A terrorizing faith, the writings of Robert Jeffress. Part 2 of 2 Parts.
A faith in a psychopathic god with dangerous fanaticism.
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Robert Jeffress homophobic writings and end of the world hysteria
Robert Jeffress is senior pastor of 1st Baptist Church in Dallas. He is a nationally prominent homophobe.
Previously Dallas Gay Liberation had this post about his homophobic campaigns and church.
A word index for some of the books mentioned will be supplied at the end of this essay.
Robert Jeffress has written many books so far.
This list is likely not complete. Ministers of megachurches seem to produce a stream of books. The column Homophobic indicates if there is a substantial amount of writing that is homophobic. There may be homophobic writing in the others, but it isn’t major sections that the author has discovered so far. The books lack indexes. According to the back cover of his latest book, “Are We Living in End Times?” he has published over 30 books.
The earliest of his books which the author has discovered is “As Time Runs Out” published in 1999. It is his explanation and theological understanding of the “End Times,” with world cataclysmic events. It was published when he was the chief minister of the First Baptist Church of Wichita Falls, Texas. All the unbelievers will go to a lake of fire and all who didn’t follow the Southern Baptist teachings will end up in a lake of fire also. The Christian mythology is truly psychopathic.
This focus on the end of the world is again a focus in 2011 with the publication of “Twilight’s Last Gleaming,” Jeffress has been fearmongering apocalyptic disasters for the nation, with books such as “Countdown to the Apocalypse,” and the latest, “Are We Living in End Times?” argues that the end of the world is getting close. One of the causes of the nation leading to a disaster or the end of the world is coming, is that the national government and the American people don’t believe and follow their fundamentalist theology and theocratic ideas. So it is a practice of terrorizing church members and those who aren’t church members but read his books, to support a radical politics.
These books aren’t solely focused on homosexuals. Other religions would be advised to be seriously concerned.
“Outrageous Truth” and “Hell?Yes!” (2004, 2008)
“Outrageous Truth,” is a reprint of “Hell? Yes!” and they both have 26 pages in Chapter 4, “Homosexuality is a Perversion.” [pp. 93-118]. He is not happy that a television show that connects him saying, “homosexuality is an abomination” to violent attacks on Gays.
The chapter then repeats, anti-Gay Dr. Charles W. Socarides’, founder of the National Association for Research & Therapy of Homosexuality,” idea of how homosexuality became accepted, as Jeffress explains, “by utilizing the same brainwashing techniques employed by the Chinese.” The acceptance of homosexuality is made thus an insidious plot.
Socarides was a psychoanalyst, a discredited field in psychology. The National Association for Research & Therapy of Homosexuality was a group that thought sexual orientation could be changed and was a fringe group of homophobes.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Association_for_Research_%26_Therapy_of_Homosexuality
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_W._Socarides
This conspiracy starts with popular TV shows that show Gays as human beings. The show “Will and Grace” and the movie “Philadelphia” are part of this plan.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Will_%26_Grace
Some moments from a show that uses, according to Jeffress, “the same brainwashing techniques employed by the Chinese.”
A movie using according to Jeffress, “the same brainwashing techniques employed by the Chinese.”
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philadelphia_(film)
Then step 2 is some conspiracy tricking people to feel guilty about their prejudice. It doesn’t occur to Jeffress that maybe, just maybe, it is the fact that people know people who are Gay, brothers, sisters, parents, uncles, aunts, cousins, grandparents, co-workers, friends, colleague, and they aren’t into hating for Jesus.
Step 3, the final step, is some media campaign, “a planned psychological attack.” Maybe it is that most people don’t want to be bigoted obnoxiously toxic people like Southern Baptists. Maybe not everyone is using fentanyl Jesus.
Jeffress quotes a 1966 issue of Time magazine to claim what the reality of homosexuality is supposed to be.
Even in purely nonreligious terms, homosexuality represents a misused of the sexual faculty and, in the words of one … educator of “human construction.” It is a pathetic little second-rate substitute for reality, a pitiable flight from life. As such it deserves fairness, compassion, understanding and, when possible, treatment. But it deserves no encouragement, no glamorization, no rationalization, no fake status as minority martyrdom. [Jan. 21, 1966].
To Jeffress, the change in society since then is disastrous. The change has been from a society that was ready to persecute homosexuals to a society that acted to penalize those who would persecute them.
The chapter then discusses a person named Susan sent by her parents to Jeffress since she had come out as Gay. Susan has an interpretation of the Bible in which it isn’t a sin to be Gay and this story serves as a vehicle for Jeffress to argue that the Bible does condemn homosexuality. He takes the arguments of the Gay Christians about the Old Testament, New Testament, and Jesus and gives a counter argument for each one. Jeffress interprets the Bible as entirely condemning homosexuality as an abomination discussing the New and Old Testament, and Jesus.
