Israel Folau is confused.
Not evil nor malicious. Confused. And by no small margin.
Just as the furore over his recent comments appeared to be fading, he reignited the issue through a piece titled ‘I’m a sinner too’.
In the article, Folau outlines the religious underpinnings of his beliefs, takes the ARU to task for misrepresenting him and restates his unwavering commitment to his faith.
While Folau’s column is an impressive testament to the shallowness of his thinking, it also serves to remind us that good intentions are often no match for bad ideas.
I finished reading his column convinced of two things. Firstly, that his devotion to his faith is driven by a desire to be a good man. And secondly, that many of the ideas rattling around in his head are entirely antithetical to human flourishing. The idea that the bible is an immaculate blueprint upon which we should organise our lives is intellectually toxic and morally disastrous.
How might one explain the good book’s take on slavery? Let us turn our attention to Exodus 21:20-21.
“And if a man beats his male or female servant with a rod, so that he dies under his hand, he shall surely be punished. Notwithstanding, if he remains alive a day or two, he shall not be punished; for he is his property.”
By even the most charitable reading this is unequivocal support for the ownership and torture of human slaves. But while in the West ideas like slavery, beating children with rods and murdering adulterous women have largely escaped the religious support they receive, confusion about what to do with homosexuality persists. And while it should be noted that religious views about homosexuality have evolved, Folau’s comments reveal how much work remains undone.
This is not to suggest a silver lining cannot be harvested from this mess. The extent to which Folau’s freedom of speech has been preserved is enormously encouraging – at no point has he been muzzled by his employers. Indeed, free speech is the commodity which preserves our ability to protect and evolve anything we do or could value. By granting Folau the liberty to speak his mind we’ve all been invited to make our stand for the ideas we value.
However, freedom of speech must never be conflated with freedom from consequences. Until recently, Folau has been a sponsor’s dream. Freakishly talented footballers free of controversy are rare, and few Australian athletes have capitalised on their marketability to the extent Folau has.
This is likely to change. Indeed it should change. Qantas have publicly voiced their concerns and we can be sure Folau’s personal sponsors are keeping a close eye on their star.
(Photo by Mark Nolan/Getty Images)
What happens next may well define Folau’s legacy. He may double down and persist in condemning all manner of ‘sinners’ to fiery deaths on his Instagram page. Attempting to martyrise himself is neither an intelligent career move nor a way to win the respect of thinking people.
However, for Folau the door remains well and truly open to an unusually captivating comeback story. I know Israel isn’t about to take advice from a heathen like me, but there are ways for him to adopt more nuanced interpretations of his faith. Interpretations that square his religiosity with the modernity in which he now finds himself.
Folau completed his piece with the following:
“At times, you can feel alone and down. But Jesus told us that when you stand up for Him in this world, you can expect backlash. I find peace in that.”
One day Israel Folau may father a gay son or daughter – how much peace they find in the world will be decided by their father’s ability to change his mind.
Mark
Guest
As you said - lets play the Crucifixion game.
Jan
Guest
Basic Instruction Before Leaving Earth.....
MW7
Guest
His market value has diminished. Not necessarily as a player but certainly as the face of brands. That’s the cream for him.
MW7
Guest
Clyde is sharing his opinion, as you are and I am. I don’t agree with what IF says. It is unfounded and hateful, even if it come from what he thinks is a good place. What do you think?
Nobody
Guest
As expected, the silence is deafening
RobC
Roar Guru
Daryl. Preachy articles like this give atheists a bad name.
Daryl Waldron
Guest
Typical rubbish from Rathbone who from my knowledge is an avowed athiest.
RobC
Roar Guru
Yes BB He's passing judgement assuming he's the authority and righteous abritrar on this topic whilst patronisingly portraying another person's considered beliefs as the thinking of a brainwashed git It's not the first article he's done it. Maybe he will improve with age.
RobC
Roar Guru
Thanks for sharing your thoughts. But it seems you have totally misunderstood Izzy's article
GusTee
Roar Pro
Clyde, with respect, you are the one who is confused. Two fundamental points apply: • You must always judge the writings of a person (in this case the passage of Exodus you have quoted) by the mores of the period in which the writer lived. • Every one of us has an absolute right to express his views if he does so in the honest belief of them. Izzy Folau did not set out to do harm. He answered a question and expressed his views from the heart. Remember, whatever your faith (or lack thereof), whatever your gender, or your sexual orientation, whatever your politics etc etc, we are all only human. We all make mistakes. You of all people have faced huge issues in your life. Do you not have a responsibility to help rather than denigrate or belittle a fellow sportsman who is despite his great talents, only human? Because that, mate, is what your article has done.
Clyde bone of rath
Guest
William Wilberforce was a Christian and was a massive proponent to abbolish slavery. Secondly, the scripture Clyde referenced is old testiment. It is not for today. One should not quote passages about a book one does not understand. Clyde has an axe to grind about Christianity. He continually brings it up. I think it reflects on him more than anything, and it might just be that his opposition to Christianity might just see him becoming a Christian! Irony has a funny way of doing that!
