Religious intolerance and bigotry

[Mellotron]

In fairness, quite a lot of Christians are fiercely homophobic

Strange, I know at least 150 Christians, with not a homophobe among them.

Still, keep your prejudices up, eh?

 

[itszamora]

So what's the difference between today's Muslim Fundementalist who want everyone to be Muslim and will kill anyone that isn't or doesn't want to ........ and the Catholic church of 500 years ago who wanted everyone to be Catholics and would kill anyone who didn't agree ...... I think we should be told because as far as I can see there isn't any difference, cut from the same clouth. Anyone want to bet bfeore some Christian nut jobs start blowing up non believers .... Oklahoma not included !!!

Probably not a massive amount of difference except that the Crusades and whatnot were sanctioned by the Church who believed it was their divine mission to convert or destroy the infidels.

However these days I would argue terrorists and the like are acting in the name of religion, rather than being on a mission actively endorsed by their religious leaders. I do not believe that Islam is any better or worse than any other faith in this or any other regard, it just happens to be that most terrorists are using it as their justification for what they do.

 

[itszamora]

Strange, I know at least 150 Christians, with not a homophobe among them.

Still, keep your prejudices up, eh?

It's not so much a prejudice as the words of the Bible; thou shalt not lay with a man as one does with a woman for it is an abomination or whatever the exact wording is.

I agree with you though, I do not know as many Christians as you but those that I do are not outwardly homophobic. I suspect that many, if asked, would say they disapproved of homosexuality though.

 

[Acker79]

And why do the same people NOT post any stories they come across that shed a positive light on religion? Strange, eh? I could, of course, flood these boards with such stories but I think I would quickly get booted off if I did.

Do you lack self control? Can you not post one or two, or simply post one every time someone posts a story you consider to attack religion?


Since everyone else is clarifying their position:
I'm generally agnostic, but if people use religion for hatred/violence/bigotry, try to judge me according to a religious system I don't subscribe to, or tries to convert me and I become strongly anti-religion.

 

[Acker79]

Strange, I know at least 150 Christians, with not a homophobe among them.

Still, keep your prejudices up, eh?

I know several people who go to church, but I only know one who is fervently Christian and she is opposed to homosexuality, but takes a "hate the sin not the sinner" attitude.

She's also a Harry Potter fan, so discovering Dumbledore is gay was quite upsetting for her.

 

[Scampi]

Should also be mentioned that Scientologists are fiercely homophobic.

Again, I don't see the difference with the catholic church (or many others, just using the catholics as a handy example)

 

[Mellotron]

It's not so much a prejudice as the words of the Bible; thou shalt not lay with a man as one does with a woman for it is an abomination or whatever the exact wording is.

I agree with you though, I do not know as many Christians as you but those that I do are not outwardly homophobic. I suspect that many, if asked, would say they disapproved of homosexuality though.

So, you're saying many Christians are homophobic despite having NO first hand knowledge of any?

For the record I have no strong feelings at all either way. Jesus was mates with gays, so that's good enough for me.

 

[NMH]

If our creator gave us so many religions designed to take us to righteousness, each one excellent methods to bring the chooser to his heavenly domain through the guiding light of scripture, then that's wonderful - what better than a guide-book for correct living.

However, when believers in these guide-books are focusing on the other guide-book believers, and how wrong THEIR books must be - what was the point that exercise?

 

[Mellotron]

Do you lack self control? Can you not post one or two, or simply post one every time someone posts a story you consider to attack religion?


Since everyone else is clarifying their position:
I'm generally agnostic, but if people use religion for hatred/violence/bigotry, try to judge me according to a religious system I don't subscribe to, or tries to convert me and I become strongly anti-religion.

And what about the massive majority of Christians who use religion for charitable causes, helping their fellow man, etc?

 

[Mellotron]

If our creator gave us so many religions designed to take us to righteousness, each one excellent methods to bring the chooser to his heavenly domain through the guiding light of scripture, then that's wonderful - what better than a guide-book for correct living.

However, when believers in these guide-books are focusing on the other guide-book believers, and how wrong THEIR books must be - what was the point that exercise?

Agreed.

 

[itszamora]

So, you're saying many Christians are homophobic despite having NO first hand knowledge of any?

For the record I have no strong feelings at all either way. Jesus was mates with gays, so that's good enough for me.

