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Why is religion so fascinated with homosexuality?

robocop (actually)

Well-Known Member
Premium Member
Well anyway here is some good news about my church at BYU.

At BYU, you can now be openly gay, they accept that you're born that way, and they have disavowed conversion therapy.
 

lewisnotmiller

Grand Hat
Staff member
Premium Member
Well let me state for the record that that may not always be bad.

I'm a secularist. I see it as bad if they're pushing things for religious reasons.
What they're pushing I may sometimes agree with though.

To be clear, I have no problem with religious groups pushing things for non religious reasons...like any other group would...particularly if it's done transparently.
 

robocop (actually)

Well-Known Member
Premium Member
Laws imposed on people of all religions should be defensible without appealing to any particular religion.

If legislation can only be justified by appealing to religion, then it's bad legislation.
I'm sorry but theocracy is a valid option of government, as is mixing it with other stuff. In fact theocracy would theoretically be the best form of government.
 

robocop (actually)

Well-Known Member
Premium Member
Religious compulsion by governments has led to such wonderful "Christian" solutions as burning people. Great idea!
Theoretically it could work. Burning people is wrong. It even says in the Bible you will not kill. But I am not trying to impose on anyone here that it would have to be Christian.
 

Kenny

Face to face with my Father
Premium Member
So as we natter away (yet again) in another thread about homosexuality, I'm curious about something: why are religious types, especially conservatives, so interested? Why do they care so much?

Here's a little quote from a gay priest, Malcolm Johnston, in his book "Diary of a Gay Priest: The Tightrope Walker:"

"It is condemned. It is expressly forbidden in Scripture...Four General Councils forbid it, Luther and Zwingli weighed in against it, and until recently it was distasteful to most people. What is it? Lending money at interest."

Shakespeare created one of his greatest villains (Shylock) based on the practice of taking usance (interest). Jews prospered all over the Christian world because kings and nobles needed to borrow money, but their own subjects, unable to charge interest, were unwilling to spot them large sums.

So why aren't conservative Christians railing against lending at interest?

American Christians were loathe to give up their slaves -- claiming it was permitted, even encouraged by Scripture. But they gave them up eventually, but long, long before they were willing to give up their hatred towards gays.

Even though Jesus couldn't even be bothered mentioning the subject!

So, Christians -- enlighten us. Why is this topic so important that it occupies so much of these forums?
Actually, you seem to be more fixated on the topic than I am. I don't think I have ever posted a thread on this subject... but as you said, "So as we natter away (yet again) in another thread about homosexuality," by our friendly humanist evangelist.
 

Evangelicalhumanist

"Truth" isn't a thing...
Premium Member
Because Christians tend to try to impose their view on others through the law, for one.

Well let me state for the record that that may not always be bad.
In my view, it can never, ever be right to impose one's unverifiable belief system upon anyone else -- and the whole point of law is to impose law on everyone.

Don't like broccoli? Don't eat broccoli. Don't ban broccoli, because others may like it.
 

robocop (actually)

Well-Known Member
Premium Member
In my view, it can never, ever be right to impose one's unverifiable belief system upon anyone else -- and the whole point of law is to impose law on everyone.

Don't like broccoli? Don't eat broccoli. Don't ban broccoli, because others may like it.
Evangelicalhumanist, we often don't see eye to eye, but I mean no disrespect ok?
 

Evangelicalhumanist

"Truth" isn't a thing...
Premium Member
I'm sorry but theocracy is a valid option of government, as is mixing it with other stuff. In fact theocracy would theoretically be the best form of government.
That is an outrageous statement!

Do you know why? Can you define "theocracy?" Just the word -- not our usually accepted definition. It means, literally "rule by God." The problem is, that is never what you get -- because God doesn't show up, so what you really get is "rule by people who pretend they can speak for God."

When they can show me their bona fides, their "power of attorney" signed by God, I might perhaps agree. Until then? Not a freaking chance!
 

robocop (actually)

Well-Known Member
Premium Member
That is an outrageous statement!

Do you know why? Can you define "theocracy?" Just the word -- not our usually accepted definition. It means, literally "rule by God." The problem is, that is never what you get -- because God doesn't show up, so what you really get is "rule by people who pretend they can speak for God."

When they can show me their bona fides, their "power of attorney" signed by God, I might perhaps agree. Until then? Not a freaking chance!
Suppose they didn't impose on you belief in God, and teamed up with you to be moral in ways that you'd accept?
 

King Phenomenon

Well-Known Member
Chances are great that the past present and future would be a lot worse if religions never existed. Just a hunch. Religion is not the source of bad things. I would be a fool to believe as such. Also I’m not saying that religions have made it better. If all we had was a book of laws would it be utopia? I think no unfortunately
 
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robocop (actually)

Well-Known Member
Premium Member
That is an outrageous statement!

Do you know why? Can you define "theocracy?" Just the word -- not our usually accepted definition. It means, literally "rule by God." The problem is, that is never what you get -- because God doesn't show up, so what you really get is "rule by people who pretend they can speak for God."

When they can show me their bona fides, their "power of attorney" signed by God, I might perhaps agree. Until then? Not a freaking chance!

Evangelicalhumanist, you really might like this about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints:

D&C 88:118 -

And as all have not afaith, seek ye diligently and bteach one another words of cwisdom; yea, seek ye out of the best dbooks words of wisdom; seek learning, even by study and also by faith.

In other words we recognize that some types of people are not religious, and we want them to teach each other out of the best books (or sources of information) they can find.
 
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Evangelicalhumanist

"Truth" isn't a thing...
Premium Member
Suppose they didn't impose on you belief in God, and teamed up with you to be moral in ways that you'd accept?
You slip in that little word, "moral," without giving it much attention.

But what makes something "moral" or "immoral?" Is it the taste of those who think about it? (You know, "I like making love to women, so all men should like making love to women -- that's moral.")

Is it "moral" to disfellowship (or "shun" or "excommunicate") someone from the community they've been part of all their life because they might disagree with some part of the "party line?" (In other words, the orthodox opinion.)

Is it moral to deny me the dignity of loving the partner that I fed by hand for 8 1/2 months in hospital when he was paralyzed from the neck down -- all while working six days a week -- just because we're both men?

Look again at that last paragraph, and tell me, if you think my relationship is immoral, what I should have done.
 

robocop (actually)

Well-Known Member
Premium Member
You slip in that little word, "moral," without giving it much attention.

But what makes something "moral" or "immoral?" Is it the taste of those who think about it? (You know, "I like making love to women, so all men should like making love to women -- that's moral.")

Is it "moral" to disfellowship (or "shun" or "excommunicate") someone from the community they've been part of all their life because they might disagree with some part of the "party line?" (In other words, the orthodox opinion.)

Is it moral to deny me the dignity of loving the partner that I fed by hand for 8 1/2 months in hospital when he was paralyzed from the neck down -- all while working six days a week -- just because we're both men?

Look again at that last paragraph, and tell me, if you think my relationship is immoral, what I should have done.
My heart says I want to grant you all that. My heart and brain says there might still be something to this God thing that I don't understand. Care/harm is not the only pillar of morality you know? I honestly believe those 3 things you mentioned could degrade society. What about the morality of the herd?
 
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