Peter Gomes: the conscience of Harvard
He served as the university's pastor for nearly four decades, , and in that time became a prominent cultural voice in the United States and internationally. Those who listened to him preach say he also became the conscience of Harvard University.
In 1991, following the publication of an anti-gay article in a Harvard University student magazine, Gomes felt the need to speak publicly about his own homosexuality in order to challenge what he saw as the institutionalisation of homophobia. Five years later he published a bestselling book, which made a theological case for a revolution in how we approach sacred texts within the modern world.
I met Peter Gomes in New York soon after the publication of The Good Book. It was a brief encounter: he was speaking at the church on Fifth Avenue where I was working at the time and we took part in the same event. I was, like everyone else who met him, taken by his elegance, his graciousness -- an almost aristocratic exterior which masked a natural earthiness -- and by his considerable skills as a orator. I heard him preach a handful of times, and I am not at all surprised that he was regularly named in lists of America's all-time greatest preachers.
Gomes was not a natural culture warrior, though he found himself on a few battlefields from time to time. But he had had the enviable capactity to win over opponents with sparkling displays of humour and humanity and understood that winning people is more important than winning arguments. With his death, American Christianity is a little less colourful and the global debate about the place of spirituality in public life has lost one of its surest voices.
Watch Charlie Rose
Peter Gomes preaches at
Peter Gomes
Tea Time with Rev.
Comment number 1.
At 2nd Mar 2011, flibbly wrote:What on earth does "theologically sensitive" mean in English?
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Comment number 2.
At 2nd Mar 2011, heretical wrote:He seems to have undergone a remarkable journey. I'm interested enough to read one if his books. Thanks William for bringing Peter to our attention.
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Comment number 3.
At 2nd Mar 2011, PeterM wrote:flibbly
Read all of the sentence and then ask your question again. In fact read the whole of the first paragraph and then ask your question.
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Comment number 4.
At 2nd Mar 2011, _Ryan_ wrote:I remember Peter Gomes from Stephen Fry's America. I'm sorry to hear of his passing as there really can't be anyone who could possibly fill his shoes. There aren't many Gay, Black, Republican, Baptists knocking around, even in a country as big as the US. At least not many as articulate and intelligent as Rev.Gomes.
Christianity in the US needs more people willing to stand against the grain but be part of the system -to make it more malleable and sensitive to a wider range of people. Am certainly interested in his book- "The Good Book: Reading the Bible with Heart and Mind"
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Comment number 5.
At 4th Mar 2011, ernie wrote:Gomes was a great character and I am genuinely saddened to hear of his passing.
I have just finished watching Spotlight tonight and it made depressing viewing. Perhaps a thread could be initiated for discussing the role of religion and religious conviction in the murder itself and the general failure to investigate what appears to be obvious?
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Comment number 6.
At 14th Mar 2011, romejellybeen wrote:Ernie
"Perhaps a thread could be initiated for dicussing the role of religion and religious conviction in the murder itself and the general failure to investigate what appears to be obvious?"
There is actually an ongoing parallel taking place in Scotland right now. Neil Lennon, manager of a football club is presently being threatened (along with his family.) He has been attacked and assaulted twice in the street, has had bullets sent to him and, last week, a fake bomb intercepted. His family have three times been moved to a safe house in the middle of the night, he has to have 24/7 protection and a rapid response alarm unit installed in his home. On top of this there have been internet campaigns falsely claiming that he is a racist and pages on Facebook - signed by hundreds - have called for him to be shot. Not to mention the threats daubed on walls in both Northern Ireland and Scotland.
He is a football manager.
No one is speaking out, the media, the police, the politicians are all remaining tight-lipped. Those who have spoken out are receiving little media coverage.
In the last week after the two football teams met, one team received 7 yellow cards and 3 reds, yet the media coverage has been on Neil Lennon and his 'disgraceful' behaviour.
Many people in Scotland are now quietly whispering that there is a huge Elephant in the room and that Scotland is being seen as and IS - a deeply sectarian country, aided and abetted by the Establishment.
I would like to see a thread on this subject. But I also understand why this probably wont happen on a ±«Óãtv Northern Ireland blog site. The same reason that people who should know better wont deal with the problem in Scotland - fear.
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Comment number 7.
At 14th Mar 2011, romejellybeen wrote:Geez, it aint half a big, terrifying elephant....
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Comment number 8.
At 16th Mar 2011, romejellybeen wrote:Complain about this comment (Comment number 8)
Comment number 9.
At 19th Mar 2011, romejellybeen wrote:Complain about this comment (Comment number 9)