Ex-Gay, Ex-Christian Says Pot Helped Him Think 'Straight'
K. Godfrey Easter, author of "Opposites (Part I): Spiritually Understanding Same-Gender Attraction"
Seattle, WA (March 9, 2011) -- Sensible Washington's Initiative-1135 seeks to make pot as legal to purchase over the counter in the Pacific Northwest after this November as a fifth of Jack Daniels. But for one local writer the decriminalization of marijuana is more about getting an understanding than legally getting high.
In part two of his impassioned new series on God, homosexuality and organized Christianity, Author, K. Godfrey Easter asserts, "God used weed to help me spiritually understand homosexuality when abusive Christian pulpits, all my life, couldn't."
As a seasoned church organist, Easter has grown intimately acquainted with pulpit abuse and controversy over the years. Consequently, nine years ago, he wrote his first book, Love Lifted Me: In Spite Of The Church (ISBN #0-9719604-0-2)." In it, he insisted he was born gay and into a dysfunctional family that offered no option but to conform to what he is now convinced is an equally, if not more dysfunctional religious system.
His new series represents a complete departure from his first book, written eight years earlier from a spiritually contented, gay-Christian world view. Opposites (Part I): Spiritually Understanding Same-Gender Attraction presents a compelling argument against believers remaining gay, while aligning collective Christian leadership today, Easter writes, "With the same spiritually sightless bunch that Christ incessantly preached against."
After supporting organized Christianity for almost 50 years, Easter suddenly resigned as the main musician for a prominent Baptist church located in Seattle's culturally rich Central District. Last December, he gave his former pastor his two-week notice, saying he wasn't leaving Christ, "...just the insanity of Christianity today."
To emphasize his heavily contemplated decision to estrange himself for now from his Christian roots, Easter used the recent public scandals involving prominent Christian pillars, Bishop Eddie L. Long, Bishop Tim Swilley and Rev. Ted Haggard; the ongoing, un-Christ-like antics of the Westboro Baptist Church; how Colorado's New Life Church reportedly abandoned its celebrated heroin, Jeanne Assam, after she saved many of their lives but then admitted she is lesbian, and the confusing and senseless rash of gay-teen suicides last year still being mourned by many. He's says he's leaving because, "Collectively, apathetic pulpits condone proven ignorance, confusion and hypocrisies, which causes God to appear schizophrenic to everyone else but them."
Easter unflinchingly introduces marijuana into his message at the end of Opposites Part I, as he offered a prelude to Part II, on schedule for released this October. The ex-gay and now ex-Christian author writes, "High as a kite, Grace invited me on a celestially fascinating journey, as Christ patiently unveiled creation, humanity, and His kingdom through opposites like I've never seen, read or heard. As Wisdom scouted out a clear path, I found myself soberly striding down the narrow way of understanding six years ago. Only then did remaining gay ever become a choice for me. Not once was I bashed with scriptures, wielded by bullies who, with intimidating bigotry, widely scatter the sheep they've been called by God to shepherd. As sure as God called Moses from a burning bush, Love forever transformed my thought life, starting first with anointed Kush."
K. Godfrey Easter is the executive ministries director of ACTS & BEYOND Ministries. Since 1995, he has housed a passion for writing about God. All are cordially invited to visit www.ReadOpposites.com to learn more.
PRESS CONTACT:
K. Godfrey Easter
godfrey@actsandbeyond.org
(253) 292-0023
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