After their son came out, this conservative Christian couple went into a closet of their own

CNN, By John Blake, on November 3, 2024

https://www.cnn.com/2024/11/03/us/conservative-christian-coming-out-gay-cec/index.html

The panelists delved into the McDonald family's journey, reflecting on the tensions within conservative Christian communities when grappling with LGBTQ+ acceptance. Initially, Greg Jr.’s parents reacted with a desire to "fix" him, resorting to harmful measures like conversion therapy. This led to emotional turmoil for Greg Jr. and strained family dynamics. Jimmy noted the profound psychological damage such practices inflict, emphasizing the dehumanizing comparison of being gay to acts like murder.

Eli highlighted how the McDonalds, influenced by external voices such as David Gushee's progressive theological views, shifted to a more accepting, albeit imperfect, stance. However, he critiqued their transformation for framing Greg Jr.'s sexuality as a flaw to be tolerated rather than normalized.

Panelists also examined how religious doctrines perpetuate harmful biases, often targeting women, and explored the broader societal harms stemming from rigid evangelical beliefs. Despite the family’s eventual reconciliation, the discussion underscored the enduring harm inflicted by religiously motivated rejection.

The Non-Prophets, Episode 23.46.2 featuring Cynthia McDonald,  Eli Slack and Jimmy Jr.

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