We’ve written a good bit over the years about Richard Cizik, who was until a few days ago policy director for the National Association of Evangelicals. (Here’s an interview Amanda did in 2005, a video interview we did earlier this year, a special series I put together on God & the Environment, and lots more.)
Cizik has been tirelessly pushing evangelicals to address climate change in a serious way, and he’s gotten plenty of blowback. Last year a coalition of some two dozen (old-school) evangelical leaders led an effort to oust him from NAE.
But it wasn’t successful, because hey, it’s just climate change. His co-religionists may not like what he’s saying, but it’s all between friends, right?
Teh gays, however? That’s a bridge too far!
On Dec. 2, in an interview with Terry Gross on the NPR show Fresh Air, Gross asked Cizik about his position on gay marriage. He said:
I’m shifting, I have to admit. In other words, I would willingly say that I believe in civil unions. I don’t officially support redefining marriage from its traditional definition, I don’t think.
This would seem to be a rather milquetoast, careful position to, um, me. But Cizik’s fellow evangelical leaders flipped out, and as of last Wednesday, Cizik has been forced out of NAE.
I don’t get it. I guess it’s all the arugula and lattes and heathenism clouding my brain.
Greens have finally got the Big Mo
New religious coalition seeks climate ‘redemption’ via carbon plan
Charles and Benedict chat about climate
Comments
View as Flat
Bob Wallace Posted 3:47 am
17 Dec 2008
Think back a few years ago and imagine people of color in a Republican administration. Not something that would have been very believable, eh?
How about black ministers in fundie churches? Now happens. Blacks and First Americans in the Mormon church? Also happening.
There's always a leading edge and a trailing edge.
What you're reading about is the slow morphing of the trailing edge of our culture.
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biodiversivist Posted 9:21 am
17 Dec 2008
In the end, it all comes down to biodiversity. Poison Darts--Protecting the biodiversity of our world
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Crowbar Posted 3:51 pm
18 Dec 2008
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Bob Wallace Posted 4:24 pm
18 Dec 2008
When I was growing up homosexuality was never mentioned. Gays were so deep in the closet that they might as well have not existed.
Kids these days....
Well, those of the generations more recent than mine have been exposed to out gays, both in entertainment and among their friends.
The only age group to not vote to continue gay marriage in California were those over ~65.
Even us old hippies and almost-hippies got the message. "Whatever floats your boat, man, it's cool with me. I mean, if Keith and Mick want to give it a spin...."
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