Michael Coren is the first person to block me on Twitter. I’ve been a harsh critic of his. About four years ago, he endorsed homosexual “marriage” and started attending an Anglican Church since they take a more liberal approach to sodomy. Of course, the Anglicans of old would consider this to be full blown apostasy but rationality seems to go out the window for enemies of Jesus Christ.
Before his defection to King Henry’s Church, he had written books about Catholicism. In 2011, he published Why Catholics Are Right, in 2012 he published Heresy: Ten Lies They Spread About Christianity, and in 2013 he published The Future of Catholicism. Only months after the last of these was published, did he start attending an Anglican Church. It all started with his views on homosexuality. Four years later, he’s become a full blown apostate and socialist. Although he’s a Protestant, he’s a heretic by most Protestant standards. The arguments he uses are so bad. They can all be refuted by reading his old books.
Even after his collapse on homosexuality, he was still moderately conservative in other ways. He remained pro-life throughout 2014 and even had Stephanie Gray come on his show to discuss life issues. In 2015 he seemed to adopt the “safe, legal, and rare” position and it has only gotten worse since then. He now accuses pro-life people of worshipping the “Fetus God”.
Here is what I think happened with him. When he collapsed on homosexuality in late 2013 or early 2014 he remained strong on all other issues. He thought that he could remain the top Christian conservative voice in the country. He felt entitled to this position but people in that circle no longer wanted to associate with him due to his endorsement of sodomy. He then went to the moderate Catholic and Protestant groups. This included the moderate Catholic newspaper, The Prairie Messenger and the moderate Protestant television show, 100 Huntley Street. By this time he had become increasingly more leftist and was let go by both of those organizations. Around this time, it came out that he had left the Catholic Church for Anglicanism. This only made things worse.
In November 2015, an article was published in the UC Observer talking about his conversion to Anglicanism. It can be found here:
http://www.ucobserver.org/faith/2015/11/michael_coren/
It talks about his conversion and mentions his aspirations to become an Anglican Clergyman. The article says:
The new Coren is even considering becoming an ordained Anglican priest. (He was accepted to seminary, but deferred for a year. His book Epiphany: A Christian’s Change of Heart and Mind Over Same-Sex Marriage is due to be published next spring.)
Judging by this statement, he had originally planned to attend seminary in September 2015. He most likely applied after he was “outed” a few months prior. This would mean that he had been an Anglican for less than two years when he applied for seminary and for most of that time, he was still lying to the public by masquerading as a Catholic. In fact, in the following interview below, he was asked why he never made his conversion public. He answered that he thought religion was a private matter. That’s so ridiculous. If Michael Coren made his career writing about gardening, his religion would be a private matter. Since he talks and writes about religion all the time for his career, he has a moral duty to inform his readers of a conversion to a different faith. Here is the interview:
In the November 2015 article that I posted it says:
Bell persisted, and Coren soon began confiding in her about his struggle, his hungering to refocus his Christianity around love.
Throughout 2016 and 2017, love is the last thing that he’s shown to the Conservative Christian world. In the last two years, he’s sunken even deeper into apostasy. He was rejected by conservative Christians, then by moderate ones and now makes company with the enemies of the Christian faith.
Do I expect Coren to die an Anglican? Probably not. He was raised as a secular Jew, converted to Catholicism in the 80’s, left Catholicism for Evangelicalism in the 90’s for a few years before returning to Catholicism, then became Anglican in 2014. He’s had quite a journey. Certainly more of a journey than Rod Dreher.
I think now he feels it is his duty to preach against Traditional Christianity until the end of his days. I actually think that’s one of the reasons why he’s becoming a clergyman. He wants to use his pulpit as a platform to attack the Conservative Christians who he thought betrayed him after he changed his views on homosexuality. It’s not about “love” but about hatred and revenge.
I feel sorry for him deep down. I can tell that he’s very confused. He’s always welcome back in the Catholic Church if he repents of his heresies. I don’t think it’s likely but God can do anything.
A recent Tweet from the man who wants to refocus his faith on “love”
I am not all that familiar with Michael Coren, but I happened upon him on YouTube and was gladdened that a prominent media man was arguing in favour of Catholicism, but things appear to have changed since then.
I wonder what makes Michael Coren tick. Is it a desire to be noticed? If he is inclined to keep changing his well-broadcast opinions he would be advised to shut up and lead a private life.
It is frustrating when self-professed Christians argue for same-sex marriage. It is something particularly noticeable amongst Anglicans (though to be fair there are many of that denomination who hold traditional views.) I have never heard a satisfactory argument in favour of it, neither religious nor secular.
I have never given a religious argument against same-sex marriage, nor do I wish to start. I would only be tempted to do so in the case of supposed, ardent Christians that think it should be allowed, but then it wouldn’t make any difference I suppose. There are perfectly sound and compelling (non-religious) reasons to assert that marriage is between a man and a woman; that should be no surprise given that this is God’s creation and the universe is ordered to His will.
