Dealing with Homophobia

Gay marriage is totally fine by me.

Unfortunately, there seems to be a percentage of any conservative religious belief that seems to think that not only do they have a right to discriminate against people with whom they disagree, but a god-given duty to do so. They may preach, urge, and exhort people to behave differently, but if those people's behaviours are consensual they should not be able to restrict them by legislation.

If there is a Deity, it is a matter between It and the individual.

Cherry-picking biblical scripture to support one's personal bigotry and hatred is as intellectually lazy as it is dishonest, yet this forms the basis of the blatant homophobia promoted by the so-called "religious right".

If one truly believes that the Bible represents the word of God, then one should follow ALL of its pronouncements literally, even those that contradict other passages.

http://www.religioustolerance.org/hom_bibh3.htm

Over the last few centuries, most Christians and Jews have rejected Leviticus 20:13. They no longer call on the death penalty for homosexuals. Only Christian Reconstructionists and a few Christian hate groups wish to revert to mass executions of gays and lesbians today.

Christian Re-constructionists, well of course!

Hmm..........Leviticus is the Old Testament, homophobes say it's pretty much null and void when you bring up something else from the OT such as, "selling your daughter into slavery", "offering your daughters up for rape", or "a father having sex with your daughters when drunk". But when it comes to homosexual relationships these same people are all into the OT. Make up your minds, or is this that picking and choosing things from the bible to meet YOUR needs you guys do as always?

I don't fear homosexuals I just find their life style repulsive to me and I will not defend or support their abbhorent life style.

With the excption of Old n Grumpy, I agree with the comments so far!

It has never been our responsibiliy to condemn people. Jesus didn't say go out there and hate, he said love and care for each other. (not specificaly, but that was my interpretation.) There is also a verse that says if you want to judge/condemn people, take the log out of your eye to remove the splinter in their eye. (sorry for lack of reference... help anyone?)

Don't like gay marriage? Don't get married. Don't like the gay lifestyle? Then don't live it. Period.

Hugs to all!

E

I'm with you all the way. We have much better things to worry about than how people choose to love each other. Try tolerance, folks. It makes life so much more enjoyable.

I know a couple that love to preach their religious views to anyone that will listen even though they are hypocrites as they do not attend church as much as they profess everyone else should, nor do they live the teachings of their religion as well as they try to assert to others...but they honestly believe that being gay is a mental disorder, that it's something in their wiring in their brain that keeps them from being normal...their definition of normal being others like them I suppose. I don't know if it's because their religion does not accept homosexual relationships that they have to try to pass it off as a mental defect but it is belief systems like this that make it that much harder for gays to live peacefully in this world.
I agree with Conside it..Live and let live. I think the more positive relationships we can all have in this world, no matter the dynamics, the better off we all will be.

Is this like the old "Mortzophobia", that Lucy and Dezi had ?

(A fear of Fred and Ethal.)

I know a couple that love to preach their religious views to anyone that will listen even though they are hypocrites as they do not attend church as much as they profess everyone else should, nor do they live the teachings of their religion as well as they try to assert to others...but they honestly believe that being gay is a mental disorder, that it's something in their wiring in their brain that keeps them from being normal...their definition of normal being others like them I suppose. I don't know if it's because their religion does not accept homosexual relationships that they have to try to pass it off as a mental defect but it is belief systems like this that make it that much harder for gays to live peacefully in this world.
I agree with Conside it..Live and let live. I think the more positive relationships we can all have in this world, no matter the dynamics, the better off we all will be.

So very true, what you say. I find some Christians very hypocritical because while they sit there all self righteous in their firm belief that they are the chosen ones, they don't practice at all what their religion says or if they do, they only practice what is convenient for them. True of any religion I suppose but I don't live among a group of Buddhists or Islamics but in a country where 90% of its people are Christians.

There is a Spanish song that speaks precisely of this and I find it perfectly appropriate to add to this discussion since we are talking about intolerance. The song is written and sung by an artist by the name of Ricardo Arjona and it's called Jesus es verbo no sustantivo. It means Jesus is a verb, not a noun. I think you'll find some of the verses enlightening.

If you wanna listen to the song itself, here's the link;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u6aWGwMddiA&p=598EC861FF27A046&playnext=1&index=18

Here's the lyrics, I'll post them in Spanish and translation will come below.

