“Growing up the son of a fundamentalist Baptist minister is tough enough. Growing up gay in an environment where your parents, teachers and peers deem evangelical Christians like Jerry Falwell as left wing liberals is an entirely different experience.

Marc Adams grew up in such a home. In an effort to save his own life, he decided at age 16 to rebel against his parents and attend Jerry Falwell’s Liberty University where he thought he could find a way to change his behavior from homosexual to heterosexual. His experience there changed his life and jump started his journey to self acceptance and personal freedom.

Marc Adams is the author of nine books including The Preacher‘s Son and Do’s & Don‘ts of Dealing with the Religious Right. He is a widely respected authority on subjects ranging from fundamentalism, the religious right, gay civil rights as well as his ground breaking work with his own nonprofit, HeartStrong. HeartStrong is a social justice organization providing hope and help to gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender students who are persecuted in religious educational institutions.

Marc Adams’ presentation covers an often dark side of life. He bridges the serious and dark discussion with humor and all-encompassing human compassion. People from all walks of life who have heard Marc Adams speak find themselves enlightened, uplifted and inspired.”

http://www.operationpaperback.org/troops_submit.php

Firstly as a Christian, we need to think and reason out thought. We cannot close off other people’s views. As C.S. Lewis said in “The Problem of Pain” God gave us the ability of free will and doubt. Hence we should follow the example – God is gentle and doesn’t force people to come to him (I understand that Religion has done the opposite over the years)

But if the Ads are not done in a constructive way that are not focused on proper logical thought vs. making fun of someone else – it could come across as ’sour grapes’. While I don’t subscribe to other religions I respect them and do my best as a member of the human race to find commonality where I can. Words can sometimes be more painful that physical blows – when the intent is to do something like this then I feel we can no longer debate propertly.

I long when both sides can discuss this with (human) respect for each other.

BTW – I joined SA and, God willing, would like to fellowship at the Potluck at the University Unitarian church (the church I was actually raised in… a la Peter Raible.

Best
Greg

Seattle Atheists,

As a disciple of Jesus Christ, please know that you have my full support for your sign in Olympia – I appreciate it – and its message.

With sincerity I say, the message reflects the very message of Jesus Himself (albeit not so much either the message or actions of those who claim His name).

Keep up the good work,

Greg Logan

“I relate to other persons as human beings – not as ideologies.”