Is joel osteen gay
Conservative televangelist Joel Osteen went on national television this morning and admitted that his own sexual orientation is not a preference -- despite maintaining consistently in previous interviews that being gay is a sin, albeit one that "God gives us the grace to change."
The bestselling author and Texas megachurch leader went on CNN's "Starting Point with Soledad O'Brien" as part of a segment featuring both Osteen and New Yorker writer and former Bill Clinton adviser Richard Socarides.
Osteen has repeatedly tried to tip toe around his stance on homosexuality, telling Piers Morgan in October of that he's not "mad at anybody" and doesn't "dislike anybody," while reiterating his belief that the scripture says homosexuality is a sin," and "two hundred years from now, the Scripture is still going to state that."
Citing that interview, Socarides, who has often campaigned for LGBT rights, and host O'Brien pushed Osteen to clarify his stance on homosexuality, especially for those gays and lesbians who listen to his sermons that emphasize personal happiness and other uplifti
By Abby Dees
Thinking Out Loud
When the Michelle Bachmanns or Glenn Becks of the world act their public rants about rampant lesbian perversion and the decay of American values, I'm gleeful to let them talk.
As painful as it is to keep the free flow of ideas going, it is important to let people hover their colors. This way you realize where they stay and you receive to fly your own big neon flag in response. When activists called to have Mormon Church's tax-exempt status yanked for its role in California's Prop 8, I took the church's side – not because I approved of their bully tactics, but because I didn't crave to see other churches lose their right to clash for us one day.
So you'd think I'd be OK with Mega-Pastor Joel Osteen's remarks last week to Oprah Winfrey: "I believe that homosexuality is shown as a sin in the scripture. I do." I'm so not OK with this I almost foam at the mouth whenever I think about that nuclear white Osteen smile.
True, Osteen was just sick about having to say that we're sinners, and almost apologized for it. He went out of his way to opine that Christ
Joel Osteen: Straight, Gay, Good or Bad – All Are Welcome
By Nicola Menzie, Christian Display Reporter
Lakewood Church pastor Joel Osteen, who along with wife, Victoria Osteen, will be principal "A Night of Hope" in Las Vegas, Friday night, has said that he avoids speaking on controversial issues because he doesn't want anyone to perceive excluded from his messages.
The well-liked megachurch pastor, whose Houston church is America's largest and attracts 43, weekend worshippers, has been criticized by some Christians for appearing indecisive on some social issues, like same-sex marriage.
Although Pastor Osteen has expressed his doctrine that homosexuality is a sin and that he's in disagreement with gay marriage, he avoids making such topics the concentrate of his sermons, which arrive millions of people around the world.
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"When I start delving too much into the issues, then all of a sudden I'm more polarizing. I want to throw that wide ne
Dragged Kicking and Screaming into the Modern Age? Lessons from Piers Morgan&#;s Interview with Joel Osteen
An interview that begins with a statement like, &#;Well, Piers, to me, faith is all about knowledge to be happy where you are,&#; is probably not going to cease well. Piers Morgan&#;s interview with Joel and Victoria Osteen Tuesday night was very revealing about the Osteens &#; but minute Christian truth was revealed. At the same second, the interview deserves closer attention than you might expect.
After introducing the Osteens, Morgan let Joel speak about his latest guide, Every Day A Friday, How To Be Happier 7 Days a Week. Like the book itself, Joel&#;s presentation could be reduced to his control brand of highly therapeutic prosperity theology. For Joel Osteen, it&#;s not a theology that is reducible to money alone. Instead, his focus is more on individual happiness and self-fulfillment. In his showing, God might not desire everyone to be opulent , but he does wish his creatures to trial every day as . . . a Friday?
Then, the conversation shifted to issues in the news, suc