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Posted on 10/07/2021 3:01:16 PM PDT by Ennis85
When I heard that Spencer Klavan would be a speaker at the Classical Learning Test (CLT) 2021 Summit in Annapolis last week, I was surprised — shocked really — that a man who is openly homosexual would be featured there.
The fact that well respected Catholic intellectuals would also be speaking at the Summit, and that others are members of CLT’s Board of Academic Advisors, was troubling to me, as troubling as the big incongruency in Spencer’s life. I worried that the presence of Princeton Prof. Robert George, University of Dallas Prof. Jessica Hooten Wilson, and other well-known Catholic educators would give the appearance of approval of homosexuality and same-sex marriage. More specifically, I worried that young same-sex attracted Catholics witnessing the gathering would be free to conclude, “It’s OK to be a conservative, Catholic, AND an out and proud gay or lesbian.”
Oxford-educated Spencer’s conservative credentials are impressive. He is host of The Young Heretics podcast, an author at The Daily Wire, Associate Editor at the Claremont Review of Books, frequent guest on Candace Owens’ show, and son of Christian conservative Andrew Klavan. Yet Spencer has self-identified as ‘gay’ since high school, is currently engaged to be “married” to a man, and was one of the high-profile conservative gays at the Outspoken Pride 2021 gathering in Nashville in September. His future “husband,” Joshua Herr, serves as general counsel for The Daily Wire.
Klavan is among the rising number of gays in the Republican Party whose presence nowadays generally elicits nothing more than a shrug of the shoulders among many conservatives and Christians, including Catholics. The ranks of gay GOP members grew during the 2020 presidential campaign as they enthusiastically supported President Donald Trump, famously touted by homosexual former Ambassador and Director of National Intelligence, Ric Grenell, as “[t]he most pro-gay president in American history.”
A rickety bulwark against criticism of homosexuality and same-sex ‘marriage’
Spencer Klavan is brilliant. A gifted teacher, his podcasts explain what is often impenetrable prose of classic writers that is easily digested by non-academics, while not losing an ounce of the beauty, truth, and gravitas of their messages. As I’ve listened to Klavan’s podcasts and read his commentaries, I confess, I’ve fallen in love with his work. He’s right about so much, but he’s wrong about homosexuality and same-sex “marriage.”
So how can one claim to be a Christian, a conservative, and a classicist?
Klavan began counting himself a Christian at age 16 — at about the same time he “came out” to his famous Dad, Andrew Klavan — and was baptized into the Episcopal Church at age 18.
In a video interview conducted in October 2020, Klavan was asked to on about the Catholic Church’s teaching on same-sex “marriage” and homosexuality. His brief response revealed the bulwark against personal criticism he has built in his mind.
He explained that natural law theory and the Church’s interpretation of the creation of man and woman in Genesis incorrectly form the basis for Catholicism’s disapproval of gay relationships.
“I don’t think that that is an accurate portrayal of Genesis,” said Klavan. “Obviously things have developed after the fall [of man] in such a way as to permit, to make certain things licit that were not, at least, part of the relationship between Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden.”
“I think it’s a wrongly-selective reading of Genesis that would say because Adam and Eve are commanded to be fruitful and multiply, a commandment that I affirm, therefore there is no such thing as acceptable, praiseworthy, romantic committed loving partnerships besides one man, one woman,” continued Klavan. “Many of the biblical heroes are polygamists, something that I don’t condone, I don’t condone polygamy, but I acknowledge that there are forms of sexual relationships that go beyond what happens in pre-lapsarian Eden.”
In other words, the fall of man — which separated humanity from God — somehow made homosexuality and genderless “marriages” okay with God, despite the discordance with nature and perversion of God’s clearly visible, knowable intention.
Klavan’s chosen protestant denomination, the U.S. Episcopal Church, began warmly accepting both homosexuality and same-sex marriages years ago, causing a rift with the Anglican Church while also playing a role in the sect’s plummeting membership.
Homosexuality: ‘Dehumanizing’
The fact that classic writers appear to uniformly disagree with Klavan about homosexuality has not dissuaded him.
Plato thought homosexuality was “dehumanizing” and Socrates “loathed sodomy,” according to Catholic writer Robert Reilly, author of “Making Gay Okay: How Rationalizing Homosexual Behavior Is Changing Everything.”
Socrates and Plato, were unambiguous in their condemnation of homosexual acts as unnatural. In the Laws, Plato’s last book, the Athenian speaker says, “I think that the pleasure is to be deemed natural which arises out of the intercourse between men and women; but that the intercourse of men with men, or of women with women, is contrary to nature, and that the bold attempt was originally due to unbridled lust.” By its nature, lust is unbridled, irrational, and therefore destructive of what it is to be human. Giving in to it is therefore Dehumanizing.
Socrates said that a certain man was “no better off than a pig if he wanted to scratch himself against a [young male] as piglets do against stones,” Reilly further noted.
C.S. Lewis, the Christian apologist who Klavan views as the “greatest intellectual of the 20th century,” also disagrees with him about homosexuality. “The physical satisfaction of homosexual desires is sin,” wrote Lewis in a letter to a former student.
