Rev. Mel White on Homosexuality

Rev. Mel White the founder of soul force, a best-selling author, a pastor, seminary professor, and ghost writer to religious leaders including Billy Graham, Pat Robertson, and Jerry Falwell. (http://www.melwhite.org/) Rev. Mel White uses personal testimony in order to get his point across and convince Christians that homosexuals should embrace who they are.

When Mel says, "Accept who you are, accept it as a gift from God" he is using many nonverbals to influence. His tone and pitch of voice changes as well as his eyes and hand gestures.

This is also an example of expert testimony because he has experienced it first hand.

Finally, this is an example of organization by stock issues. He says there's a need for a change, and the plan to solve that need is, "tell your children early in life that if your gay embrace it and accept it as a gift from God". Then that plan meets the need or removes the problems (p. 272).

Mel White, Jerry Falwell, and Homosexuality

Jerry Falwell is a very influential "Christian" figure in out society today. Being in a position to influence Falwell uses persuasion techniques such as agitation and control, and guilt appeal. Falwell states that "God continues to lift the curtain and allow the enemies of America to give us probably what we deserve" (The Washington Post, 2001). Falwell uses a higher power, God to justify his statement. Agitators petition the sources of power such as God. Falwell’s point is to rise up people and get people's attention. 

Falwell also stated that “Homosexuality is Satan's diabolical attack upon the family that will not only have a corrupting influence upon our next generation, but it will also bring down the wrath of God upon America” (Washington Post, 2001). Throughout Falwell’s video interviews he continually points the finger at homosexuals, agitating not only them but many other groups such as GLAAD, and the ACLU. Not only does Falwell agitate others to get a point but he also uses guilt appeal. Guilt “usually comes form a realization that we have violated some rule or code of conduct but can reduce the guilt by atonement or punishment” (Larson, 2007). In Falwell’s interview about 9/11 he states that it is because of homosexuals, feminist groups, and other "morally bankrupt" individuals that we were attacked. Falwell points out that homosexuality is wrong, and he tries to persuade people by focusing on their guilt.

Rev. Jerry Falwell - On Homosexuality

A note from the editors:

We acknowledge that the inclusion of the former Rev.  Jerry Falwell in this online discussion has the possibility of being controversial.  However, as Rev. Falwell was very active and vocal on his stance towards homosexuality and what he deemed the "Homosexual Agenda," we found it important to include him and his words as they were, not as we would have them.

Quick Facts:

Rev. Jerry Falwell was the founding pastor of Thomas Road Baptist Church in Lynchburg, VA in 1956, as well as the founder and chancellor of Liberty University in 1971, and the founder of the Moral Majority in 1979.  Rev. Falwell was outspoken on many issues including pornography, abortion, and homosexuality.

Falwell drew much criticism for his statements in sermons and his newsletters, even going as far as saying, "AIDS is not just God's punishment for homosexuals; it is God's punishment for the society that tolerates homosexuals."  Falwell also accused the British children's program Teletubbies for marketing their character, Tinky Winky, as a gay role model. 

Falwell also was deeply involved with the issue on the political front, as is demonstrated in the official memo below sent by Rev. Falwell to the subscribers of his newsletter.

FALWELL CONFIDENTIAL

DATE: June 26, 2003

FROM: Jerry Falwell

TEXAS SODOMY LAW OVERTURNED - A TRAGEDY FOR AMERICA

In a stunning reversal from its 1986 decision upholding the rights of states to enact anti-sodomy laws, the Supreme Court, by a 6-3 vote, ruled to overturn a Texas law that banned same-sex sodomy, saying that it violated a right to privacy.

Justice Anthony Kennedy wrote the opinion for the majority, citing a "right to privacy" in his decision. Joining him in the decision were Justices John Paul Stevens, David Souter, Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Stephen Breyer. Justice Sandra Day O'Connor agreed with the ruling, but differed in the rationale for her decision. (Sadly, four of the six Justices voting for the majority ... O'Connor, Souter, Kennedy and Stevens ... were appointed by Republican presidents.)

Dissenting were Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist and Justices Antonin Scalia and Clarence Thomas.

Justice Scalia, who chose to read his dissent aloud from the bench, said that the Court "has largely signed on to the so-called homosexual agenda."

"The court has taken sides in the culture war," Scalia said. He further noted that this ruling would invite laws allowing same-sex marriage.

"This reasoning leaves on shaky, pretty shaky grounds, state laws limiting marriage to opposite-sex couples," Scalia wrote.

Mathew Staver, President and General Counsel of Liberty Counsel called the decision a "wakeup call" to the majority of Americans who believe in traditional marriage.

"The goal of the radical homosexual agenda is to eliminate any and all laws regulating consensual sexual conduct," Staver said. "This would mean the elimination of laws banning polygamy as well as those that ban sex between adults and minors."

