All these sexually oriented topics...

[Imperialist]

No, but, ending world poverty is an unattainable goal (and not even desirable to some, as it would require personal sacrifice). Getting your neighbor kicked out of the Parent-Teacher association is more realistic, and has the added benifit of making you feel very holy. Like some sort of spiritual warrior.

Just imagine living in a world where evil sodomite ninjas lurk around every corner and you, ONLY YOU stand between them and all the innocent children and puppies and bunnies of the world! Maybe, someday, you'll even get the chance to throw yourself over some endangered child just as a devil-spawned sodomite-ninja is about to abduct him. The child is certainly blond, probably carrying Christmas presents...to donate to the local homeless shelter...yeah, I like that. He's wearing those cute little mittens that have a string through the coat-sleeves, too.
But you've just spotted that demon-spawned sodomite-ninja braced, Spiderman-style under the eave of a near-by building. WHAT DO YOU DO?! The demon-spawned sodomite-ninja pounces and you jump over the child (in slow motion, of course) yelling "NOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!" The demon-spawned sodomite-ninja lands on you instead, and you deliver a quick kick to the kidney. He punches, but you block and return with a left hook. He had not been expecting somebody to fight back, and does a backwards roll into a nearby sewer. He escapes, but you know...one day....you will find him.

The little blond boy (about 8 years old) pushes his hat back from where it's fallen over his eyes and stares up at you with awe and wonder. "Thank you for saving me, mister! You're my hero!" He hugs you so hard you stumble back a bit. Just then, his mother runs up.

"Oh, oh dear heavens!" she pants. "I turned my back for a moment and he crossed the street by himself. He was just so eager to deliver these Christmas presents to the poor children at the homeless shelter...but then I saw the demon-spawned sodomite-ninja! [hear she nearly swoons, and needs to take a moment to compose herself] How, how can I ever repay you?!"

You strike a casual John Wayne pose and say "It was nothing, ma'am. All in a day's work." And then you mosey away, disappearing into the crowd.



Really, who would give up that fantasy for a pencil-pushing reality?

Sounds like someone else is living in a fantasy . . .

 

[jennidawn]

Issues of sexuality are not more important than the many other tragedies that plague this nation and the world, but prejudice toward people and condemnation is a tragedy as well.

 

[.Sabre.]

Issues of sexuality are not more important than the many other tragedies that plague this nation and the world, but prejudice toward people and condemnation is a tragedy as well.

That is true.

 

[JadeTigress]

Have you noticed, though, that it used to be that all the sex threads were about homosexuality, and now they're all suddenly about masturbation? Maybe that means masturbation is going to be the new thing for the next presidential election.

 

[.Sabre.]

Have you noticed, though, that it used to be that all the sex threads were about homosexuality, and now they're all suddenly about masturbation? Maybe that means masturbation is going to be the new thing for the next presidential election.

Honestly, it seems like it. And it's sad, really. What in the name of all that is reasonable does it matter what some random person you've never met and probably won't ever meet does in their bedroom?

 

[TheManeki]

It's all about control. If you are trained to follow instructions for all the little things, it's easier to get you to follow on the big things.

 

[sister_maynard]

Poverty is a huge issue with no one magic solution. If you're willing to rigidly limit your view and ignore evidence, it's easy to pretend that you can "solve" huge issues like homosexuality and mastrubation by quoting the Bible and yelling at people a lot.

 

[Imperialist]

Issues of sexuality are not more important than the many other tragedies that plague this nation and the world, but prejudice toward people and condemnation is a tragedy as well.

Could you clarify what you mean by 'prejudice'?

 

[Ohioprof]

I think the person who started this thread has raised some good and important questions. There are huge issues of ethics and morality that no one appears to be discussing, like the war in Iraq.

I think a major reason why there are so many threads about sexuality and specifically about homosexuality is that this is an issue that is currently dividing Christians and is generating debate among Christians. I am a gay person, and I find it healthy and encouraging that people are so actively discussing and debating civil rights for gay people and how gay people are treated in the various churches. The only way attitudes will change is if people discuss and actively reconsider their assumptions and beliefs. Not everyone will reach the same conclusions after such discussion, but people will have thought about why they believe what they believe. That is healthy, I think.

I do hope that we will discuss ethical issues like the war and poverty and the treatment of immigrants. These are all very important. But I also am glad that we are discussing gay rights and how the churches have treated gay people. I have a personal stake in that discussion, and I am glad to see people talking about these topics.