The relentless seeping in of homosexuality in Catholic education
“There has never been a better time to invest in the souls and minds of our nation’s kids!” exclaimed CLT 2021 Summit participant, Tony Kinnett, in a tweet.
https://twitter.com/TheTonus/status/1444336215772258305?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1444336215772258305%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.lifesitenews.com%2Fblogs%2Fclassicist-teacher-homosexuality%2F
While the effort to steep America’s young people in the classics is admirable, does living as a homosexual with the intention of “marrying” a member of the same sex undermine that effort, risking the corruption of their “souls and minds?”
Does Klavan’s presence at the 2021 Summit create a problem for Ave Maria University, Christendom College, Franciscan University of Steubenville, The University of Dallas, and Hillsdale College, which are among the 204 schools that recognize the CLT? The incongruities of his life stand in opposition to the fundamental truths these institutions hold dear.
The Catholic school superintendent of Denver, Elias J. Moo, was another featured speaker at the CLT summit; Michael Moynihan, Head of the Upper School at Opus Dei’s prestigious The Heights School in the Washington suburbs, is on CLT’s Board of Academic Advisors, as is Catholic University of America Professor Chad Pecknold.
The seeping in of homosexuality into conservative circles, whether it be within the GOP, the Catholic Church, or conservative education institutions, continues with little notice.
In February 2020, Fr. James Martin, S.J. — the most prominent clergyman arguing for the normalization of homosexuality and transgenderism within the Church — was “warmly welcomed” as he addressed 150 Catholic college and university presidents, urging them to promote “inclusion” on their campuses by promoting “LGBT-affirming liturgies,” permitting students to choose their own pronouns, and holding “Lavender Graduations.”
Klavan is not alone. Ambassador Grenell, FOX News commentators Guy Benson, Deroy Murdock, and Chadwick Moore, “Walk Away” movement founder Brandon Straka, outspoken pro-Trump activists Scott Presler and Christian Walker, and others — although brilliant, successful men — have not yet tapped into the intellectual curiosity and honesty necessary to reject the “born this way” lie which now defines them. Homosexuality remains a stumbling block, stalling their trajectory beyond political truth toward bigger, preeminent ones while also undermining their attempts to supplant liberal insanity with conservative principles.
In this way, their personal lives serve as obstructions, hindering the flow of maximum truth into the world as they continue to resist both science and nature. They cling to an impoverished self and worldview, leading to diminished personal lives and contributing to our pauperized American culture.
Klavan and the others could learn a lot from the intellectual honesty and integrity of Milo Yiannopoulos, who has left the world of sodomy and the cortege of lies and partial truths that follow in its train.
Yiannopoulos has accomplished more good during his year and a half as a chaste, dedicated follower of Christ than he was ever able to during his years as a famous gay conservative provocateur.
Funny how arguments can be made that doll up wretchedness and make it palatable and acceptable. Having been part of a family where small boys were pimped out and their pysche was ruined, they never were able to have normal relationships with either men or women. You can even put lipstick on a pig.
“My wife said to me yesterday: “Sometimes Satan comes cloaked as an angel.”
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Satan, originally and still known by the name Lucifer, IS a type of angel, known as a cherub. Originally the highest ranking angel (cherub) which guarded the throne of God.
“Ezekiel 28:14 Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire.”
“Ezekiel 28:16 By the multitude of thy merchandise they have filled the midst of thee with violence, and thou hast sinned: therefore I will cast thee as profane out of the mountain of God: and I will destroy thee, O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire.”
“12 How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! 13 For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: 14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. 15 Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit. ‘’.
* * * * * * * * * * *
2 Corinthians 11:14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
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He has more names:
“(1) Revelation 12:9
“Revelation 12:9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.”
Loving the sinner does not mean to accept and champion their sinful behavior.
It does mean to lovingly correct their behavior to bring them back into fellowship.
At a certain level, we’re also instructed to have nothing to do with them.
For instance I Corinthians 5:11. “But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolator, reviler, drunkard or swindler. Not to even eat with such a one.”
Since “Christian” means follower of Christ, Jesus would not be a “Christian”. He was God. Still is. Always was. Always will be.
Maybe you misunderstood the comment?
Sins against Gaia.
Driving an F350.
I suspect that you define countenancing as being willing to associate with and treat a sinner with human dignity and respect. Sorry but that is not encouraging or supporting the sin.
In my years living in San Diego I got to know a great many gay people, they’re everywhere in Southern California. I don’t encourage nor do I support that lifestyle, not only because it is a sin, but also because it is unhealthy
physically and especially mentally. But I am tollerant of the of the sinner as fellow human beings, because I’m a sinner too, just not for the same sin. I’m tollerant in the sense that I believe people can organize their lives whatever way they want, good behavior in a civil society means acting reasonably when interacting with people regardless of what their sins are or how you or I view their personal life choices. People have brains and can think for themselves and all human beings have free will, and by the way God gave us those.
