Why Religious Parents Are Ready to Sacrifice Their Children to Prove Their Faith

The story of Abraham and Isaac is one of religious history’s most disturbing narratives. God commands Abraham to slaughter his beloved son, a test of faith so extreme it defies human comprehension. At the last moment, an angel intervenes, sparing Isaac’s life.

This story has been lauded for centuries as the ultimate act of obedience, but the truth is that some parents today are still willing to sacrifice their children, not on ancient altars, but in their living rooms, churches, and schools. And they do it in the name of God.

When Kirk Franklin, a Grammy Award-winning gospel artist, faced a test — his son coming out as bisexual — he made a seemingly different choice. Despite public feuds and a strained relationship between the two, Kirk declared, “The love for my son is not based on who he loves. That’s my answer as a Christian.”

In a world where nearly half of LGBTQ+ youth are estranged from their families, Franklin’s stance is at minimum, progress, though it should not be revolutionary. Some commenters online have suggested that Franklin’s response is manipulative and problematic akin to “hate the sin, not the sinner.” More about that later.

For many believers, faith is a motivator to abandon, reject, and cast out their queer children. In the UK, the charity, Just Like Us, reports that almost half of LGBT+ young adults are estranged from at least one family member. In the US, LGBTQ+ youth comprise…