Ouyang's church sparks debate on homosexuality
'If we keep an open mind and don't discriminate against people who are unlike us, there's nothing wrong being a homosexual or heterosexual or whatever sexual orientation we find ourselves in.'
It's not a gay church, explains pastor
Dood: Pastor Reverend Ouyang Wen Feng, you have my support for the good things you have done. Never mind the homophobic gay-bashers: if they cannot understand why they are wrong in wanting to force their mistaken beliefs on other people, then let them be. Take the higher road and spread awareness to other people who are not so bigoted.
Proarte: Personally, I feel Malaysians have no issue with accepting homosexuality because increasingly it is being seen as an orientation, not a choice. Sexuality is an instinctive choice, not a moral choice. A man finds women sexually attractive not because 'it is the right thing to do' but because it stirs responses from within which he has no control over. No honest person will deny this.
I cannot see why intelligent people cannot put themselves in the shoes of the sexual minorities for a moment to see the illogicalness of placing a moral judgement on their sexuality per se.
If there is belief in an Almighty creator, then we must accept that gays are part of His plan. The destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah by God was not an attack on gays but immorality in all its forms.
If God was condemning homosexuality per se, then David and Jonathan would not have been glorified in the Old testament as we are told that they were lovers whose love for each other 'surpassed the love of women'.
I do not believe the vast majority of Malaysians are prone to violence and gay bashing. Though the majority of gays are not obviously 'visible', the highly effeminate men are clearly identifiable by their mannerism, dress sense or taste. We have all encountered such individuals in our daily lives. We remember how they were bullied by cowardly 'macho' boys and ridiculed in a hurtful way.
Pondans have been part of Malay culture since time immemorial and Malays have never culturally viewed them with disgust or hatred. In fact most Malays view them with compassion at best and mirth tinged with ridicule at worst. This whole notion of moral indignation and persecution is very much a new phenomenon and is political.
YF: Proarte there is no such thing as interpreting the Bible as you deem fit. That's lying. And if you are a Bible believer then you are guilty of the unpardonable sin, not to mention the loss of entering God's kingdom if one is a homosexual.
If David and Jonathan were homosexuals the Bible would have said so, like what it did on David and Bathsheba. So do not force insert your abomination into the Bible which obviously isn't there. A father has a close relationship with his son, does that mean they are homosexuals? Go figure.
Kama Mustaffa: If you want to be gay or homosexual, that is up to you. The risk is yours to take, and do not seek approval from Muslims, because you will never ever get it. You say Christians interpret this and that - that is all according to your feeble mind, and it is human nature to make excuses. But for Islam, it is clear. Islam forbids non-medical and non-congenital form of homosexualism.
Myop101: I defer from a number of people who call for such a church to be shut down and the Reverend Ouyang to be persecuted. I believe they should be left alone to operate as they are and the approach should be one of Christ's love where fellow brothers and sisters should engage with them in intellectual discussions as well as that of providing them information on homosexuality from the other perspective.
We should pray together with them, to ask God to reveal to them the truth. We may not be able to partake the holy communion together but we should continue to engage them. Persecution/force will not resolve anything but create more animosity and hate.
Rubystar: I give my utmost respect to what you are doing Rev Ouyang. I stayed in New York for two years and in the course of my life I met a number of gay people. They are perhaps the most peace-loving people and the most creative.
It is the proclivity process that makes them gay, so why should we discriminate against them? It is only in Malaysia that different political groups looking for issues so that they can grandstand on the mainstream and online media to make their voices heard.
This church is for all and I hope you do well, Rev.
Passing Cloud: If we keep an open mind and don't discriminate against people who are unlike us, there's nothing wrong being a homosexual or heterosexual or whatever sexual orientation we find ourselves in.
The only thing that's wrong is in our mind and heart. Search for the fault within ourselves and fix it rather then telling others how to live their lives. So, Ouyang, pursue your goal till you've achieved it. Though we're not Christians, we support your fight for your rights.
Victor Johan: Ouyang, I believe that it was Bill Cosby that said, "I don't know the key of success, but I do know the key to failure is to please everyone", or something like that. So carry on your mission as it only adds to uplifting the lives of a segment of our society, people who also have their rights to live with their chosen path, beliefs and practices.
Anonymous: I urge the authority to put this guy in prison for he is threatening the security of the country through disturbing the peace and healthy lifestyles of many Malaysians. His pervert teachings can be a threat to families and thus the nation. To the prison he must go.
Daniel Collin Lazaroo: Dear Reverend, while I applaud your efforts to stand up for the rights of your fellow homosexual man (and woman), I think that you're in for a rough ride. The mainstream Malaysian culture has been adamantly against homosexuality, and will continue to be so (at least for a while) despite anyone's efforts.
I don't want to just blame Islamisation as a significant factor here, but it can't be denied - Malaysia is a country where over half the population are practicing Muslims, and the vast majority of them are not going to accept homosexuality as an 'option'.
In fact, I fear that your good intentions are going to result in very open discrimination, condemnation and violence against the gay community of Malaysia. Though, I promise that I shall pray with you for this: That we can someday live in a world free of discrimination, and that despite the repercussions, that your efforts produce good fruit.
Samling 'surprised' by new allegations
Maitreya: The stench of Samling's corporate cynicism and hypocrisy can be smelled from across the planet. Samling has joined the ranks of the world's most obnoxious and ruthless corporations, such as the companies Monsanto, Halliburton, BP and the Carlyle Group.
Concerned: Come, come, Samling, you're not even trying to come up with a credible story. Your public relations and corporate social relations crew have to produce more than this tired rubbish.
How "surprised" can you be when the logging companies have been abusing and threatening locals for more than 20 years in Baram? You're only surprised that the isolated people of Baram can get this news out to the rest of the world.
The world has changed, Samling has not.
Logging giant 'threatens' Penan with retaliation
Disgusted: If Samling suspends transport for the Penan, then the Penan must not allow the company to operate in their area. After all, that is the Native Customary Rights land of the Penan.
Ronin: PM Najib Razak is busy playing with his kitten. He wouldn't care less. In fact, all BN politicians, even those in Sarawak, don't care. They are in their huge mansions or in their Rolls Royces, Ferraris or BMWs going to health spa or closing their corrupt deals.
Lim Chong Leong: Dangle some aid in front of the Penans and they will crumble to sign anything. It's that or starvation. Already, natural resources have dwindled to zero by incessant logging (read: looting) and now they are raped and blackmailed with some sacks of rice.
Rise Sarawakians, rise.
Gerakan members rally to topple top leader Teng
Artchan: Gerakan should either convene an extraordinary general meeting to get out of BN as they are consistently bullied, or convene an EGM to dissolve the party because Gerakan has become irrelevant.
Sentinel: Gerakan chief Dr Koh Tsu Koon said at an election rally in Bagan that he would never accept a cabinet post if he loses, but he did accept it. So where is your credibility, Gerakan?
Just spend your time ‘bikin kacau-kacau' Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng every now and then about his free WiFi lah , his dirty Penang lah , the Telco towers lah . Enough lah , still got hope to recapture Penang, meh ?
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