Posted on 11/12/2006 6:39:27 AM PST by SirLinksalot
Sir Elton John wants religion banned completely – because he believes it promotes hatred of gays.
Speaking to the Observer Music Monthly Magazine the singer said religion lacked compassion and turned people into “hateful lemmings".
The PRESS ASSOCIATION reports: In a candid interview for a dedicated Gay issue of the magazine he shared his views on topics as varied as being a pop icon to Tony Blair’s stance on the war in Iraq.
He said there was a lack of religious leadership, particularly in world politics, and complained that people do not take to the streets to protest any more.
Sir Elton said: “I think religion has always tried to turn hatred towards gay people. Religion promotes the hatred and spite against gays.
“But there are so many people I know who are gay and love their religion. From my point of view I would ban religion completely.
“Organised religion doesn’t seem to work. It turns people into really hateful lemmings and it’s not really compassionate.”
He added: “The world is near escalating to World War Three and where are the leaders of each religion? Why aren’t they having a conclave? Why aren’t they coming together?
“I said this after 9/11 and people thought I was nuts. Instead of more violence why isn’t there a meeting of religious leaders?
“It’s like the peace movement in the Sixties. Musicians got through to people by getting out there and doing peace concerts but we don’t seem to do them any more.
“If John Lennon were alive today he’d be leading it with a vengeance,” he said.
Sir Elton said people were too busy blogging on the internet to go out onto the streets to stand up for what they believed in.
“They seem to do their protesting online and that’s not good enough. You have to get out there and be seen to be vocal, and you’ve got to do it time and time again.
“There was a big march in London when Britain decided to join the war against Iraq and Tony Blair is on the record as saying ‘the people who march today will have blood on their hands’. That’s returned to bite him on the ass,” he said.
Sir Elton compared his place in British culture with that of the Queen Mother’s.
He said: “People come to me and I’m a bit like the Queen Mother. I never get those problems. I don’t know what it is with me, people treat me very reverently.
Referring to his “wedding” to long-term partner David Furnish, he said: “It was the same when Dave and I had our civil union - I was expecting the odd flour bomb and there wasn’t.
“Dave and I as a couple seem to be the acceptable face of gayness, and that’s great.”
He pledged to continue to campaign for gay rights saying: “I’m going to fight for them whether I do it silently behind the scenes or so vocally that I get locked up.
“I can’t just sit back; it’s not in my nature any more. I’m nearly 60-years-old after all. I can’t sit back and blindly ignore it and I won’t.”
homo says what??
This is so messed up, on so many levels... he wants to BAN religion, because it promotes hatred. What a hypocrite and hater he is, not to mention, fascist.
He wants religious leaders to all come together, to stop this terrorism and war, when it's our enemies who are the muzzie religious leaders. What an idiot. Yeah, that's it. We should blame Christian religious leaders, because they haven't had a summit with the mullahs. Has his mouth ever met his brain?
And, just as an aside... Elton, you are definitely going to hell, and not just in a musical way.
There's a difference between Christians saying, 'tisk, tisk' vs Muslims actually killing gay people as part of Sharia law. They have debates as to whether stoning or dropping a wall on someone is the preferred way to kill gays.
“Organised religion doesn’t seem to work. It turns people into really hateful lemmings and it’s not really compassionate.”
Organized religion has missionaries all across the globe, feeding people, etc.
How much of Elton's millions he's earned over his career has been used to help/feed people?
Being able to play a piano, guitar, etc. doesn't make a person smart, and that statement proves it.
I don't like organised religion myself. Got absolutely no time or use for it. It's one of the stupidest things modern man does. If I could snap my fingers and make people quit practicing all forms of religion, I'd seriously have to give it a go to see what would come from it.
I can certainly understand how Sir E feels about it. Have felt that way since I was a wee boy of about 7 years old.
Sir Lightintheloafers just needs to relax. Pelosi and her gang of Commie thugs are already working on it.
elton wants the bar stools turned upside down so they can quaduple the seatings at all of his appearances.
The EU will no doubt happily oblige Elton John, and turn St. Peter's Basilica into a bathhouse as soon as its army has seized the Vatican.
Typical liberal. Don't just disagree. Don't debate and put forth your own opinions and logical arguments for consideration. No...instead just BAN those who disagree with you.
No John, homosexual behavior is disgusting to hetrosexuals, irrespective of religion.
Please note the difference between "disgust" and "hate".
What really turns people into "hateful lemmings" are those who "would be gods" hating the thought that there is an afterlife in which they will be held responsible for those deeds they did on earth and wanting not to suffer in hell alone so they must do their damndest to convince people there is no God but earthly pleasure.
I think you're wrong about that. Religion does NOT promote the hatred of gays or anyone. Religion has been the scapegoat for every group who wants to deviate from traditional values.
Take Elton for example. He's been miserable in his own skin forever. I've never heard of him being harrassed by Christians. I've been a fan since 1972. I was disappointed when he 'came out', but hey, it's his life to do what he wants. Yet for years now, he's been spouting off about this so-called hatred by Christians toward gays. He's the one with the hate for Christians. Turning it around doesn't make it so.
And I think it's very telling when he makes a comment like "If John Lennon were still around..." Elton, if you were a MAN and truly felt as strongly about this as you say you do, why don't YOU get off your butt and do what you think St. Lennon would do?
They intend to persecute Christians...no doubt about that.
"“People come to me and I’m a bit like the Queen Mother. I never get those problems. I don’t know what it is with me, people treat me very reverently."
There's got to be some sort of medical explanation for this pitiful dementia.
I have never considered giving a flip about anything Elton John thinks!
I think you missed my point.
As a Christian and regular church goer, I have never hated homosexuals and never once heard hatred preached from the pulpit.
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