Canadian Law Could Label Bible as 'Hate Speech'

[WayneB]

I am not an active poster to your web board although I do enjoy reading your various discussions when I have the time. Therefore, please forgive my intrusion but I wanted to share this article with you. It reminded me how much we take for granted that which God has provided us for our encouragement and use...His Holy Word. Many of us are like the servant who received one talent from his master and went out and buried it in the ground. When the master retured, he was angered and took it away and gave it to the servant who turned the five into ten. (re: Matthrew 25:14-30)

Canadian Law Could Label Bible as 'Hate Speech'

10/20/03

A proposed law could mean that the Bible would be considered hate literature in Canada.

Under the Canadian Parliament's proposed law, Bill C-250, homosexuals are added to the list of protected classes in the "hate propaganda" sections of the country's criminal code.

Stan Kellner, director of church relations for the International Bible Society (ibs.org), feels Christians should be concerned over the fact that, under this legislation, God's Holy Word could be considered hate literature in Canada. If Bill C-250 passes, he fears that evangelicals' freedom to access, discuss, and proclaim what scripture has to say about the homosexual lifestyle may be compromised.

Kellner asserts that the Bible contains "clear passages" condemning homosexuality in both the Old and New Testaments. Now, he says, "these folks are trying to say all of a sudden 'Well, hey, this is hate literature, and therefore it ought to be considered a hate crime to even have this published.'"

The IBS spokesman believes the proposed statute is the latest example of how Christianity is often singled out for intolerance. He says the battle to suppress evangelicals' biblical discourse shows that the Bible is unique and that Christianity stands apart from man-made and false religions.

"I don't want to pick on other world religions," Kellner says, "but I don't hear the Quran being attacked necessarily in the same way." He notes that, even in the current climate of suspicion that has been fueled by terrorist attacks and the war with Iraq, the general public in North America seems to be more tolerant of Islam than of Christianity.

And according to Kellner there is a reason why that is true. "What I'm saying is, by and large, a body of literature called the Bible stands on its own," he says, "but I think throughout the centuries -- including right now -- there are all kinds of attacks that rise up against it."

A Case of Anti-Christian Intolerance

A court case currently under way in Australia offers further evidence of the modern climate of tolerance for all but Christians -- a trial that calls into question Christians' rights to question the validity of other faiths.

According to Cybercast News, two Christian pastors recently had to appear in court in the state of Victoria to answer charges that they denigrated Islam in a seminar designed to explain Muslim teachings to Christians. The pastors leading the seminar both have personal experience with Islam, but three Muslims who attended said they were offended by what they heard in the session.

The Muslims brought their grievance to the Islamic Council of Victoria, who took it, under new anti-discriminatory legislation, to the state's Equal Opportunity Commission. When mediation failed, the three Muslims took the Christian pastors to a tribunal set up under the Racial and Religious Tolerance Act. The plaintiffs claim the pastors incited hatred, serious contempt, revulsion, or severe ridicule against the Islamic faith by discussing issues such as jihad, suicide bombing, and the treatment of non-Muslims in Islamic countries.

In their response to the EOC, the pastors said "Many of the complaints were about statements that are in fact part of the foundations of Islam, some taken straight from the Quran." A spokesman for Saltshakers, a Victoria Christian group that has been following the case, says all Christians in the state are affected by the Racial and Religious Tolerance Act, "if they stand up and declare the truth."

And according to Stan Kellner, the most fundamental source of truth is at stake in Canada. The IBS's Church Relations director wants believers to be wary about Parliament's Bill C-250 and the repercussions it could have for religious freedom throughout North America. He says he would not be surprised if similar legislation were soon to be introduced in the United States.

(Source: Religion Today)

[Willow]

Tell me about it! This is NOT the heart of all Canadians!

I feel like we'd be taking about 90,000 steps backwards, almost to the point of drawing a fish in the sand again to converse with other Christians. This also is a concern because of the programs that are broadcast on the radio. Our church has an airwave/station. (to cover a short distance around our church as we have a seniors living facility behind us. Many of them are not well enough to come to the service so we have our service broadcast on the radio).