(hablando) Ayer, Jesus afino mi guitarra y agudizo mis sentidos, me inspiro
Papel y lapiz en mano, apunto la cancion y me negue a escribir
Porque hablar y escribir sobre Jesus es redundar, seria mejor actuar
Luego, algo me dijo que la unica forma de no redundar es decir la verdad
Decir que Jesus es accion y movimiento, no cinco letras formando un nombre
Decir que a Jesus le gusta que actuemos, no que hablemos
Decir que Jesus es verbo no sustantivo. //

Jesus es mas que una simple y llana teoria
Que haces hermano leyendo la biblia todo el dia?
Lo que ahi esta escrito se resume en amor, vamos ve y practicalo
Jesus hermanos mios es verbo no sustantivo

Jesus es mas que un templo de lujo con tendencia barroca
El sabe que total a la larga esto no es mas que roca
La iglesia se lleva en el alma y en los actos no se te olvide
Jesus hermanos mios es verbo no sustantivo

Jesus es mas que persignarse hincarse y hacer de esto alarde
El sabe que quiza por dentro la conciencia les arde
Jesus es mas que una flor en el altar salvadora de pecados
Jesus hermanos mios es verbo no sustantivo

Jesus es mas que un grupo de seoras de muy negra conciencia
Que pretenden ganarse el cielo con club de beneficiencia
Si quieres tu ser miembro activa tendras que presentar a la directiva
Tu cuenta de ahorros en Suiza y vinculos oficiales

Jesus convertia en hechos todos sus sermones
Que si tomas cafe es pecado dicen los mormones
Tienen tan poco que hacer que andan inventando cada cosa
Jesus hermanos mios es verbo no sustantivo

Jesus no entiende por que en el culto le aplauden
Hablan de honestidad sabiendo que el diezmo es un fraude
A Jesus le da asco el pastor que se hace rico con la fe
Jesus hermanos mios es verbo no sustantivo

Me bautizaron cuando tenia 2 meses y a mi no me avisaron
Hubo fiesta piata y a mi no me lo preguntaron
Bautizame tu Jesus por favor, asi entre amigos
Se que odias el protocolo hermano mio

De mi barrio la mas religiosa era doa Carlota
Hablaba de amor al projimo y me pincho cien pelotas
Desde nio fui aprendiendo que la religion no es mas que un metodo
Con el titulo "Prohibido pensar" que ya todo esta escrito

Seores no dividan la fe las fronteras son para los paises
En este mundo hay mas religiones que nios felices
Jesus penso "me hare invisible para que todos mis hermanos
Dejen de estar hablando tanto de mi y se tiendan la mano"

Jesus eres el mejor testigo del amor que te profeso
Tengo la conciencia tranquila por eso no me confieso
Rezando 2 padres nuestros el asesino no revive a su muerto
Jesus hermanos mios es verbo no sustantivo

Jesus no bajes a la tierra quedate ahi arriba
Todos lo que han pensado como tu hoy estan boca arriba
Olvidados en algun cementerio, de equipaje sus ideales
Murieron con la sonrisa en los labios
Porque fueron verbo y no sustantivo

Adrew31,,,Or in English (hope I got it close);

Yesterday, Jesus I sharpen my guitar and I worsen my senses, I am inspired Paper and pencil in hand, I point the song and me negue to write Because to speak and to write on Jesus it is to result, serious better to act Then, something it said that the only form to me of not resulting that is to say, the truth To say that Jesus is action and movement, to five letters not forming a Decir name that to Jesus it likes that we act, not that we speak To say that Jesus is verb nonnoun. // Jesus is but that a simple and level theory That beams brother reading the bible all the day? What there this writing is transformed in love, we go sees and practicalo Jesus brother mine is verb nonnoun Jesus is but that a temple of luxury with tendency barroca It knows that total in the long run this is not but that rock The church takes in the soul and in the acts it does not forget to you Jesus brother mine is verb nonnoun Jesus is but that to persignar itself to kneel and to do of this show It knows that perhaps on the inside it brings back to consciousness burns to them Jesus is but that a flower in the rescuing altar of sins Jesus brother mine is verb nonnoun Jesus is but that a group of seoras of very black brings back to consciousness That they try to gain the sky with beneficence club If you love your active member being tendras that to present/display to the directive Your official account of savings in Switzerland and bonds Jesus convertia in facts all sermons That if takings coffee is sinned they say mormones They so little must do that they walk inventing each thing Jesus brother mine is verb nonnoun Jesus does not understand so that in the cult they applaud to him They speak of honesty knowing that the tithe is a fraud To Jesus it gives to disgust the shepherd him who takes control rich of the faith Jesus brother mine is verb nonnoun They baptized to me when tapeworm 2 months and did not warn to me Piata was celebration and they did not ask it to me Bautizame your Jesus please, thus between friendly That you hate the brother protocol mine Of my district but the religious era doa Carlota It spoke of love to the fellow and I puncture one hundred balls to me From nio I was learning that the religion is not but that a method With the title " Prohibited pensar" that already all this writing Seores does not divide to the faith the borders are for the countries In this world there are but religions that nios happy Jesus penso " invisible me hare so that all brothers They stop being speaking as much of my and they lie down mano" Jesus you are the best witness of the love that I profess to you I have brings back to consciousness calm for that reason I do not confess myself Saying 2 parents ours the assassin not revive to its dead Jesus brother mine is verb nonnoun Jesus you do not lower to the Earth quedate there above All what they have thought as your today they estan mouth above Forgotten in some cemetery, of luggage its ideals They died with the smile in the lips Because they were verb and nonnoun

