God Loves Uganda

[bekkah]

I watched the documentary on netflix tonight. Its about the Christian right going to Uganda and preaching. It specifically looks at how the attitude of homosexuality is present in the country and the bill to ban the practice.

It made me so angry. International House of Prayer which is in Kansas was feature. I just was so angry throughout the film, this isn't what God is. God is about love, not hate.

It is definitely worth a watch. It aired on PBS, I think too.

Trailer:

Not breaking link b/c its youtube.

Slate Article:

http://www.slate.com/blogs/outward/2014 ... ia_to.html

[GeoBQn]

I felt both sad and angry with the older American missionary who talked about how she started having feelings for girls because she was an actress and hung out with gay men, but Christianity saved her from that. I was a theatre major and worked with many LGBT artists. I even had to kiss and pretend to almost have sex with a girl in a scene for class (while dressed as a man and playing a male character, no less.) That experience didn't stop me from being straight, because being gay is not a choice! It's not something you can be recruited into!

[LaLele]

Hasa diga eebowai.

[DGayle]

Hasa diga eebowai.

Does it mean no worries for the rest of our days?

[Childless]

Homosexuals living in fear and terror. The Lord's Resistance Army kidnapping children and forcing them to be soldiers. Rampant rape. HIV crisis. More than their fair share of orphans. Extreme poverty. If this is "God's love", then I want no part of it!

[ILikePie]

(from the Slate article)“But right now I think that Africa, it’s the firepot of spiritual renewal and revival. It’s very exciting to me.â€

Of course, people in the US aren't falling for religious indoctrination as much as they used to because they have greater access to higher education and exposure to outside ideas. Most people in Uganda, on the other hand, struggle with poverty and disease. They most likely aren't aware that homosexuals are no different than any other people and will probably believe missionaries who say gays are dangerous because there's nothing to convince them otherwise. To take advantage of the people's suffering and desperation to help spread your own bigoted agenda is beyond pathetic.

[jerkit]

I feel like I need to post here now :P

[DifferentGurl]

I was about to post a topic about this movie! I watched this movie a few days ago. It was great. There are a few things I want to mention.

1. Besides homophobia, there's also a bit of Islamophobia. During the rally for Proposition 8, the main guy of the International House of Prayer (IHOP) says "the demons of Islam." Two things. One: not all Muslims are terrorists. And two: just because it's not your own religion doesn't mean that it's wrong!

2. Why is Uganda so special? What about other countries like the Democratic Republic of the Congo or South Sudan ? DRC has had the bloodiest war since WWII going on. South Sudan had to deal with genocide committed by the government of Sudan until South Sudan split from the country. They have so much resources in valuable minerals, oil, and wildlife there. More money for the churches to use in their conquest of the world! Those countries could have another "firepot of spiritual renewal and revival" there too you know, especially since there are plenty of victims...I mean potential believers...in the Internally Displaced Persons camps that are across the country for the missionaries to help convert. The people in DRC and South Sudan make the people in Uganda look like they are living in a developed country. Those countries could use the help the missionaries may bring. Are these churches too scared that they may *gasp* get hurt in countries like DRC or South Sudan? If so, that's sad. The missionaries of the olden days weren't afraid of getting hurt in their mission to bring people to the Lord. Some of the old missionaries even died! Really, what's so special about Uganda to these churches besides the AIDS and the turmoil it's had? Other countries have had that too, you know! *takes a deep breath* There, rant done.

3. The congregation was acting like their missionaries were going to Afghanistan or Irag. I know Uganda is poor and all, but I'm sure it's pretty safe. Also, over 80% of the country is Christian. These missionaries aren't going to have a hard time in Uganda.

4. Was I the only one that was relieved when that one pastor ( besides the one doing the investigating for the documentary ) came and said that he supported gays? I wasn't that shocked when I saw him since I recognized him from another documentary ( "Call Me Kuchu" ), but it was still a relief when he came on.

5. I was so angry when those missionaries started asking the food sellers what their faith was and then pulling a Jim Boob and trying to convert them! Like I said, just because a religion isn't yours doesn't mean it's wrong! Arg! Apparently, they haven't heard of "Do onto others as they do onto you!". They sure wouldn't like it if the Muslims were trying to convert them. So they shouldn't have done that to the Muslims.

6. What that one missionary lady said about liking girls and then stop liking girls. Um...you're either gay or you're not. You're not gay one moment and then you are cured or something.