Hi Patrick,
You say that you’re not familiar with Coren? I’m going to assume you’re American. In Canada where I live, he’s a very big figure. Formerly on the religious right and not on the far left. He even writes for the Toronto Star now, which is probably the most leftist newspaper in the country.
What makes him tick? I think at this point it is his desire to be noticed.
“It is frustrating when self-professed Christians argue for same-sex marriage.”
I have no respect for “Christians” who support homosexual “marriage”. I have more respect for a secularist who supports it since they haven’t agreed to the authority of Scripture and the Tradition of the Christian faith. However, I do agree with you that there are no good secular arguments for it either.
“I have never heard a satisfactory argument in favour of it, neither religious nor secular.”
Regarding religious arguments, unfortunately they’re getting more numerous. There is much revisionist material out there. I’ve read several of their works. They were in academia in the 1980’s and now they’ve trickled down to the popular level such as Michael Coren, Matthew Vines and Justin Lee. Let me say one thing: There are no good religious arguments for homosexual “marriage”. They’ve all been shredded but sadly, someone who is well read in these arguments can debate a Christian who doesn’t know this movement well and fool them.
However, all of these people avoid the positive teaching on Marriage such as Matthew 19. They can’t get around it so they just act like it doesn’t exist.
I am English.
Matthew 19. Slam-dunk! That should be enough for Christians.
Well, brother Paul Williams kept some conservative values when he converted. Islam isn’t so bad, now, is it?
I think I became a little more conservative after I switched my allegiance to the star and crescent. I know Surah 81:8-9 condemns infanticide in the strongest terms, especially since it is the word of Allah, SWT. However, I really don’t think it is worth my time involve myself in the culture wars. I am not that interested in opposing abortion or gay marriage marriage, but I am more interested in opposing the Israeli apartheid regime.
I like voluntarism in metaethics more than natural law and tradition. I really do accept the Humean criticism that one cannot derive an “is from an ought” and that morality is primarily driven by sentiment. It is a duty for a Muslim to obey the commands of Allah, SWT, but such obedience is only possible if one has taqwa (fear of God). I truly admire the taqwa of some Muslims, and it evokes feelings of admiration more than dogmatic assertions of received orthodoxy and appeals to clerical authority.
I wonder why don’t liberal Muslims attack the prohibition on alcohol and pork, but they are often indifferent to opposing gay marriage. If there something about the former that makes it easier for even liberals to adhere to?
Hi Latias,
Nice to see you have a further interest in this page. I didn’t know that you were a convert to Islam. You said:
“Well, brother Paul Williams kept some conservative values when he converted. Islam isn’t so bad, now, is it?”
I’ll be brutally honest, I feel much closer to devout Muslims than to Western secularists. Most Muslims have a lot of good morals. Obviously we differ on some things. Also, I have more ground to discuss ethics with them since they believe in theism.
“However, I really don’t think it is worth my time involve myself in the culture wars. I am not that interested in opposing abortion or gay marriage marriage, but I am more interested in opposing the Israeli apartheid regime.”
Are they mutually exclusive? All three of these are from the Devil. Dr. E. Michael Jones who is the editor of Culture Wars magazine wrote an 1,100 page book which was a critique of Judaism which involves harsh criticism of Israel. There is much discussion of the injustice of the Israeli apartheid regime and condemnation of abortion and homosexual “marriage”. One can easily fight all three of these.
“I wonder why don’t liberal Muslims attack the prohibition on alcohol and pork, but they are often indifferent to opposing gay marriage. If there something about the former that makes it easier for even liberals to adhere to?”
Let me take a stab at this. It’s probably because they take a John Stuart Mill approach to morality and sin. In other words, it’s only a sin if it affects someone else. The liberal Muslim will eat port and drink alcohol but have the attitude that religious Muslims can adhere to those rules if they desire. As for homosexual “marriage” it might be touchy for them since they may feel they’re violating the rights of someone else.
When love is your motive you extend your arms to everyone because you know they are created in the image of God and Hell is only a whisper away.Sin is everywhere, it is even in the church, so to say that Micheal Coren is embracing sin would be of no consequence.He is embracing the people that we rigidly have cast off. Will he affect the views against sodomy, no, but he will affect those who want to emulate Christ by reaching out and saying he accepts them unconditionally.Death and Hell are working overtime, satan has many in his trap.Without blurring the lines of judgement which is Gods prerogative not ours we are to extend hands of mercy into hell itself.That is what Christ would do.
Have you read your words? You profess to be a follower of Christ? How dare you profess to speak in his name.
You lack the fundamentals of Christianity – love, compassion, kindness.
I can only hope that one day, the layers of hate and ideology are stripped away, like they have been for Mr. Coren, and you come to know the real meaning of walking with Christ.
Give your head a shake, man.
I will pray for you. (And I’m an atheist).
Hi Michael,
Did I say anything here that was false?
The sin of Sodom was in the fact that they hated strangers so much that they gathered to rape them when they came into the city. If we use the term Sodomy correctly, we should be talking about Trump border walls and people like you who are so angry over losing one spiteful bigot that you pray that he ends up in Hell rather than listen to him.