"I don't want to pick on other world religions," Kellner says, "but I don't hear the Quran being attacked necessarily in the same way." He notes that, even in the current climate of suspicion that has been fuelled by terrorist attacks and the war with Iraq, the general public in North America seems to be more tolerant of Islam than of Christianity.

Exactly. I have thought this for years.

Kellner asserts that the Bible contains "clear passages" condemning homosexuality in both the Old and New Testaments. Now, he says, "these folks are trying to say all of a sudden 'Well, hey, this is hate literature, and therefore it ought to be considered a hate crime to even have this published.'"

If they really feel that way, then I better never see someone with a sign at a gay rights march with a bible verse they have taken out of context written on it. You cannot support one part of the bible and not the other.

This is very alarming. Not just in my country, but how quickly this kind of thing can spread around the world. When we have the opportunities, we must stand up and let our voices be heard. It's not being an activist, it's being involved. We can look at new legislature and say, it's a shame this passed. Did we do all we could to prevent it? Did we pray, write letters, vote when there was an opportunity, signed any petitions? Whatever we can do, it is our responsibility to fight the spiritual forces of darkness in the heavenly realms. The battle is the Lord's, but we are His soldiers.

Sorry guys, I guess you can tell I am a little bit passionate about this. I am sick and tired of seeing my country's leadership and laws going to hell.

Jeremiah 18

7 If at any time I announce that a nation or kingdom is to be uprooted, torn down and destroyed, 8 and if that nation I warned repents of its evil, then I will relent and not inflict on it the disaster I had planned. 9 And if at another time I announce that a nation or kingdom is to be built up and planted, 10 and if it does evil in my sight and does not obey me, then I will reconsider the good I had intended to do for it.

So that's my rant on this

[Guest Evangelist Dare]

and i say amen preach it sister! we are in the very last days and satan is hard at work because he does know his time is short.. he hates God's word and those who love it , live it and preach it, because he knows that the word of GOD HAS POWER.....THAT DEVIL KNOWS JUST WHAT THE WORD CAN DO...

AND AMEN WE NEED TO REALLY PRAY ABOUT THIS... GOD DOES HEAR THE PRAYERS OF HIS CHILDREN AND NOT ONLY DOES HE HEAR, HE ANSWERS...PRAISE GOD THANK YOU JESUS.......

GOD BLESS YOU SIS AND THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR THIS INFO.....LOVE IN CHRIST JESUS , Evang. dare

[Guest shadow2b]

I would say that{based on this new-law-c250} in canada that the U.S.A. IS NEXT--

OH YEAH--the "gay" crowd here will push this same kind of "law" in the usa---COUNT ON IT!!!

THE BRIDE OF CHRIST IS GOING TO BE "PURE-DRESSED IN WHITE--WORTHY of HER BRIDEGROOM"---

COUNT ON "THAT" TOO---Dan.12.vss.3-10-11-12----REV.6.vss.9-10-11--REV.7.vss.13-14-15-16-17--

DAN.11.vss.32-33-34-35-----DAN.12.vss.1-2-3--------

PRAISE THE LORD JESUS-YESHUA-FOR HIS MERCY & LOVE------

SO-LET-IT-BE-WRITTEN------SO-LET-IT-BE-DONE------

[Guest idolsmasher]

One note concerning this is that the Prime Minister of Canada, Jean Chretien, has referred the law to the supreme court for review because he wants to be sure that the bill will not infringe on the rights of the churches to follow their convictions on this matter. He wants the law to protect the churches traditional beliefs on this. Of course the article doesn't mention this because they want Christians to believe the churches are directly threatened in order to have the bill struck down through a vocal opposition. There is a certain element of fear mongering in this article, although I do agree with their goals in principle.

[WayneB]

One note concerning this is that the Prime Minister of Canada, Jean Chretien, has referred the law to the supreme court for review because he wants to be sure that the bill will not infringe on the rights of the churches to follow their convictions on this matter. He wants the law to protect the churches traditional beliefs on this.  Of course the article doesn't mention this because they want Christians to believe the churches are directly threatened in order to have the bill struck down through a vocal opposition. There is a certain element of fear mongering in this article, although I do agree with their goals in principle.

I, as you, don't believe everything I read. Regarding this article, I don't know enough to take a position one way or the other. I just thought it would be a good subject to discuss.

