Super Bowl Controversy

Today is Super Bowl Sunday during which about 117,000,000 people are expected to watch the annual professional American football game on television.  There are numerous storylines around the story of the current game: the two head coaches are brothers; one of the prominent players (who once was charged with murder) is playing in his last game and is openly talking about his relationship with God; the two teams were both unlikely participants in the championship game; one of the quarterbacks is playing in his second season of professional football and did not get his first starting assignment until the middle of this season; the sport itself is embroiled in controversies over player injuries and the use of performance enhancing drugs; etc., etc., etc.  But another controversy has grabbed the headlines.

In one of the innumerable pre-game player interview, ahe San Francisco 49ers player, Chris Culliver, answered a question about homosexuals in the game of football.  "No, we don't got no gay people on the team, they gotta get up out of here if they do.... Can't be with that sweet stuff. Nah…can't be…in the locker room man. Nah."  A firestorm erupted, as would be expected.

Brendon Ayanbadejo, a player for the Baltimore Ravens team, said he thinks about half of the league’s players agree with Culliver.  Of the 50%, he says, 25% think like him and 25% “are religious – they don’t necessarily agree with all of the things I agree with, but they’re accepting.”

As a conservative Christian, I believe that the Bible does condemn homosexual acts and I also believe as do most conservative Christians that homosexuality is a chosen lifestyle. I know about some scientific studies which suggest subtle differences in brain anatomy between homosexuals and heterosexuals but I am also aware of fmri (functional magnetic resonance imaging) research which seems to suggest that brain anatomy may be functional rather than rigidly fixed and that behavior may influence which portions of the brain perform which tasks.  Behavior may determine anatomy.  I am not a neurobiologist and that controversy will not be resolved here.

I work with several homosexuals who know what I believe and who have no problem with me because they understand that I treat them with respect as individuals.  The workplace is not a sexual situation and one’s sexuality should be left at home.  There are laws in the United States against sexual harassment of any sort and most companies will immediately dismiss employees who engage in sexual activity (heterosexual or homosexual) with another employee, even if it is totally consensual.

Various perspectives on homosexuality and the Bible.  Never be afraid to examine views other than your own.

http://bible.org/article/homosexuality-christian-perspective

http://skepticsannotatedbible.com/gay/long.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Bible_and_homosexuality

http://christianteens.about.com/od/whatthebiblesaysabout/a/wbsaHomosexual.htm

http://www.bible.ca/s-homo=sin.htm

http://www.gaychurch.org/gay_and_christian_yes/gay_and_christian_yes.htm

National Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day

Chick-fil-A (pronounced “chik fill-ay” as in the word “filet”) is a fast-food restaurant chain which sells fried chicken sandwiches and waffle style French-fried potatoes.  On 16 June 2012, the devout Christian president of the company, Dan Cathy, in a radio interview ignited a firestorm of criticism for saying this when asked a question about same-sex marriage.

"I think we are inviting God's judgment on our nation when we shake our fist at Him and say, 'We know better than you as to what constitutes a marriage'. I pray God's mercy on our generation that has such a prideful, arrogant attitude to think that we have the audacity to define what marriage is about.”

Supporters of same-sex marriage were outraged, leading Thomas Menino, the mayor of Boston, to declare that he would not allow the company to open franchises in his city.  Chicago Alderman Proco Moreno announced that he would work to block Chick-fil-A’s attempt to add any more stores in the city of Chicago.  The Mayor of Chicago, Rahm Emanuel, declared that “Chick-fil-A values are not Chicago values.”  The Mayor of San Francisco, Edwin M. Lee, also joined into the condemnation.

Many have called this an assault on Christians who uphold a traditional worldview and understanding of what is stated in Scripture. Ordained Southern Baptist minister and former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee called for a national Chick-fil-A appreciation Day for today.  The result: massive lines of people at Chick-fil-A stores nationwide!  As the Chick-fil-A mascot spotted cows say, “EAT MOR CHIKIN!”

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