EVER hear of the Greenbelt festival? No? Well, its an annual Christian festival of music and arts – and this year, its 33rd, it is scheduled to take place in Cheltenham from August 28 to the 31st.
But already there’s trouble rumbling. Conservative Christians are grizzling that this year’s bean feast is far too “gay” – and suggest that it be boycotted.
It seems that they are particularly appalled that the festival will be hosting the openly gay Bishop of New Hampshire, Gene Robinson.
The Church Mission Society has a better idea, and said it may hold seminars promoting the “orthodox” view of human sexuality at the festival, which has been accused of having a “gay-agenda”.
In recent weeks, according to this report, the traditionalist evangelical group Anglican Mainstream attacked the festival because of its choice of speakers.
This silly outfit, which is a driving force behind the even sillier Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans, expressed “grave concern” about the platform offered to Bishop Robinson and to other gay rights campaigners including the Rev Giles Fraser, and worship groups OuterSpace and Journey.
The Rev Sharon Fergusson is ready to take on the Church Mission Society
Canon Chris Sugden advised youth leaders and churches to consider giving the festival a wide berth this year.
Commenting on the CMS’ plans, the Rev Sharon Fergusson, spokesperson for the Lesbian and Gay Christian Movement, who will be attending the festival said “open discussion is always a good thing”.
She added:
The whole purpose of a festival like Greenbelt is it gives people from all backgrounds an opportunity to come together and to learn and share together.
My only concerns are in relation to how it is being done. Is it being done in an open way that gives people the opportunity to ask questions about sexuality? If so, then that is a good thing. However, if it is being done in a way in which homosexuality is considered as wrong then I would have concerns about that sort of thing which, as I have said before, leads to homophobia.
The Freethinker was founded in 1881 by GW Foote, an outspoken critic of religion. After the publication of 
August 7th, 2009 at 8:34 pm
Hmmm. I do know all about Greenbelt Barry, though I have never attended myself. Did you realize that one of their main attractions for years has been our very own Peter Pan of Botox, the "openly – not – gay" bachelor-boy, Sir Cliff Richard? Now I wonder which side HE will be batting for, so to speak!!
August 7th, 2009 at 9:03 pm
Why don't these interfering busybodies butt out and leave people alone? The Medical Secular Forum notes that some psychiatrists, psychologists, GPs are referring gays to psycholgists, psychiatrists who say thay are able to offer treatment to them and return them to "normal" – i.e. heterosexuals. Never mind that this approach is destructive and may leave any patients so referred desperately unhappy or suicidally depressed. I think the MSF is hoping to put out a Press Release to counteract this.
If they do they might want to mention that we live in a litiginous age and country. Anyone referred to these psychiatrists etc will be going against established facts about human sexuality and there is plenty of evidence for that. Any lesbian or homosexual person treated and further confused by this, possibly pushed there under pressure, should immediately consider legal moves.
And any doctor trying to make these treatments should be up before the people who can strike him off before his stethoscope touches another patient.
August 7th, 2009 at 11:17 pm
to be fair – sharon fergusson – a bit of an arsehole it seems – she is rightly against homophobia (which looking at her picture is understandable) but using her position to still be peddling backwardsbrainfilth to others is pretty sick – has she not understood that she is female yet?
And all the major relignorances are mysogynistic bullshit, male-dominated, anti-feminist garbage?
– to say nothing of their policy on homosexuals!!!! How can she condone christianity?
The bible and the damage done…
August 8th, 2009 at 6:12 am
Oh, these tedious people! tedious, tedious, tiresome, boring, banal, petty little barbarian Christians. Get the hell OVER it! Grow the f*&k up!
Homosexuality is a fact of life; has always existed and will always exist, deal with it and grow up, try doing something really, really innovative for once in your petty little lives and accept it and move on, if that is at all possible for you silly little botherers of other peoples lives. You make of yourselves laughing stocks, which you totally deserve.
How I dream of the day when all you miserable harping little martyrs with your self pitying bleating will either all drop dead or grow up. Will I live to see that day? no, I won't. This fatuous 'we hate gays cos we're so righteous' crap will go on and one and on, hopefully, till you self destruct.
August 8th, 2009 at 6:20 am
…Because they live in a dream world, Callisto.
November 9th, 2009 at 5:11 pm
If you really are atheistic then what does it matter to you what christians think or do. I would give yourself another title..christian hater or church hater. Whatever happened to the rights of christians to believe and evangelize what they like, the gays do so why shouldn’t christians have the same rights.
November 30th, 2009 at 11:57 am
What, no reply. I am really disappointed, I thought you atheist or whatever you are had plenty to say going by the previous posts