Oppression in the name of religion is still oppression

Or, as Malcolm X would say, "wrong is wrong, no matter who does it or says it."

I went to a Bible study class last night, hoping to quell some of the few dozen questions I've gained from the first 3 Gospels (I'm not a Christian (not yet, anyway), merely an agnostic). There were prayers, before we studied singing and music as it relates to the Bible (whenever I think of gospel music and black Christianity, I always think of Rev. Turk).

Shortly after dinner, I was able to discuss some of those burning questions (like “how can God, a spirit, have a biological gender?” and “I don’t care what you say, my brain still melts when I try to comprehend how sin is inherited”). We talked about evolution vs. creationism (always a fascinating debate) before someone mentioned that the Bible doesn’t oppress anybody.

When I then asked “what do you think of the gay community” the concept of irony left the room (if it was ever there). And, unfortunately, therein is the problem of African Christianity. No doubt this is mostly (if not entirely) the West's fault, due to both our cultural rape of Africa and preventing her as a continent and as countless individual countries to evolve socially on their own, and currently with our shockingly low aid. However, it still remains that Africans, including everybody of African descent, were-and still are-at the forefront of the abuse of Christianity to justify slavery, and then to justify the denial of black Americans' rights. Blacks and gays have been oppressed for almost of all human history, and it is terrible that either would still hold any form of prejudice against the other.

Hence, I have compiled a small list of quotes from two brilliant black Christians:

Coretta Scott King

• I still hear people say that I should not be talking about the rights of lesbian and gay people and I should stick to the issue of racial justice. But I hasten to remind them that Martin Luther King Jr. said, 'Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.' I appeal to everyone who believes in Martin Luther King Jr.'s dream to make room at the table of brother- and sisterhood for lesbian and gay people.
• Homophobia is like racism and anti-Semitism and other forms of bigotry in that it seeks to dehumanize a large group of people, to deny their humanity, their dignity and personhood. This sets the stage for further repression and violence that spread all too easily to victimize the next minority group.
• I've always felt that homophobic attitudes and policies were unjust and unworthy of a free society and must be opposed by all Americans who believe in democracy.
• For many years now, I have been an outspoken supporter of civil and human rights for gay and lesbian people. Gays and lesbians stood up for civil rights in Montgomery, Selma, in Albany, Ga. and St. Augustine, Fla., and many other campaigns of the Civil Rights Movement. Many of these courageous men and women were fighting for my freedom at a time when they could find few voices for their own, and I salute their contributions
• We have a lot more work to do in our common struggle against bigotry and discrimination. I say "common struggle" because I believe very strongly that all forms of bigotry and discrimination are equally wrong and should be opposed by right-thinking Americans everywhere. Freedom from discrimination based on sexual orientation is surely a fundamental human right in any great democracy, as much as freedom from racial, religious, gender, or ethnic discrimination.
• We have to launch a national campaign against homophobia in the black community

Desmond Tutu

• We may be surprised at the people we find in heaven. God has a soft spot for sinners. His standards are quite low.
• I give great thanks to God that he has created a Dalai Lama. Do you really think, as some have argued, that God will be saying: "You know, that guy, the Dalai Lama, is not bad. What a pity he's not a Christian"? I don't think that is the case — because, you see, God is not a Christian.
• There are different kinds of justice. Retributive justice is largely Western. The African understanding is far more restorative - not so much to punish as to redress or restore a balance that has been knocked askew.
• Fundamental rights belong to the human being just because you are a human being.
• "Isn't it sad, that in a time when we face so many devastating problems – poverty, HIV/AIDS, war and conflict – that in our Communion we should be investing so much time and energy on disagreement about sexual orientation?" [The Communion, which] "used to be known for embodying the attribute of comprehensiveness, of inclusiveness, where we were meant to accommodate all and diverse views, saying we may differ in our theology but we belong together as sisters and brothers" now seems "hell-bent on excommunicating one another. God must look on and God must weep."
• If God, as they say, is homophobic, I wouldn’t worship that God.

Homosexuality and Christianity aren't mutually exclusive. Especially since Jesus never even mentioned it.