7. That Scott Lively guys...ugh...First, the gays were responsible for the Nazi atrocities?! Has he ever read a history book?! The gays were persecuted under the Nazis! They were even sent to the concentration camps! Second, the gays have taken over the USA and the UN? Then why isn't every state allowing gay marriage? And why isn't every state allowing for gay persecution? Scott Lively deserves the lawsuit against him for helping to deprive the rights of LGBT people!

8. The Ugandan pastor that may be arrested under the Uganda's anti-homosexuality law is in this documentary. As much as we hate the Duggars or ATI etc...at least they are smart enough not to show porn during services! Doesn't that Ugandan pastor realize there may be children who are seeing it? What will the parents say to the kids if the children start asking questions?

9. Preaching about how the gays should repent...during David Kato's ( a prominent gay activist who was murdered! ) funeral. How rude! There aren't gays telling people at straight people's funerals to be pro-gay. So the anti-gay people shouldn't do that during gay people's funerals.

10. One of the Ugandan pastors has an Israeli flag on his desk. Just thought I'd mention it.

11. The anti-gay people talk about how anarchy would occur if gays had equal rights like being able to marry. Um, have they seen those countries ( and states ) that have allowed gay marriage and equal rights. Those places are just fine.

Overall, I liked the movie. I would highly recommend "Call Me Kuchu" if you liked "God loves Uganda".

[Ellimenopy]

Pretty sure if God loved Africa he'd keep fundamentalists out of it. They mess things up wherever they go.

I'll have to watch this film!

[bekkah]

I am reading more about David Kato and there's a documentary about him that I have to track down. He was the first openly gay man and ran a LGBT NGO.

The end when they were rolling the credits with info about people in the film. One of the Ugadan pastors lives in Vegas where the other lives in Dallas.

The guy keep calling it the "pearl" of Africa. They believe that there are great temples raised about on every continent. The one in the US is of course in Kansas City where International House of Prayer is located. They just believe that if they spread the message and their values, countries will become successful.

[lawlifelgbt]

Um, sorry fundies and right-wingers, but God also loves me! And I'm pretty flaming.

"There is neither Jew nor Gentile, nor slave nor free, nor male nor female; you are all one in Christ Jesus." - Galatians 3:28.

God was listing off all the major divisions of the time here. Also, sexual orientation is gendered; you're considered gay or straight because of how your attractions mesh with your gender. Therefore, if "nor male nor female" means God does not care about a believer's gender, then neither does who I love really matter. The message is that ALL are one. Not just straight people!

[DifferentGurl]

I am reading more about David Kato and there's a documentary about him that I have to track down. He was the first openly gay man and ran a LGBT NGO.

The end when they were rolling the credits with info about people in the film. One of the Ugadan pastors lives in Vegas where the other lives in Dallas.

The guy keep calling it the "pearl" of Africa. They believe that there are great temples raised about on every continent. The one in the US is of course in Kansas City where International House of Prayer is located. They just believe that if they spread the message and their values, countries will become successful.

Yea, I find it quite scary that some of the pastors in Uganda are quite rich. I'm not saying all pastors should be dirt poor, but these pastors are living like movie stars with their huge mansions. No wonder they are signing up with places like IHOP. More power and money!

Also, "Call me Kuchu" ( the documentary on David Kato ) is available on Netflix. You can watch it online through Netflix.

[bekkah]

Yea, I find it quite scary that some of the pastors in Uganda are quite rich. I'm not saying all pastors should be dirt poor, but these pastors are living like movie stars with their huge mansions. No wonder they are signing up with places like IHOP. More power and money!

Also, "Call me Kuchu" ( the documentary on David Kato ) is available on Netflix. You can watch it online through Netflix.

Call me Kuchu was the one I was looking for! Thanks, I wrote it down and misplaced before I got to place it in my queue!

[Rachel333]

I'm watching this right now on Netflix and I would encourage anyone who can to go watch it too. It's disturbing how huge this movement is. These people are totally sincere too in believing they're serving God by encouraging the persecution of gay people.

I think it's relevant in the discussion of the Dillards' mission trip, too (which is actually what made me remember I wanted to watch this). Some of the footage at the beginning of people singing about and praying for Uganda reminded me of what I've seen when Christians decide they have a "burden" for a particular country and believe they're really helping people by praying with that paternalistic mindset.

As an aside, it was my brother who recommended this documentary to me. He grew up in the same conservative, homophobic environment as I did and ended up also coming to the conclusion that there is nothing wrong with being gay. It's encouraging to see, since I think there are fewer and fewer young people, even young Christians, who still don't support LGBT rights.