“people like you who are so angry over losing one spiteful bigot that you pray that he ends up in Hell rather than listen to him.”
Please back this up.
The sin of Sodom and Gomorrah were that theses cities were dominated by depraved homosexuals who want to rape people in the name of the all mighty orgasm. Homosexuality lends itself to all manner of depravity as often illustrated in history and in “Gay Pride” parades.
If anyone should be preached against, it is Conservative Christians. Instead of actually following Christ’s message of love, they promote the exact opposite when it comes to accepting others whose beliefs may differ. It’s not that they merely oppose such things as gay marriage, many demonstrate irrational hatred against a group for their same-sex relationships.
What ever happened to people being free to hold their beliefs, without ignoring the rights of others to hold their own, and trying to inflict their own beliefs and personal values upon others?
So many seem to have forgotten that their faith is exactly that. Faith is something they assume is real, but for which there is no actual proof or credible evidence it is actually true. Yet so many believers behave as if ‘faith’ somehow is ‘truth’, when the reality is that ‘their truth’ cannot actually be demonstrated as actually true, beyond their own minds.
It makes it even worse when they get wrong their interpretation of Christ’s message, and distort it to use it to persecute others with different beliefs and value systems. Others should have the freedom to follow their beliefs and values, as long as it does not negatively impact on the lives of others.
This ignorance and hypocrisy within major religions is why so many have questioned what those religions try to profess as true, yet spend no effort to put under real scrutiny as to how valid their beliefs are. Each religion uniformly professes that their beliefs are true, yet fail to see how they all can’t be true and significantly different at the same time. The lack of actual supporting evidence should be the clue, and the need for their believers to ‘just accept on faith’ what they profess – that the tenets of most religious beliefs are on worse than shaky evidence….
Yet so many still feel justified in persecuting others, when it actually is none of their business…
–What ever happened to people being free to hold their beliefs, without ignoring the rights of others to hold their own, and trying to inflict their own beliefs and personal values upon others?–
These days do Christians even do this?
In the West, it’s much more cases of LGBT forcing their views onto Christians – bake that gay cake, let genetic males into women’s bathrooms & sports, ban people from social media if they express non-liberal views.
It is the liberal left (including LGBT and their allies) that is inflicting beliefs on others. Don’t believe me? Picture a guy standing up at the Oscars and shares his beliefs, whether the audience and media would cheer or boo – in one case he shouts “Taste the rainbow and bake the cake, you backwater rednecks!” and in the other he says “As a statement of fact, the Bible forbids homosexuality”.
–Each religion uniformly professes that their beliefs are true, yet fail to see how they all can’t be true and significantly different at the same time.–
Where did you dig up this strawman? There are countless religiously-based polemicists out there attacking the beliefs of religions other than their own. It is the very fact that ‘not all religions can be simultaneously true’ that motivates them to go on the offensive against competing belief systems.
Your statement is like me dismissing all scientific theories by saying “All scientists think their theory is correct, yet fail to see how ALL competing theories can’t be simultanously correct”.
Yes, by refusing to acknowledge the rights of LGBTQ people, many are refusing to acknowledge the freedom people have over THEIR OWN sexuality. Frankly one’s personal sexuality is no one else’s business, yet there has been a long history of discrimination and physical abuse against such people.
That the LGBTQ have become more vocal and demanding of THEIR RIGHTS is a backlash to centuries of religious and political oppression. No one is asking for anything more than the ability to express their sexuality without fear of discrimination and ‘reprisal’ for any reason.
Disagree with their choices and lifestyle? – Fine, you are not obligated to agree or go out of your way to accommodate them. But what is wrong and ‘immoral’ is to deny them the human rights and privileges to which everyone else is entitled.
Everyone is entitled to their own morality, but NOT to try to inflict their views onto others.
And putting people into boxes of ‘left’ or ‘right’ when describing their views, is merely a lame and intellectually lazy means of adding divisive partisanship, without actually addressing the issues. Jump on that bandwagon, and let the group do your thinking for you on these issues….
“But what is wrong and ‘immoral’ is to deny them the human rights and privileges to which everyone else is entitled.”
I am not aware of any Western society (in the Anglosphere anyway) that denies any particular person of a homosexual inclination those rights and privileges to which any other person is entitled under the law.
IIRC he gave up on Twitter and Facebook for their constant banning/restricting his posts
Probably he updates at his Patreon
https://www.patreon.com/Acts17Apologetics
–That the LGBTQ have become more vocal and demanding of THEIR RIGHTS is a backlash to centuries of religious and political oppression. No one is asking for anything more than the ability to express their sexuality without fear of discrimination and ‘reprisal’ for any reason.–
Riiiiiiiiiiiiiiight……
https://www.dailywire.com/news/38105/transgender-woman-files-human-rights-complaints-amanda-prestigiacomo
https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2019/06/masterpiece-cakeshop-baker-sued-discrimination-not-wedding-cake-time/
https://www.reddit.com/r/MGTOW/comments/a3yetb/exclusive_lgbt_backfired_feminists_meet_hannah/