stood opposite each other with two different opinions on how to interpret the role of homosexuality and the definition of marriage in the Bible.
Liberty was the first of 15 planned stops at faith-based institutions on Soulforce’s annual Equality Ride, a national bus tour meant to encourage an inviting environment for any on-campus gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender students.
“Nowhere in the Bible does it say, ‘homosexuality is sin,’” said Soulforce member Nicholas Rocco DeFinis.
Liberty student Steven Mosley disagreed.
“This is never affirmed in the Bible, ever,” he countered. “You should not be living like this.”
Soulforce member Danielle Cooper said many things have changed since the days of Jesus.
“Marriage, in terms of how we see it, has come a long, long way,” she said.
Although they disagreed, dialogue was exactly what Soulforce had hoped for, said Jarrett Lucas.
“It has to be open and it has to be honest,” he said. “Ideally, we come together and understand each other before the end of the day — or however long it takes.”
Earlier this week, Liberty officials had said they would not allow the group on campus. When Soulforce members came to the school in 2006, more than 20 were arrested on charges of trespassing after walking onto school property.
“It wasn’t our intention to tell them ahead of time to come on campus,” Chancellor Jerry Falwell Jr. said Wednesday. “In fact, we told them they couldn’t. But they didn’t cause any incidents, so we didn’t arrest anybody.”
“Most students believe, like my father did, that you should love the sinner, hate the sin, show compassion and try to be a good witness. So that’s what I think our students did today.”
Capt. Al Thomas with the Lynchburg Police Department monitored the assembly from off campus and said the day was incident-free.
In the past couple of weeks, he has facilitated conversations between Soulforce and Liberty as the activist group planned for the event.
“They assured us that this would be a peaceful, nonviolent assembly, and I think that has gone according to plan,” he said Wednesday afternoon.
Liberty junior Erika Green said she was happy to have the chance to speak with the group.
“We’re supposed to love everyone, so it would be wrong to turn them away,” she said.
Katie Higgins, co-director of the Equality Ride, said the group had been in contact with gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender students at Liberty who felt that the school community promoted discrimination against them.
Falwell said the school’s code of conduct does not prohibit homosexuality, but it does forbid sexual activity outside of marriage.
“And in order for there to be a marriage in Virginia, it has to be between a man and a woman,” he said earlier this week.
As for the donated books, he said, “Somebody brought them up to my office today, and we have a committee that will decide whether to make them a part of the collection or not.”
After more than an hour of discussion, Soulforce members walked back to their bus and a dozen other Equality Riders who rallied from just outside of campus. Many students joined them. The group is in town until Sunday, and plans a discussion on the role of homosexuality in Christianity today at 11 a.m. at the Starbucks on Wards Road.
Wednesday’s dialogue had begun slowly, but continued as clusters formed here and there along University Boulevard.
Bill Carpenter, director of national actions for Soulforce, looked on with interest.
“We’re just beginning the adventure for this year,” he said.
Reader Reactions
not only is cleocat an economist, now he is sharing his brilliant research into the science and psychology of the homosexual experience. perhaps someone should let him know that it is unnatural. God help us. “The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom”. Is there any wonder why our society is being dumbed by the left. They hold to their radical religion of atheism. Christians shouldn’t be surprised. All we can do is pray for our nation, our neighbors, that their eyes will be opened.
I really wasn’t going to post any comments on this subject, but after reading some I felt the need to put in my 2 cents…...For one thing, I don’t think any of us should judge another nor do I think any of us are even in the position to judge another especially on their religious views/beliefs or where they attend church or school. Second, I do not believe that God is punishing the homosexuals with AIDS! How about all the intravenious drug users who get AIDS and then spread it to their heterosexual partners? They are not gay! How about people dying of Cancer? What are they being punished for? And third, I was taught and I still believe that God wants us to be compassionate toward people, even sinners, and not judge them for what they do but love them ALL for who they are…..afterall, is it really our place to judge? Won’t we all be judged in the end?
ZIGMITCHELL
I just have a quick question what do you think about divorce?
Zig, just because someone isn’t a born-again Christian doesn’t mean they’re suffering or fighting the sorts of things you did.
I’m not a born-again Christian, but I’m a very decent person and have no problems with drugs, alcohol, sex, carousing, etc. I live a fairly quiet life with my husband, I have close friends and a loving family, I do volunteer work, donate generously to charities, and do what I can to make even a small difference in the world.
I am not suffering because I’m not a born-again Christian, and I’m sure there are millions and millions of others of all religions and non-religions who are living good, moral, satisfying lives without believing the same things you do.
I have a close friend who is a born-again Christian, and I have never heard her make a judgmental comment about anyone, or heard her preach to anyone about her beliefs. She goes through her life living her beliefs instead of spouting them and, to me, she’s the kind of Christian that other Christians should aspire to be.