BUT I do believe that unless the Body of Christ speaks up when a perceived threat is detected, we stand to lose our freedom of openly sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ with the lost. It is hard to distinguish between "fear mongering" and "real threats". Most politicians respond to the voice of the people. If the voice is silent, they respond to their own will. Would the Prime Minister of Canada have refered the law to the Supreme Court for review if he heard nothing but support for the law? And what will the culture reflect in years to come? Only God knows for sure.

Regardless, we have a responsibility to protect those things that we cherish and the Word of God is at the top of the list.

In Christ,

Wayne

[Guest idolsmasher]

I understand what you mean. I'm on your side concerning the issue.

Most politicians respond to the voice of the people. If the voice is silent, they respond to their own will.

Actually, the Liberal government had twice refused to adopt these measures but the gay lobby was persistent and it was finally the courts and not the legislators that forced the governments hand by ruling the marriage laws to be unconstitutional and dicriminatory towards gays. It will be interesting to see what the supreme court will say. It seems that it is in their hands now.

The biggest threat is the statement it sends to the next generations that being gay is an acceptable lifestyle choice instead of something which is against nature and the God of Creation's plan.

[ColleenLovesMischief]

I heard Dr James Dobson talking about this on the radio a week or so ago. I guess Canada may be forced to publish a bible without any of this "hate". Also it was pointed out that America usually follows closely behind when something happens in Canada......it's like it all runs down South.

:blues:

[irishcowboy]

well, in all actuallity, I guess I could also consider the Bible as hate littiture, and people are not wanting to hear things that go against them and what they do, so yes, it is hate lititure.....

GOD HATES SIN ...............

cant get more plain then that.....

the Bible is also love lititure......

FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD...................

what the Bible teaches, is agains sin, and those that love sin will assume that the Bible hates them that God hates them...... which we all know is not true, that God Loves Them, just hates their sin.......

I would venture to say, that the ones that are complaining about getting their toes stepped on, are the leaders in the world, not the little guy..... for the most part, the little guy knows he has nothing and is nothing, and therefore expects nothing, and is so use to having his toes stepped on, that one more, dont matter a whole lot....... where the leaders, are trying to get one step up on the next guy, and they are being convicted of their actions by the Spirit of God and being so, they are bothered by their own lives, and so they will be trying to fix it so they can "justify " their actions.... just as the church leaders did to Jesus......

Jesus was teaching Love the sinner ( Jesus Hates sin too.... ) and was teaching against what the church leaders were practicing.... and they thought he was trying to horn in on their money making practices.....for every one that sinned needed to bring a sacrafice, but that sacrafice needed to be approved... and mostly, they did not meet the standards of the clergy, so they would have to take it and use it for a trade in and buy a sacrafice that was "worthy" to be sacraficed..... but that goat that you brought there being not good nuff, and traded in ( like one would use a car as a trade in ) and need all kinds of money for a better sacrafice.... that same goat then would be used for the next person who came in and only had a couple doves...... they would trade the doves in for the goat.....hmmmmm that goat was not good enough for you but it was good enough for your neighbor.....lol

Yea, the Bible is a hate book, a hate book against sin.... not people, not love not anything ellse, just sin.......

there have been many people that lost their lives thru out history, for trying to get the bible into their own language so that the people know the truth.... and this went also for the english Bibles.... the clergy was confiscating them and burning them as fast as they could find them, and the person in possession of it was punished very harshly.... ( alot in death ) and the writers of them had bounties on their heads.... DEAD OR ALIVE kind of thing..... the clergy said they were full of errors, but in fact they were error free, and went against the teachings of the clergy who were afraid that they would be loosing out on money coming into the church... ( lining their own pockets ) ........... the truth hurts....

well, I guess a person can look at it from that aspect, but me, I prefer to look at the Bible as a book of Love......

your friend and brother in Jesus, always, forever

mike

[Guest idolsmasher]

I heard Dr James Dobson talking about this on the radio a week or so ago. I guess Canada may be forced to publish a bible without any of this "hate".

This is obviously speculation and conjecture. These guys know that in order to get people stirred up you have to go to extremes, even if it isn't being realistic.