As recently as 1960, every state had an anti-sodomy law on the books. Today 13 states, including Texas, Kansas, Oklahoma, Missouri, Alabama, Florida, Idaho, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Utah and Virginia have laws prohibiting sodomy.

Dr. Mohler on Homosexuality

Biographical Info:

Dr. Albert Mohler Dr. R. Albert Mohler, Jr., serves as the ninth president of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary-the flagship school of the Southern Baptist Convention and one of the largest seminaries in the world.

Time.com called him the "reigning intellectual of the evangelical movement in the U.S". He is a widely sought columnist and commentator for such media outlets as the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, USA Today, etc...

He is a Professor of Christian Theology at Southern Seminary and his writings have been published in the United States and Europe. Including, "Hell Under Fire: Modern Scholarship Reinvents Eternal Punishment," "Here We Stand: A Call From Confessing Evangelicals" and "The Coming Evangelical Crisis." He served as General Editor of "The Gods of the Age or the God of the Ages: Essays by Carl F. H. Henry"

In an article about homosexuality Albert Mohler uses numerous persuasive techniques why people who follow the Word of God must take a "compassionate truth" stand against homosexuality.

Persuasive Techniques:

Ideological Campaign: Statement of Faith and Belief of Southern Baptist
Credibility: Bible Referenced
Varied Vocabulary: Uses impressive vocabulary and phrasing that impresses the reader Example- "Wow! That was well put."
Repetition: Example- "I have a dream....I have a dream...."
Expert Testimony/Credibility: Quotes another credible "expert" source on this issue
Fear Appeal: Example- "If you do not believe this you will be like all the others and you already know you don't want to be them"
Guilt Appeal: Example- "Do it or it's on your shoulders"
Ethos: Credible in Christian circle "must know what he's talking about"

"The Bible is the Word of God in written form, inerrant and infallible, inspired by the Holy Spirit and 'profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness' [2 Timothy 3:16]. This is the critical watershed: Those churches which reject the authority of Scripture will eventually succumb to cultural pressure and accommodate their understanding of homosexuality to the spirit of the age. Those churches that affirm, confess, and acknowledge the full authority of the Bible have no choice in this matter--we must speak a word of compassionate truth. And that compassionate truth is this: Homosexual acts are expressly and unconditionally forbidden by God through His Word, and such acts are an abomination to the Lord by His own declaration." -http://www.truthontheline.org/article_read.php?cid=7

"Professor Elizabeth Achtemeier of Richmond's Union Theological Seminary..." -http://www.truthontheline.org/article_read.php?cid=7


In the video, Mohler shows his view of homosexuality and through guilt appeal affects those he debates with. When looking at the nonverbals of those against him, they respond with faces as though they do not know what to say. Developing his reasoning he references the Bible in developing his reasoning, a

Mark Driscoll on Homosexuality

Mark Driscoll is the co-founder and teaching pastor of Mars Hill Church in Seattle, WA as well as the founder of the Acts 29 Network and a contributer to the Faith and Values sections of the Seattle Times.  Driscoll describes himself as of the Reformed theological tradition. 

1.  Do you believe God condemns homosexualy?

2. Is homosexuality a sin?

Driscoll, in this unique discussion, addresses the issue from a Biblical perspective, also drawing on Trinitarian theology to create a metaphor for understanding our human sexuality as God intended, and once established, explains his thoughts on homosexuality.  Driscoll's authority and credibility come from the Bible.  His evidence for his stance on Homosexuality is rooted in the anecdotal/narrative evidence of the scriptures, drawing from Hebrew Law (Leviticus 19) and Paul's letter to the Romans (Romans 1).

From a persuasive perspective, Driscoll draws heavily on Religious Perspectives, specifically Christianity.  As defined in Larson's Persuasion, Religious Perspectives on communication are "rooted in the basic assumptions a religion makes about the relationship of the divine/eternal to humans and the world, and vice versa."  This helps explain a Christian perspective on homosexuality in that it demonstrates how we view our humanity, and thus our sexuality, in light of the divine being we worship.  For Driscoll, this perspective involves the idea of fallen humanity, inherent sin, and grace through Jesus Christ.

It is also safe to say, given the fact that Driscoll is a Christian pastor at a Christian mega-church, there may be some message-sidedness to his persuasion.  Driscoll doesn't need to argue the inverse of whether or not homosexuality is a sin because the likeliness of someone having that perspective in a Reformed Baptist church is very unlikely.  With this in mind, it's safe to say that most Christians are biased based on the Bible and the popular teachings on Homosexuality.

Nonverbally, Driscoll uses an incredible amount of kinesics while talking.  Slashes of the hands, pointing of the fingers, waving of the arms, and other hand/arm motions are all bodily movements meant to back up the message and thus make him more credible.  It is fair to say, Driscoll's entire message is unprepared, which would explain the overabundance of arm motions.  Does it help him or hurt him?  What do you think?