Maybe the Christians in the article whom are also sinners, as are we all, are just treating him like a any other human being deserving to be treated with dignity and respect simply becasue he is a human being, instead of passing judgement on him and treating him like a leper or a non-human. Afterall, its not your job or mine to pass eternal judgement on any human beings sins, thats to be left to God.
One other point; would you not agree that Christians should be trying to help the sinners amongst us to accept Jesus as they’re savior and stop their sinful ways; is that not one of the very basic tenents of Christianity; it would seem to me, as well as most every other sentient being on earth, that the way to facilitate God’s will in that way is to treat the sinner as a human being that God loves and whom is deserving of dignity and respect because God created the sinner in his image also, but the sinner has strayed off the reservation and needs help getting back so to speak. Is that not the most important thing Christians can do; to lead sinners back to God.
I don’t think many Christians will be successful helping sinners find their way back to God by being disrespectful to them or by telling them they’re hated or by offering up the Fire and Brimstone rather than offering Christian love, respect, dignity and understanding.
Its kind of like that honey vs vinegar thing.
If loving the sinner means telling him his sins are ok with God, then you are loving them into Hell. And you’ll be joining them.
Then they’re neither conservative nor Christian.
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I couldn’t disagree more. It is not your duty to sugar coat the Gospel. The Holy Spirit was sent to convict men of their sin and to call them to repentance.
When you preach the Gospel, you owe it to whomever you are preaching to tell them the unvarnished Truth. And the Truth is that unless you repent of your sins and follow Christ, you are going to spend eternity in Hell.
Jonathan Edwards kicked off the greatest revival in American History by going around preaching “Sinners in the Hand of an Angry God”.
If you love someone you owe it to them to tell them the Truth. The Holy Spirit will convict them. Your job is not to sweet talk them into the Kingdom.
Nobody gets there without the conviction of the Holy Spirit. They must repent of their sins. So don’t tell them God will love them even if they continue in Sin and fail to recognize they are sinners.
I can say with pretty good assurance that pastors who tell their congregation that homosexuality is ok with God are on the road to Hell.
Follow the money.
width= "600"/>Not if they are promoting homosexual “marriage”.
That was Paul speaking, not God. And I’m very sorry to inform you but the Bible is not the word of God, in the case of Corinthians 5:11 its quoting Paul not God.
“Loving the sinner does not mean to accept and champion their sinful behavior.”
Where did I say I accept or champion their sinful behavior. In fact I do not support the gay life style for reasons I just explained in my last post.
“It does mean to lovingly correct their behavior to bring them back into fellowship.”
Are you sure you really believe that? Because you then say this:
“At a certain level, we’re also instructed to have nothing to do with them.”
That seems to indicate some cognitive dissonance with you and Paul. I very much doubt that God suffers from cognitive dissonance.
Two other other problem withs that quote and your interpretation that needs clearing up:
1)how exactly can one lovingly correct a sinners behavior and bring them back into fellowship if one is directed to have nothing to do with them.
2) Your interpretation seems to put the onus of the sinner coming back to the flock as it were, not on the sinner to make the decision to come back, but rather on the person helping the sinner. Again, God created us with brains to think with and free will, thus the onus cannot be on the helper as they are not responsible for the sinners behavior, but rather the onus is squarely on the sinner to make the right decision. Its like that old thing about leading a horse to water, but not being able to make him drink. He will if he chooses too, the same is true for the sinner, only he is responsible for his behavior.
Do you really believe God suffers from cognitive dissonance or that he would create human beings in his image, with free will, and then do something as fundamentally unfair as to make one person responsible for the choices and decisions of another person.
Now to your Corinthians quote:
““But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolator, reviler, drunkard or swindler. Not to even eat with such a one.””
Those are Paul’s words and admonitions, not God’s. Paul was just a man nothing more and those were his words and to claim they were God’s means those words are Holy, but since they came from Paul it seems to me, by extention at least, you’re worshipping a False Idol, Paul’s words.
I don’t think God is going to very happy with you when he finds out.
Thank goodness, because when I had the opportunity to vote for it in Prop 187 I think it was, I voted no because as I’ve explained adnausem to the religious fanatics on this board, I do not participate in, promote, support or otherwise encourage the sinful gay lifestyle; but I am tollerant of the the human beings who do engage in that sinful behavior because that is what good Christians are supposed to do; treat all human beings with dignity and respect, after all, all of us were created in God’s image, and at some point in our lives we’ve all committed sin(s), therefore we don’t get to judge our fellow sinners, that is left to God and we as human beings should love our fellow sinners but hate their sins.
It’s one of the worst-kept secrets, that the clergy in the church of Rome is a gigantic anthill of fluffery. They are outcrying over one being in the public eye?
Not the first time the perverts have taken over religious groups.
Asa Reigns in Judah
…11And Asa did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, as his father David had done.
12He banished the male shrine prostitutes from the land and removed all the idols that his fathers had made.
13He also removed his grandmother Maacah from her position as queen mother because she had made a detestable Asherah pole. Asa chopped down the pole and burned it in the Kidron Valley
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