"That preacher keeps talking about how homosexuality is wrong -- he's probably closeted." I've always found that kind of reasoning annoying. It's no different, really, than the "Atheists wouldn't be annoyed by religion if they didn't secretly know we're right" meme trotted out by embryonic apologists. It presumes that any speaker's strong expression of belief is secretly motivated by a guilty secret. It's a silly, circular trap that's fun for rhetorical jabs but useless for real thought.

But seriously, Conservatives have been making this WAY harder than they should be these days. Between Congressman Foley and Evangelical WunderPastor Ted Haggard, the data points are starting to accumulate. You're not helping me with this 'opposing stupid rhetorical tricks' campaign I'm on. It's like trying to explain the problems with straw-man attacks only to have the other debate participant admit, "Well, actually I DO eat puppies, and my plans WOULD lead to the destruction of life as we know it..."

So, if you're going to fight against gay marriage day in and day out, y'know... Please try to avoid the hot man lovin'. Work with me, Conservatives. Please?

Pat Robertson's recent comments about Hugo Chavez have bloggers buzzing and a lot of folks I know asking how such a wingnut got into a position of influence. It's seen, in many quarters, as a reflection on the inherent craziness of Christians that he would have any influence at all if he goes around demanding assassinations and so on.

I grew up in North American Protestant Subculture (NAPS, we'll call it), and while I don't like Robertson, I think the situation is a bit more complex. Not his statements -- they're manifestly un-Christian, in my opinion. Rather, the subculture in which he has a voice and the history of how he got there. For those friends baffled by it, I'll attempt a bit of backstory. I'll probably be updating and finessing it with more links to external resources, but for now it's a personal recollection of how Robertson has been presented and perceived in the Protestant subculture.  Continue reading...