Gays, Evangelicals and Malawi

Up until the recent report of a male gay couple being convicted in Malawi, I had seen most reports on Evangelicals and politics as of concern in Uganda.

When the judge in the Malawi case spoke of "acts against nature" he did not mention the acts "in keeping with nature" such as the prevalence of rape and slavery in Africa.  The prosecutor is reported as saying that the crowd outside the courthouse agrees.

Here in America, laws on the books are often not the cause of prosecutions: laws against adultery have been repealed so as to leave recourse to the civil courts as more appropriate than criminalization.

Acts which are very "natural" among displaced labourers and prostitutes in Africa contribute enormously to the spread of Aids: there is no reason to think that a gay relationship is even related to this immense public health issue - except in the minds of Evangelicals.

The proposed legal changes to prohibit polygamy in Muslim marriage may also be a symptom of growing influence of Evangelicals.  Unlike indentured labor, forced prostitution and slavery, a Muslim male is at least supposed to demonstrate that he has the means to support another wife.  Even though we may object to such arranged marriages, it is not clear that criminalization is what is required to reduce the exploitation and degradation of women, children, minorities and the poor in Africa.

From the events in Rwanda, there is no reason to think that Christian religion has any place in resolving conflict in Africa or in advancing human rights and protecting human dignity in Africa.  There is no reason to think that the Christian religion will contribute to the protection of species and habitat in Africa.  There is every reason to think that Evangelicals exploit both the ignorance and the hopes of the poor and downtrodden and also justify the political and economic aspirations of other converts and preachers.