Ahead of an event in Sokndal on September 1-2 this year, a local public debater has criticized the organizers. Truls chose to write a response in "the local newspaper Dalane Tidens to shed more light on what the engagement around pride and gender is about from a Christian perspective. Read the full post below:
I want to respond to the post as it was publishedin Dalane Tidene by Tron Løvås, which highlights the subjective values that pride represents for some people. And that is precisely where the core of diversity that pride supporters often fail to see lies: namely,that pride does not embrace everyone.
There must be room for this to be expressed, and several surveys from 2024 shows that the majority believe it has gone too far and there has been too much pride and increasing gender confusion.
I think it's great that we can have an open debate about important issues that affect both small and large communities. At the same time, I think it's important to highlight that many in Sokndal and other villages experience skepticism that pride and queer theory should increasingly be part of children's everyday lives, especially in schools and kindergartens.
Not only Christians value human dignity and freedom from unwanted influence – we see this in the fact that from August 1st it is no longer allowed to preach Christianity in some subjects in schools. Secular activists are using the law to stop preaching in schools. The same activists do not understand that Christian or value-conservative parents, equally, can believe that children should also be free from radical influence and questions about fluid gender and sexuality at an early age. I see this new view as a form of secular preaching.
I am therefore that school textbooks and teaching have begun introducing consepts such as multiple genders and sexual identities to young children – as documented on the website www.skeivteori.no. Many parents believe this development has gone too far and want to protect their children from what they see as unscientific presentations of gender theory. I believe this has no place in kindergartens or primary schools. In fact, one may reasonably question whether the school should take on such a role at all.
I am coming to Sokndal, among other reasons, to give a lecture on how to navigate both publicly and privately in a culture shaped by wokeism, identity politics, and political correctness, where Christian faith and practice are increasingly challenged legally and socially. This already creates grounds for social ostracism and loss of career opportunities. I want to help show how one can stand firm in one’s convictions and act according to what one believes is right, good, and true. This is not about spreading hatred or excluding anyone. I represent a growing movement of conscious parents who want their children to be allowed to be children, without being drawn into ideological battles for adults—battles they neither understand nor should have to participate in.
It is essential that society respects different worldviews, and that there is room for those who wish to raise their children according to Christian values, beliefs, and practices.
I stand for respect and human dignity for all people, and for the free will we are created with, while also maintaining that Christian faith and values provide the best foundation for navigating life and society. At the same time, I believe that bad ideas must be open to criticism, and I argue objectively that introducing pride and queer theory to children is based on flawed ideas. Some label such criticism as hate. Some even call the biological understanding of gender hate. But it is not.
I hope to inspire those who wish to use their freedom of speech, stand up for what they believe in, and understand which trends, laws, and political processes are making this increasingly difficult.
Therefore, we must practice speaking openly about what we believe and know to be right and good—now.
