The idea of gay people roasting in hell and not being real Christians has been labelled "pathetic" and "literalist" by the Anglican Dean of Auckland, Bishop Richard Randerson. Speaking in response to comments made by Radio Pacific host Ian Wishart, who on his Monday night programme railed against prostitutes and gay priests referring to themselves as Christians because they are participating in something that Christ spoke against, Bishop Randerson pointed out that there is no record of Christ saying anything on the subject of homosexuality. "There are a half-dozen references scattered elsewhere throughout the Bible, some over 3000 years old," Bishop Randerson told GayNZ.com. "Scholars are divided on the issue of what they mean, and we now have to sort out unchanging principles from historical principles, which were a reflection of the social attitudes of the day, as we have done with passages relating to the subordination of women." Wishart said that if anyone openly defying teachings and calling themselves Christians were calling themselves such to suit their own ends that they would be “a long time roasting” on Judgement Day, and that may “God have mercy” on those who were genuinely confused. “That's a very literalist image,” Bishop Randerson said. “I don't believe people roast in hell when they die, God is not a god of punishment. Christianity is a recipe for good living, and life has its own sense of fulfillment.” The Anglican Church is the largest religious affiliation in New Zealand according to the 2001 Census, with over half a million members throughout the country.
Credit: GayNZ.com News Staff
First published: Wednesday, 26th November 2003 - 12:00pm