Saudis’ tough line on gays.
Dozens of Saudi men caught dancing and “behaving like women” at a party have been sentenced to a total of 14,200 lashes, after a trial held behind closed doors and without defence lawyers.
The men were also given jail sentences of up to two years….
It’s a good job this regime is a U.S. ally and has lots of oil or some of our resident theologians might have stern words to say about its leadership.
Posted by: Extreme unction | Apr 9 2005 18:51 utc | 1
Well, since we seem to be somewhat OT already… Do as We Say, Not as We Do?
I remember reading about a gay male couple in Israel — one Israeli Jewish guy, one Palestinian Arab. The Israeli gov’t wanted to deport the Palestinian guy; but back home, he faced personal violence and possible legal repercussions for being openly gay. Unwanted due to his race in Israel, unwanted due to his gayness in Palestine.
In Israel he could enjoy some degree of “gay rights” — to the degree that Israel is secular and modernist, a state of affairs that appears to be more and more fragile — but he would be a second class citizen as an Arab; among Arabs he would be “at home” ethnically, but despised as an inferior and a freak (and by the religious as a sinner) for being gay (and possibly as a race/cause traitor for having an Israeli Jewish partner).
More OT — the Unitarian Jihad piece in SF Chron really was rather funny. Sign me up, despite my strong anti-Deism 🙂 I think the UU are the only church where the congregants can openly dispute the very existence (not to mention the gender and number) of God and still get along with one another. They never burnt or crucified anyone (that I’ve ever heard of) and I’m not sure what the H you’d have to do to get shunned.
Yup, and them UUs ain’t just strummin’ gee-tars an’ singin’ “Morning Has Broken” these days. They’s got they very own R&B anthem y’all can sing along with.
Posted by: catlady | Apr 9 2005 20:21 utc | 4
@De:
Well, pure Unitarians don’t discuss Father, Son, & Holy Ghost very much, seeing how as breaking away from Trinitarianism was the root of their 16th century Transylvanian schism. (officially tolerated by King Sigismund in the Edict of Torda, 1568). But pagans, witches, Buddhists, Jews, atheists, panentheists, mystics, Christians, and even musicians strive to find a common ground, outlined in a set of principles and purposes (never call it dogma).
And, unfortunately, many American UUs have a hard time talking about the J-guy or things Xtian, because they are reacting to previous experiences in the Xtian churches they grew up in. Transylvanian/Romanian Unitarians (who have not been well-tolerated for many centuries since the death of Sigismund) consider themselves Christian: followers of the teachings of a non-divine Jesus. It’s about works, not faith, for them. They value greatly the freedom of each person to develop a personal theology.
Posted by: catlady | Apr 9 2005 20:33 utc | 5
Q. What do you get if you cross a unitarian with a seventh day adventist?
A. Someone who knocks on your door but isn’t sure why.
Bada-boom.
Posted by: Anonymous | Apr 9 2005 20:33 utc | 6
I recently had one of the most enlightening discussions in my life, about the past and current politics of the United States. And in a flash it all became clear to me! Watch out for the “Fnord!
Posted by: Uncle $cam | Apr 9 2005 22:42 utc | 7
Yeah, I suspect there are a few Discordian Subgenii hanging out with the UUs as well.
Give me slack….or kill me.
Posted by: catlady | Apr 10 2005 3:39 utc | 8