I often ask myself ..How can people be so stupid?..Are there really people out there who believe that gays are NOT born that way? Are there really people..in this day and age..that think homosexuals deserve to be treated as second class citizens and denied the same rights as everyone else?
Why is it so hard to believe that some people are born gay?
It seems pretty obvious that many are born stupid!
I know what it’s like to be bonded to sin!Drugs, sex, and rock-n-roll!Living my way, or noway at all, was my moto! I felt like I was on top of the world, but my life would get out of control!Spiraling down not knowing what in the world I was doing to myself,I hit bottom and I hit it hard!
A friend invited me to Church(Tree of Life) and the Pastor( Mike Dodson) was right on the money that day about how life is without Jesus and how It changes once you invite him into your heart and beg for his mercy and grace!
I didnt have a clue about the Bible or God, but once I started,I could see my life changing!It didnt change over night but I felt myself learning stuff that I didnt even know, but It was all in the word of God!
I have a purpose in life now, we all do, rather we know it, or not!
BIBLE(Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth!)
Yes it is a constant battle(WAR) between the Flesh and Spirit but knowing the difference can save you at times of need!
I feel bad for anyone who doesn’t believe in GOD or the Bible, not because I’m better then they are but I know that they are suffering from things they have no clue or control over!You can be delivered!
I’m not perfect but I don’t go looking for trouble either!
Zig
I think that anyone who is homosexual can certainly see that the Bible does not condone it. It is clear about the fact that it is a sin.
I disagree that AIDS is God’s punishment for being gay.
We live in a broken world. Because of Adam/Eve’s fall, our world became a place for Satan to run amuck and nothing operates as God intended. But God loves ALL of us and he doesn’t sit around “hitting the smite button”(to quote Greg Boyd) causing disease and death as punishment. God is love. Jesus came to show that yes, you hate the sin and love the sinner, but he never said it was ok to sin. Read Luke…nowhere does Jesus treat anyone badly because of their sin. He doesn’t approve and warns them to turn away, but he doesn’t punish them. And I’m certainly not more qualified to do that than He is! But he does warn that if they don’t turn from their sins, then they will be judged.
America was founded on religious freedom, but if you look at history, it’s clear that it was established by Christians and that those beliefs are at the core of our laws which have served us well.
I think that Gay’s have an uphill legal battle to change the rights that they have. Like abortion, this is a topic that will always be a controversial topic.
zigmitchell, if you think all of those interminable, ham-fisted, smug, holier-than-thou posts are going to win anyone over to your side, you’re probably going to be pretty disappointed. Those posts perfectly exemplify what so many people find objectionable about evangelical Christians.
It’s great that you’re happy with your faith, even if it makes you judgmental and insufferable, but please stop bashing us on the head with it. It’s possible to express an opinion without launching into an hour-long sermon.
Well said DAMALAMA…you are not alone! Ultimately any religion is a personal choice and belief. It is always amazing to me that Islamic followers think their religion is the only true one, Jewish followers think theirs is the only true one, Christian followers believe theirs is the only true one and they all think that the others are wrong for what they believe.
With regards to this particular issue…I am glad that this “protest” went over with out any major incident. I am confused though as I read this…Liberty is a private institution and I am quite surprised that they let these students on to their property at all…since I would think that they would want to continue to filter what their students are exposed to. I think it is all quite funny especially if Jerry Fallwell Jr. only knew how many of his LU students acted off of campus (and on campus) and how many homosexual members TRBC and Liberty has! Ultimately I find it hard to believe that an “all knowing” and “loving” God would not accept all of his children the way he created them (with the power to make their own choices) even if they are homosexuals! I am also surprised the News and Advance actually allowed your (Damalama)considering how conservatively biased they are and will be surprised if they post this one as well. I am sure there will be many that quite bible verses to me about how I am wrong but ultimately they will be quoting beliefs and campfire stories. I am not downing one persons faith, I am just open minded enough to know that every human is entitled to their own choices, beliefs and faith and no one person’s belief and/or interpretations are better than anothers.
other than suicide bombers, i don’t think there is much different between the cult that is liberty students and the taliban. and no that is not a crazy statement, because they both think that everyone should live like they believe under rules of their faith, and their beliefs are right and no one else beliefs are correct, they hold their bible as the truth, when they have no proof other than what has been drilled in their head since birth, if you were born in isreal guess what you would be saying that jesus never existed because jewish beliefs would be drilled in your head. the taliban hold their koran as the truth why are they wrong? they both scream hate towards anyone that doesn’t obey their book! as well they believe whatever their “leader” tells them what that book means by this or that passage. but i think if the falwells gave the order the students would strap on vest of mass destruction. so how are you all any different than the taliban, if you had your way the whole united states would have to pray before classes, and live under your rules, just like the taliban enforced.
Advertisement