Neil
Guest
Rubbish. Science started because people expected to find an ordered world BECAUSE of a creator. Without that, science may never have been in the first place.
Neil
Guest
I was wondering when Clyde would bible bash and rant a bit. Pretty withheld. Though another good opportunity to completely misread something and offer it as authoritive truth. May I offer you Clyde something regarding sound biblical interpretation? If something was written earlier in a book, and then changed later, which one do you think applies? If I tell you something today, and tomorrow it will be different, is it accurate to do what I told you today? "We also know that the law is made not for the righteous but for lawbreakers and rebels, the ungodly and sinful, the unholy and irreligious, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers, for the sexually immoral, for those practicing homosexuality, for slave traders and liars and perjurers—and for whatever else is contrary to the sound doctrine" from 1 Timothy. Fwiw.
Laurence King
Guest
Not that I'm a Catholic, however the Catholics instituted what grew into universities almost a thousand years ago. If it wasn't for monasteries protecting and copying ancient texts, we wouldn't have as many as we do. When one is debating it's important to actually respect the truth. 'Scientists estimate', well golly, which ones, surely not all of them. Because as a matter of fact many scientists of distinction happen to be Christians, as well as Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist as well as....name a religion and you'll find a scientist. In relation to 'flat earthers', well Christopher Columbus read the scripture talking about the 'circle of the earth' and it gave him confidence that he would not sail over the edge. And that scripture was in the Old Testament, Isaiah 40v22 'God sits enthroned above the circle of the earth' written around 800 years before Christ. And I didn't have to google it, I read my Bible.
Laurence King
Guest
Anybody who truly follows the words and life of Christ is the proof. Look around, because their are plenty of Christians who give it a good shake.
Timbo (L)
Roar Guru
So many things wrong with this statement. Extending from Taylorman's sentiments Proof has never been big in the church. The most positive influence on the world has been education. In this era, Education of women. Scientists estimate that the bible,koran,tora, and their misuse set back technological development by something in the order of 1,200 years. If the Catholic church had their way we would still be flat earthers.
Laurence King
Guest
Gee whiz Clyde, how would one look at the scripture you quoted. I ask you did you google it, for methinks that you have taken it out of context. Those were the days when there was no welfare, also there was a time on how long an Israelite could be a slave. There were also rules in general on how slaves were to be treated fairly. A lot of things like an eye for an eye appear harsh but when you consider that these rules were actually to modify and limit the often very extreme behaviours being practised at the time. When a person actually reads the Bible seriously, they normally come to the realisation that generally Israelite society was an especially compassionate one. Especially when it is considered that the Phoenicians used to burn their children.
Neil Back
Roar Rookie
I mean the debate, starting with the Genesis story is over. Seriously, stop rageing about it everyone. Anyone continuing it is either delusional or dishonest. I’m not saying science has the answer yet, and may never, but Adam and Eve ....no excuse anymore. That’s what needs calling out.
Laurence King
Guest
There are plenty out here in the community who disagree with homosexuality and to say that our view is shallow is both ignorant and shallow. We live in a society drowning in a sea of pornography, everywhere one looks, every channel turned to we have nudity, gratuitous sex, poisonous lifestyles of the rich and famous. The ‘sexual revolution’ has caused more problems than it has solved and this is the main reason why so many of our young people are sexually confused. The LGBTQ would have us believe there are 28 different genders, or is it 36? Ridiculous! This stuff is jammed down our throats and no one is allowed to say anything because it is not politically correct to do so. Homosexuality, especially amongst males is highly promiscuous and as such it has a whole world of problems. Sexual disease and relational problems are but two factors that are well documented if a person cares to look. Christians, as well as other faiths disagree with it and the profligate lifestyles of those who engage in promiscuity in general. It's interesting to note that one of our international cricketers left his wife and two young children and there was nary a comment about how it was a dog of an act and that he has destroyed three lives. Is it because adultery is so common place now that we think it's OK? We live in a society that doesn't give two hoots about the homeless (18000 of whom are under 12), the very high percentage of children who either don't live with their fathers or know who they are, a country that is progressively giving less and less to foreign aid, our country towns and indigenous communities are being swamped with drugs. I went to the city and I saw spikes and such like in front of shops and I didn't know what they were, apparently it's to stop the homeless sheltering there. It was one of the most appalling sights that I've ever seen and people were just walking by, oblivious. Israel Folau had every right to make the comment he made and if there was allowed to be an honest and open debate about the appalling things that are happening to our country then maybe, just maybe we will have a future.
jeznez
Roar Guru
You are right Unanimous - no one is responding in kind. Nobody has said Folau is going to suffer eternal torment for saying something hurtful to a group that deserve support. And you don't think a guy using a platform where he has 343,000 followers making a statement that normalises a group being considered 'wrong' - is the source of harm in this?