Jeffress discusses whether people are born Gay or not as if that is relevant to whether Gays are acceptable. It doesn’t occur to Jeffress, that while it is debated whether Gays are or are not born that way, no one is born a Southern Baptist or any other religion for that matter. In fact, it is very clear that religion is a choice. If rights depended on being born into a group, then no religious group has any rights at all.
Jeffress feels homosexuality is bad since Gays have much more sex than straight people. Given the hostility towards sex of Christians this is a bad thing. Quoting junk science by homophobic organizations and individuals he makes a variety of wild claims such as:
“Homosexuals are 18 times more likely to die in traffic accidents and 116 times more likely to be murdered.”
As for the higher incidence of STDs, it doesn’t occur to Jeffress that people involved more in one activity are likely to have more of the hazards of that activity. Those are surfers have a higher incidence of drowning and shark bites than the general population.
Jeffress asserts that homosexuality promotes pedophilia. Jeffress claims that homosexuality can be changed, referring to a Dr. Irving Bieber, of the New York Center for Psychoanalytical Training, that is a center of crackpot science.
Jeffress considers the dreadful consequences of the lack of widespread homophobia such Gay marriage.
Twilights Last Gleaming (2011)
In this book’s Introduction, titled, “The Beginning of the End,” he has a section, “America’s Coming Collapse.” Chapter 2 is titled, “When a Nation Implodes.” Acceptance of homosexuality is asserted to be one of the causes of the coming collapse of the United States. Pages 55-67 in the book rail against homosexual acts not being illegal and Gays getting married. A chapter is claiming that the concept of tolerance is misunderstood, such as tolerating homosexuals.
Jeffress is using a claimed coming threat of the United States collapsing to terrorize Christians to push a theocratic agenda. There is a chapter “How a Christian Should Vote?”
How Can I Know? (2012)
Is primarily about questions of faith, such as chapter 3, “How Can I Know that Christianity is the Right Religion?” and another chapter about why does the Christian god allow suffering in the world. There are a few statements about Gays.
Countdown to the Apocalypse (2015)
“Countdown to the Apocalypse” continues this hysterical fear mongering and one of the supposed causes of the coming apocalypse is homosexuality.
The subtitle is, “Why Isis and Ebola Are Only The Beginning.”
The book again uses terror to drive Christians to push a theocratic agenda. From the Introduction:
If Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed by fire and brimstone from heaven (Genesis 19:23-29), what can we in America expect?
Jeffress sees the “End Times” being near in this book.
Not All Roads Lead to Heaven (2016)
This book asserts that unless you are believing in the correct type of Christian faith, that is to say the Christian faith of 1st Baptist church, you are going to Hell. Lots of talk about the “Wrath of God” and there is a “lake of fire.”
All the people who didn’t become Christians, including those who never heard of Christianity are going into the “lake of fire.”
It is a religion with a psychopathic God.
Page 149-150 tells us that accepting homosexuality is idolatry and of course idolaters go into a “lack of fire.”
Choosing the Extraordinary Life (2018) and Invincible (2021)
These two books are more self-help books, where you are going to solve your problems and succeed through God. The self-help type book is fused with Evangelical faith.
Are We Living in the End Times? (2023)
In this book Jeffress sees indications that the “End Times” are coming fairly soon. Since the Bible says that we are not supposed to know the hour and day of the “End Times,” and surprised by it, there is some theological discussion why he feels it getting close to the “End Times.”
Jeffress feels the “End Times” are coming because of what he calls Radical Islam and has an appendix A devoted to the topic.
In the Introduction he discusses the five signs of the “End Times.” The fifth sign is Apostasy which is among other things is Christian churches accepting “same sex marriage.”
The book in Chapter 7 “How Do I Prepare for the End Times,” urges his readers to continue to fight for a theocratic agenda. He states, “Although we can’t prevent the ultimate destruction of the world, we can postpone it.” The book is to terrorize Christians to pursue a culture war. Terrorized people have little self-restraint, if any, in what they might do to achieve their ends. One of the actions to forestall the apocalypse is to fight against same sex marriage. [Page 125-126]
Summary
What you see in Robert Jeffress books is a campaign to terrorize his followers with a psychopathic and murderous God to drive an agenda to be carried out by those terrorized.
In Jeffress’ books you see a raging, restless, madness that feels justified by god to anything and everything that it feels it needs to do to achieve its objectives.
With 1st Baptist Church of Dallas having 16,000 members in Dallas, the LGBT in Dallas should be seriously concerned.
Notes on words in the books.
Hell? Yes! 2004
Page 2, 3, 8, 9, 13, 94, 96, 97, 98, 101, 103, 104, 105, 106, 108, 109, 110, 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117, 118, Homosexual
Page 10, 93, 94, 96, 100, 101, 104, 109, 110, 112, 113, 114, 115, 117, 118, 215 homosexuals.
