Equal Rights

[pekkle]

150 years ago: The abolition of slavery

100 years ago: The emancipation of women

50 years ago: Inter-racial marriage

Today: Same-sex relations

Why is it that the church always has to be dragged kicking and screaming (by secular outrage) towards the tolerance and compassion that, ironically, it claims to hold a monopoly on?

 

[Meshavrischika]

because some men want to be justified and held as "better" or "more pure" than others. they subjugate people to feel this way. it's very simple. they just happen to be leaders of church and therefore can drag the rest of the masses with them.

anyone who knows Christ knows love is not stomping someone else under foot so you appear better.

 

[LittleNipper]

150 years ago: The abolition of slavery

100 years ago: The emancipation of women

50 years ago: Inter-racial marriage

Today: Same-sex relations

Why is it that the church always has to be dragged kicking and screaming (by secular outrage) towards the tolerance and compassion that, ironically, it claims to hold a monopoly on?

I don't see that the case at all. The ONLY reason women were able to come out of the harem was the influence of Biblical Hebrew and later Christian influences. Slaves existed before and they will likely exist again. It all depends on how we view our neighbors.

 

[FadingWhispers3]

Because the 'church' is an institution. Organizations are invariably more immoral or amoral compared to individuals.

In short, politics. Entrenched powers rarely like to be moved... even by such a thing as right and wrong.

 

[Merlin]

Actually,
Christianity has been the leading influence.

 

[TheManeki]

Christianity has been part of the leading influence in supporting equal rights, and part of the leading influence in resisting equal rights.

 

[jayem]

Christianity is so multi-faceted. You have to be specific about what type of Christian belief you're talking about. In America, some denominations have been in the lead in promoting progressive social causes, while others have supported the status quo. Slavery was strongly opposed by the New England Congregationalists, Unitarians, and Quakers. But the Southern Baptist denomination was founded because it believed in a pro-slavery doctrine. Same was true of women's suffrage, which was supported by Unitarian ,Universalist, and the Quaker churches and generally opposed by conservative Protestants and most (but not all) Catholics.

We see exactly the same pattern repeated today in the same-sex marraige issue. Almost always, it's been the liberal varieties of Christianity that support social change, while conservatives oppose it (and often claim those in support are not "real" Christians.)

 

[Steezie]

As others have pointed out, in fairness there have been Christians on both sides of the issues.

There were Christians who were leading abolitionists in the South and there were Christian theologians who went around quoting bible passages to justify slavery to slaves and slave owners.

Just as with gay rights, there are Christians who are die-hard opposed to it and there are Christians who feel everyone should be treated equal

 

[Meshavrischika]

basically the problem is basing government on religion to begin with.

 

[keith99]

I don't see that the case at all. The ONLY reason women were able to come out of the harem was the influence of Biblical Hebrew and later Christian influences. Slaves existed before and they will likely exist again. It all depends on how we view our neighbors.

If you think slavery does not exist today you have not been reading the headlines. And yes I'm talking about the U.S. and Western Europe, not just the third world.

 

[LittleNipper]

Christianity has been part of the leading influence in supporting equal rights, and part of the leading influence in resisting equal rights.

True Christianity has been the good influence. Christian cults have been a bad influence. A cult is a closed society or group (hidding their thoughts) who want to exclude. True Christianity is all about wanting to include and promote open reasoning.

This is why True Christians are hated so. Communists, Socialists, many homosexuals, most Muslim nations, mormonism, moonies, are all about silencing open debate that questions their various agendas. They try to instill fear toward Christians who openly tell them that they are in error. I'm totally against violence and harassment and yet violence is the way of the cults. Even homosexualism is a cult out to silence any open opposition to the belief that homosexuality is not a generational sin founded in promiscuity, and adolescent habitual sexual contact. The very thing homosexuals seem to encourage among their peers.

 

[Meshavrischika]

True Christianity has been the good influence. Christian cults have been a bad influence. A cult is a closed society or group who want's to exclude. True Christianity is all about inclusion.

hahaha

it'd be interesting to see you list the "christian cults"... just to see what happens - lol

 

[Steezie]

True Christianity has been the good influence. Christian cults have been a bad influence. A cult is a closed society or group who want's to exclude. True Christianity is all about inclusion.

And how do you define True Christianity?

 

[Maren]

True Christianity has been the good influence. Christian cults have been a bad influence. A cult is a closed society or group who want's to exclude. True Christianity is all about inclusion.

So you are saying religions like the Southern Baptists and most fundamentalist sects are cults? These tend to be the ones that have led the opposition against civil rights.

By contrast, it is groups (as previously mentioned) like the Catholics, Methodists, Lutherans, etc. (typically the so-called liberal sects) that have supported civil rights.

 

[Sitswithamouse]

True Christianity has been the good influence. Christian cults have been a bad influence. A cult is a closed society or group who want's to exclude. True Christianity is all about inclusion.

What would you define a cult?

 

[Meshavrischika]

So you are saying religions like the Southern Baptists and most fundamentalist sects are cults? These tend to be the ones that have led the opposition against civil rights.

By contrast, it is groups (as previously mentioned) like the Catholics, Methodists, Lutherans, etc. (typically the so-called liberal sects) that have supported civil rights.

I'd say some fundamentalists and some liberal sects (some of those you listed) do not support rights for all. (being as currently they object to the homosexual thing)

 

[Maren]

I'd say some fundamentalists and some liberal sects (some of those you listed) do not support rights for all. (being as currently they object to the homosexual thing)

I would say in previous years it wasn't as clear. Of course, the Catholics 40 years ago were considered more liberal and recently have been becoming much more fundamentalist.

I would say that currently it is much more divided on a liberal/fundamentalist line.

 

[LittleNipper]

If you think slavery does not exist today you have not been reading the headlines. And yes I'm talking about the U.S. and Western Europe, not just the third world.

Of course slavery exists today. The Democrats have proven that. Remember it was a Democrat who said that Obama was getting support because of his race. It was a Black minister who said that Mrs. Clinton was never called the "N" word. I would say that slavery is about being trapped in the mindset that it is about us vs. them mentality. Chains are chains....

 

[LittleNipper]

And how do you define True Christianity?

Only sinners saved by the grace of GOD through the death, burial, and resurection of the LORD JESUS CHRIST --- the GOOD NEWS open to all who willingly repent and believe.

 

[Steezie]

Only sinners saved by the grace of GOD through the death, burial, and resurection of the LORD JESUS CHRIST --- the GOOD NEWS open to all who willingly repent and believe.

Yeah see but ALL y'all say that you have that