Treating People With Dignity and Respect.

[catlover]

Why do some people believe it is Biblical to malign and discriminate against a certain group of people?

 

[Ohioprof]

Why do some people believe it is Biblical to malign and discriminate against a certain group of people?

I have often wondered that myself. Some people use the Bible to justify all kinds of prejudices. I am thinking especially of Fred Phelps, the notorious minister who first started picketing the funerals of gay men, and then stared picketing the funerals of troops who died in Iraq, claiming they died because of God's anger at America over our acceptance of gay people. Phelps has a website entitled Godhates f%gs.com. It's astonishing to me that anyone would use the Bible in the way he does. He gets his kids out picketing also, which makes me sad.

What is that song from South Pacific?

"You have to be carefully taught to hate
Before you are six or seven or eight
To hate all the people your relatives hate
You have to be carefully taught."

 

[catlover]

I have often wondered that myself. Some people use the Bible to justify all kinds of prejudices. I am thinking especially of Fred Phelps, the notorious minister who first started picketing the funerals of gay men, and then stared picketing the funerals of troops who died in Iraq, claiming they died because of God's anger at America over our acceptance of gay people. Phelps has a website entitled Godhates f%gs.com. It's astonishing to me that anyone would use the Bible in the way he does. He gets his kids out picketing also, which makes me sad.

What is that song from South Pacific?

"You have to be carefully taught to hate
Before you are six or seven or eight
To hate all the people your relatives hate
You have to be carefully taught."

I have heard The Europeans are more accepting of gays. Is this true?

If so why?

 

[naotmaa]

I have heard The Europeans are more accepting of gays. Is this true?

If so why?

I think there are a few European countries that are more progressive. Most of the countries I don't think have the same Christian fundamentalist stronghold that America does.

 

[catlover]

I think there are a few European countries that are more progressive. Most of the countries I don't think have the same Christian fundamentalist stronghold that America does.

Strange that America claims to be so religious and moral when you look at the state of affairs in this country.

 

[naotmaa]

Strange that America claims to be so religious and moral when you look at the state of affairs in this country.

I think a lot of people in this country have been almost fooled into thinking that issues such as gay marriage and abortion are the main moral issues that need to be dealt with. Not homelessness, poverty, violence,disease,etc. that have a more devastating effect on this country and the world. This probably has to do with the fact that many people feel apathetic towards these issues but have strong feelings towards homosexuality and abortion. It's unfortunate.

 

[Ohioprof]

I think a lot of people in this country have been almost fooled into thinking that issues such as gay marriage and abortion are the main moral issues that need to be dealt with. Not homelessness, poverty, violence,disease,etc. that have a more devastating effect on this country and the world. This probably has to do with the fact that many people feel apathetic towards these issues but have strong feelings towards homosexuality and abortion. It's unfortunate.

I think this is generally true. Making same-sex marriage into a moral issue distracts people from working on real issues that need to be addressed. I think we need to encourage all Christians to work to end poverty, to work to end war, and to work for real social justice, not to try to shame gay people because of who we are and whom we love.

It's bizarre indeed that some people focus on claiming that love is a "sin" instead of claiming that war and violence are sins.

 

[Criada]

I think there are a few European countries that are more progressive. Most of the countries I don't think have the same Christian fundamentalist stronghold that America does.

In England, there is certainly a surface acceptance of gays, although this often masks a deep seated cultural homophobia..
However, you are more likely to be persecuted for being a fundementalist Christian here than for being gay.
Of course, if you are a gay Christian, you can get both!

 

[Pogue]

I have heard The Europeans are more accepting of gays. Is this true?

If so why?

That's mostly true, basically for the reasons naotmaa mentioned. Religious fundamentalism is much less common here, and while it does exist, it's more fragmented- it's not as unified as it is in the US. That's not to say homophobia doesn't exist, but like rascism, it's not acceptable in most social circles.

 

[QuakerOats]

That's mostly true, basically for the reasons naotmaa mentioned. Religious fundamentalism is much less common here, and while it does exist, it's more fragmented- it's not as unified as it is in the US. That's not to say homophobia doesn't exist, but like rascism, it's not acceptable in most social circles.

It's the same here in Canada, and I imagine also in other commonwealth nations, like Australia, and New Zealand, etc.

 

[eastcoast_bsc]

That's mostly true, basically for the reasons naotmaa mentioned. Religious fundamentalism is much less common here, and while it does exist, it's more fragmented- it's not as unified as it is in the US. That's not to say homophobia doesn't exist, but like rascism, it's not acceptable in most social circles.

But what if your Gay and Irish ?

 

[artybloke]

In England, there is certainly a surface acceptance of gays, although this often masks a deep seated cultural homophobia..
However, you are more likely to be persecuted for being a fundementalist Christian here than for being gay.
Of course, if you are a gay Christian, you can get both!

It kind of depends where you go. If you live in an area that's full beer-swilling white men with No.1 skinhead cuts, watch out...

 

[Pogue]

But what if your Gay and Irish ?

Um...I imagine the situation's much the same in Ireland as it is in the UK. I know that the Catholic Church doesn't have as much of a hold there as it did even 30 years ago, so being gay and Irish is probably more acceptable nowadays.

 

[BAFRIEND]

Why do some people believe it is Biblical to malign and discriminate against a certain group of people?

Why do certain groups of people believe it is okay to malign the Bible for a political agenda ?

Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders … (1Cor 6:9)

It is not called discrimination when the Bible itself calls the lifetyle or activities a sin.

 

[catlover]

Why do certain groups of people believe it is okay to malign the Bible for a political agenda ?



It is not called discrimination when the Bible itself calls the lifetyle or activities a sin.

Actually it is neocons who malign The Bible for their own personal agenda~when you see how Capitalism is a religious identity to a city on the hill and all that other crappola...


Furthermore, it seems to me some people are way too fixated on gay sex being the ONLY sin...why is that BARFRIEND?

 

[BAFRIEND]

Furthermore, it seems to me some people are way too fixated on gay sex being the ONLY sin...why is that BARFRIEND?

I have never seen it as being the only sin. It just so happens that this is the Debates on Homosexuality Forum, remember ?

 

[artybloke]

It is not called discrimination when the Bible itself calls the lifetyle or activities a sin.

a) just because the Bible says it's a sin doesn't make it one.

b) the Bible says no such thing anyway.

 

[Ohioprof]

Why do certain groups of people believe it is okay to malign the Bible for a political agenda ?



It is not called discrimination when the Bible itself calls the lifetyle or activities a sin.

Disagreeing with a particular interpretation of the Bible is not maligning the Bible. And your belief that the Bible "calls the lifestyle or activities a sin" is an interpretation. It's not universally held.

 

[mattlock73]

Why do some people believe it is Biblical to malign and discriminate against a certain group of people?

Why do some people insist that standing up for what you believe in and calling a spade a spade equals maligning and discrimination?

 

[mattlock73]

I have often wondered that myself. Some people use the Bible to justify all kinds of prejudices. I am thinking especially of Fred Phelps, the notorious minister who first started picketing the funerals of gay men, and then stared picketing the funerals of troops who died in Iraq, claiming they died because of God's anger at America over our acceptance of gay people. Phelps has a website entitled Godhates f%gs.com. It's astonishing to me that anyone would use the Bible in the way he does. He gets his kids out picketing also, which makes me sad.

Unfortunately anyone can make the claim that they are a Christian. But Paul does give us a way to test ourselves by examining the fruit in our lives. Obviously, Phelps' fruit is very bitter indeed. The guy has been called out for the fraud that he is, but unfortunately, THAT never seems to get the airtime. *sigh*