Pag 4, 5, 7, 9, 10, 13, 15, 48, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110, 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117, 118, 199, homosexuality
Page 2, 15, 94, 109, 110, 114, 199, 214 AIDS
Page 9, 103, 193 Lesbian
Page 117 Lesbians
Page 2, 9, 94, 97, 103, 107, 109, 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 115, 117, 212 gay
Page 93, 94, 95, 101, 113, 114, 117, 212 gays
Page 2, 104, 105, 106, Sodom
Page n1, 2, Sodomy
Page 114 Hepatitis
Page 114 Syphilis
Page 111, 112, 117, 118, sexual orientation
Page 106 sexual perversion
Sodomite, LGBT, STD, STDs, gonorrhea, chalamydia, addict, addicted, addicts, drug, drugs, alcoholic not in book.
Consolidated: Pages 2-5, 8-9, 13, 93-118
Outrageous Truth 2008
Page 2, 7, 9, 94, 97, 98, 101, 103, 104, 105, 106, 108, 109, 110, 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117, homosexual
Page 10, 93, 94, 96, 100, 101, 104, 109, 110, 112, 113, 114, 116, 117, 118, 213 homosexuals
Page 3, 8, 13, 106, 118 homosexual-ity
Page 1, 4, 5, 9, 10, 13, 15, 48, 61, 93, 94, 95, 96, 98, 99, 100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110, 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117, 118, 199, homosexuality
Page 2, 9, 94, 97, 103, 107, 109, 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117 gay.
Page 117 gays
Page 9, 103, 192 Lesbian
Page 117 Lesbians
Page 2, 104, 105, 106 Sodom
Page 2 sodomy
Page 213 HIV
Page 2, 15, 94, 109, 110, 114, 199, 212, 213 AIDS
Page 114 syphilis
Page 114 hepatitis
Page 114 STD
Page 114
Marriage, gonorrhea, STD, STDs, LGBT, alcoholic not in book.
Consolidated: Pages 2-5, 7-9, 15, 93-118
Twilight’s Last Gleaming. 2011
Page 56, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 70, 118, 153, 156, 222 Homosexual
Page 57, 58, 59, 64, 81 Homosexuals.
Page 14, 27, 44, 56, 57, 70, 72, 74, 76, 81, 90, 156, 209, homosexuality
Page 66, 156 Sodom
Page 56, 117, 118, 156 Sodomy
Page 44, sexual orientation
Page 27 sexual perversion
Page 59, 61, 62, Gay
Page 59 Lesbian
Page 64 Lesbians
Page 59, 60, 156 AIDS
Page 59, 60, HIV
Page 59 syphilis
Page 59 gonorrhea
Page 59 Hepatitis
Page 59 STDs
Page 59 Chlamydia
Gays, LGBT, alcoholic not in book.
Consolidated: Pages 14, 27, 44, 56-64, 70-81, 118,
How Can I Know? 2012
Page 55 Sodom
Page 74 Homosexual
Page 73, 74 Homosexuality
Homosexuals, sexual, HIV, AIDS, alcoholic nothing.
Countdown to the Apocalypse (2015)
Page 1 AIDS.
Page 3,4, Sodom
Sodomy, Sodomite nothing.
Page 5, 25, 126 marriage
Page 72 Lesbian
Page 72, 73, 74, 86, 126 gay
Page 73 sexual orientation
Page 73, 125 same-sex
Page 74 homo-sexual
Page 80 Perversion
Page 83 homosexual
Page 84 homosexuals
Page 83, 85, 86 homosexuality
HIV, hepatitis, STD, STDs, syphilis, gonorrhea, gays, LGBT, alcoholic not in book.
Consolidated: Pages 1-5, 25, 72-74, 80-86, 126.
Not All Roads Lead to Heaven 2016
Page 9, 103, 192 Lesbian
Page 19, 21, 26, 29, 30, 52 marriage
Page 19, 22, 52 same-sex
Page 20, 21, 50, 61, 150 homosexual
Page 30, 93 homosexuals
Page 61 homosexuality
Page 73, sexual perverts
Page 150 sexual
Page 158 Sodom
Page 19, 20, 21, 26, 195 gay
Sodomy, Sodomite, Lesbian, AIDS, HIV, hepatitis, STD, STDs, syphilis, gonorrhea, gays, alcoholic not in book.
Consolidated: Pages 19-30, 52, 61, 73, 93, 103, 150-158
Some books not referred to in this review, but there the words were indexed.
Hearing the Master’s Voice
Page 61 homosexuality
Homosexuals, homosexual, sodomy not found in book.
Second chance, second Act.
Page 97 homosexual
Homosexuals, homosexuality not in book.
Coming Home to the Father
Page 61 homosexuality
Grace Gone Wild 2005
Page 117, 136, 182, 199 homosexual
Page 117, 119, 181 homosexuality
Page 117, 117 gay
Homosexuals, Sodom, sodomy, HIV, AIDS, gays, Lesbian, Lesbians not in book.
