God and the Judge
I've just finished listening to ABC Radio National program 'Encounter',
where Justice Kirby talks about his belief in God and his
homosexuality. I highly recommend the
speech, especially given recent controversies about ordination of gay
church ministers and, in the USA, the debate about gay marriages. Well
worth the read.
The transcript is here:
http://www.abc.net.au/rn/relig/enc/stories/s1071895.htm
or if you have lots of cheap bandwidth, you can listen with real audio here:
http://www.abc.net.au/rn/relig/enc/audio/enc_28032004_2856.ram
In the article he notes:
"The notion of God as a bearded prophet or as an Englishman or as a Protestant or Catholic or as an Islamic, Hindu or other human possession is, frankly, absurd. But the notion that around us, "immortal, invisible ... and divine" is a loving God is one that millions of humans cling to and believe in. It is a notion that is not incompatible with science. It is unproved. But it still exists."
So the earlier ideas have changed and some moral progress, hopefully, has been made. Justice Kirby points to the need to re-interpret religious texts, and notes that this is something that lawyers are doing all the time as well:
"Ultimately, as in the past, the most Sacred Scriptures would need to be re-examined. New interpretations would need to be found. Lawyers know that this has to be done all the time with ancient words. New generations see the words in a new light."
... and I also like this conclusion:
"Truth is a tremendous weapon. It is the truth that sets us free. First, a small group, then more, and eventually most citizens came to know the truth that some people are homosexual. To deny them love and companionship is just plain cruel. To deny them equality as citizens is unjust. To punish them for private adult conduct is oppressive. I was fortunate to live through a time when these truths became gradually, increasingly and overwhelmingly accepted in Australia and other civilised countries. Remnants of the old disordered view linger on, including in God's churches. Doubtless in some places they will last longer than others. But in the end, scientific truth will prevail."
I've just finished listening to ABC Radio National program 'Encounter',
where Justice Kirby talks about his belief in God and his
homosexuality. I highly recommend the
speech, especially given recent controversies about ordination of gay
church ministers and, in the USA, the debate about gay marriages. Well
worth the read.
The transcript is here:
http://www.abc.net.au/rn/relig/enc/stories/s1071895.htm
or if you have lots of cheap bandwidth, you can listen with real audio here:
http://www.abc.net.au/rn/relig/enc/audio/enc_28032004_2856.ram
In the article he notes:
"The notion of God as a bearded prophet or as an Englishman or as a Protestant or Catholic or as an Islamic, Hindu or other human possession is, frankly, absurd. But the notion that around us, "immortal, invisible ... and divine" is a loving God is one that millions of humans cling to and believe in. It is a notion that is not incompatible with science. It is unproved. But it still exists."
So the earlier ideas have changed and some moral progress, hopefully, has been made. Justice Kirby points to the need to re-interpret religious texts, and notes that this is something that lawyers are doing all the time as well:
"Ultimately, as in the past, the most Sacred Scriptures would need to be re-examined. New interpretations would need to be found. Lawyers know that this has to be done all the time with ancient words. New generations see the words in a new light."
... and I also like this conclusion:
"Truth is a tremendous weapon. It is the truth that sets us free. First, a small group, then more, and eventually most citizens came to know the truth that some people are homosexual. To deny them love and companionship is just plain cruel. To deny them equality as citizens is unjust. To punish them for private adult conduct is oppressive. I was fortunate to live through a time when these truths became gradually, increasingly and overwhelmingly accepted in Australia and other civilised countries. Remnants of the old disordered view linger on, including in God's churches. Doubtless in some places they will last longer than others. But in the end, scientific truth will prevail."
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