This is my own translation. I don't translate it word for word since some words simply don't translate literally into English but I think it speaks for itself.

Yesterday Jesus tuned up my guitar and my senses. I had paper in hand and yet I refused to write. Because talking and writing about Jesus is redundant, it's better to act. Then something told me the best way to not be redundant is to say the truth. To say that Jesus means doing something instead of just five letters in a name. To say that Jesus likes us to act not just to talk. To say that Jesus is a verb, not a noun.

Jesus is more than plain theory. What are you doing reading the bible all day brother? Everything that is on there is summed up in one word; love. My brothers Jesus is a verb, not a noun.

Jesus is more than a luxurious temple in the baroque style. He knows that it is nothing more than rock. Don't forget the temple is in your soul and in your deeds. My brothers, Jesus is a verb and not a noun.

Jesus is more than kneeling, praying and giving yourself a benediction daily. He knows that inside you, your conscience is burning. Jesus is more than a figure in the altar that forgives your sins. My brothers, Jesus is a verb, not a noun.

Jesus is more than a group of ladies with a dark conscience. Pretending to gain entry into heaven with acts of charity. If you wanna be a member, you have to show them your credentials and your Swiss bank account.

Jesus made all his sermons into actual deeds. People like Mormons say if you drink coffee it's a sin. You have so little to do that you have to make sins up. My brothers Jesus is a verb and not a noun.

Jesus doesn't know why he's applauded church. They speak of honesty but the priest is a fraud. Jesus is disgusted by a pastor that makes himself rich using faith. My brothers, Jesus is a verb, not a noun.

I was baptized when I was 2 months and they didn't warn me. There was a party in my name and they didn't ask me. I want you to baptize me Jesus, just between us two friends. I know you hate the protocol my brother.

In my neighborhood the most religious woman was Mrs. Carlota. She spoke of loving your brothers yet she blew up hundreds of my rubber balls. Since then I have learned religion is simply a method with a title on it that says it's forbidden to think because everything is already written.

Please don't divide the faith, that's for countries to do. In this world there are more religions than happy children. Jesus wants to disappear so that all his brothers stop thinking about him and make peace with each other.

Jesus you are the best witness to the love I give you. My conscience is clean which is why I don't do confession. Reciting two Our Father doesn't bring dead people back. My brothers Jesus is a verb, not a noun.

Jesus please don't come down. stay up there. Everyone that has thought like you ended up dead. Their ideals forgotten and abandoned. They died with a smile on their face, because they were a verb and not a noun.

Those strict religious rules were only put in place about 1700 yrs ago by The Church.

Wiser religions before that worshipped The Sacred Feminine. She was the female form of God, or rather the balanced male/female form of God, some called her Gaia, others called her Mother Nature and sexuality whether among men or women was viewed as a way to commune with her.

There's drawings in ancient cultures such as Greeks and Egyptians where orgies were as common as walking into a shop to buy something. And they were in no way just heterosexual orgies. It was a free for all.

The Church in order to gather and control their power had to abolish that concept.

Faithful man/woman couples will have kids who can be indoctrinated and will do same with their kids and those kids will do same with their kids and so on and so on and so on. It was a genius plan, you gotta give them that.

Well, I tend to agree with the article.

Any subjective perspective, which attacks another's personal belief, is nothing but a display of ignorance. wheather It be life style, religious belief or sexual orientation.

Don't force it upon me, and i'll not resist.... Whatever the stand.

Statement is well made and should be easily accepted by all.