I read Kris Rasmussen’s blog piece as well as the rest of Elton John’s religion-bashing interview, which has been all over the media the past couple of days, and I was stunned at what he doesn’t realize about, well, himself.

I’ve loved much of his music, especially the old stuff he resurrected for the Australia live concerts. But on this topic, E.J. doesn’t realize how his hatred of religion is not only as deep as the hatred of some religious people towards gays, but that his hatred is actually even the same kind of hatred. It is judgmental; it’s biased based on his own beliefs; and it’s largely uninformed.

“I think religion has always tried to turn hatred toward gay people,” he says. “Religion promotes the hatred and spite against gays.”

Now hear the same phrase as if posed from the other side:

“I think gays have always tried to turn hatred towards religious people; the gay agenda promotes hatred and spite towards the religious.”

Sounds like the same hatred to me.

Perhaps we need Bernie Taupin to save him and write a smoother way for E.J.’s compassion to shine forth… and perhaps he could also pen something for the churches who say they hate the sin but love the sinner. It’s a nuanced thought that goes beyond cliché for most, but the sentiment doesn’t seem to make it past the church walls.

Until we all–even Sir Elton–can disagree without demonizing the other “side” of any spiritually-driven debate, we’ll never have meaningful dialogue, or the potential agreement and healing that comes after.