Ok I hate to sounds arsey, but can you read? I said I didn't know as many Christians as you, not that I didn't know any. So I am using my first hand knowledge (and my limited knowledge of the Bible) to suggest that yes, there is a degree of homophobia or certainly disapproval of homosexuality present in many Christians.

 

[bhaexpress]

Again, I don't see the difference with the catholic church (or many others, just using the catholics as a handy example)

You don't know much about the Catholic religion do you ? I was taught by some God fearing, sadistic nuns in my time and know plenty of Catholics. Can't remember any of them being homophobic. I know some Christians that are including a Born Again Christian relative but Scientologists make no secret at all of their opposition to homosexuality.

 

[NMH]

So, you're saying many Christians are homophobic despite having NO first hand knowledge of any?

For the record I have no strong feelings at all either way. Jesus was mates with gays, so that's good enough for me.

Jesus taught that there is NO sin that is too great to be forgiven, and that his teachings were for specifically the sinners, not the saints.
He was also teaching from the Old Testament, but the experts in those scriptures objected to him saying he was the Messiah that was foretold in those books. He was predicted to the Jews, and it was I believe also written that they would not accept him.
(and especially not in his own home-town)

 

[bhaexpress]

Ok I hate to sounds arsey, but can you read? I said I didn't know as many Christians as you, not that I didn't know any. So I am using my first hand knowledge (and my limited knowledge of the Bible) to suggest that yes, there is a degree of homophobia or certainly disapproval of homosexuality present in many Christians.

In case you haven't notices homophobia is not a preserve of any particular religion. There's no shortage of heathens who don't approve either.

 

[Silent Bob]

But I also find it significant that people feel the need to post a story on here about one single child, who may or may not come from a family with an IQ of 37 (shared between them) on a football message board, perhaps trying to suggest that it is typical of people of faith. Ask yourselves why that might be.

And why do the same people NOT post any stories they come across that shed a positive light on religion? Strange, eh? I could, of course, flood these boards with such stories but I think I would quickly get booted off if I did.

Who has done that? Your post was the second in the thread, the first didn't even mention Christianity.

 

[Scampi]

You don't know much about the Catholic religion do you ? I was taught by some God fearing, sadistic nuns in my time and know plenty of Catholics. Can't remember any of them being homophobic. I know some Christians that are including a Born Again Christian relative but Scientologists make no secret at all of their opposition to homosexuality.

I know that in 1986 the current Pope wrote in the Letter to the Bishops of the Catholic Church on the Pastoral Care of Homosexual Persons
that homosexuals have a tendency to "intrinsic moral evil" and that homosexuality is a "moral disorder"

 

[NMH]

Ok I hate to sounds arsey, but can you read? I said I didn't know as many Christians as you, not that I didn't know any. So I am using my first hand knowledge (and my limited knowledge of the Bible) to suggest that yes, there is a degree of homophobia or certainly disapproval of homosexuality present in many Christians.

I find the whole umbrella term 'Christian' as a suspect moniker from anyone who wears it. They so often represent self-righteousness, intense political agendas, and general holier-than-though aggrandizing.
They also interpret scriptures to suit their personal agendas, and de-select the stanzas of Jesus's teachings that they don't prefer to represent.

Of course, I am always remaining open to be impressed by those who don't do that.

 

[Mellotron]

Jesus taught that there is NO sin that is too great to be forgiven, and that his teachings were for specifically the sinners, not the saints.
He was also teaching from the Old Testament, but the experts in those scriptures objected to him saying he was the Messiah that was foretold in those books. He was predicted to the Jews, and it was I believe also written that they would not accept him.
(and especially not in his own home-town)

Agreed.

 

[NMH]

I know that in 1986 the current Pope wrote in the Letter to the Bishops of the Catholic Church on the Pastoral Care of Homosexual Persons
that homosexuals have a tendency to "intrinsic moral evil" and that homosexuality is a "moral disorder"

That's not a condemning statement, but an indictment that many would go along with. I'd say he put that rather succinctly.

 

[Acker79]

And what about the massive majority of Christians who use religion for charitable causes, helping their fellow man, etc?

I'm not saying the stories don't exist, just saying he can post these examples without flooding the board.

So many people on here have stock posts that they put up whenever topics come up, why can't Juan post a "this is why religion is good" every time someone brings up something anti-religion?