I was reading an article the other day about religion and the affect it has on homosexuality. Do you think if religious institutions finally decided to grow up and accept gays and lesibans, would a lot of the anti-gay feelings disappear? Or would people still be so narrow minded. I suppose what I'm wondering is, do you think religion is a big reason why there is so much anti-gay abuse out there???
2006-05-15T03:13:31Z
P.S Im straight and Catholic, but Idon't agree with my church's teachings on the subject. I believe we are all the same and should all be treated the same.
hot rod2006-05-15T04:54:52Z
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No, the feelings would not disappear. There are too many closed minded people in the world, often makes me wonder why they didn't come with closed mouths as well. The bible does not condemn homosexuality; there were homosexual acts listed in the bible. It is taken in context and people are made to believe thats what it says. There is a website I found and cant think of it at the moment but it talks about the 5 passages in the bible that condemn homosexuality that are misunderstood and interpreted the wrong way. If us homosexuals are as big of sinners as people think we are, everyone else we come in contact with on this earth we will meet in hell because they are no better than us. The bible was written by a man so whos to actually say what God thinks about it. I believe God is all loving and all forgiving and there is not one person on earth that will no be forgiven for what they do. God creates each individual person to be themselves and its nobody elses business to question what he creates.
Yes, anti-gay feeling would shrink noticably. But as someone else just commented, many believers do not have anti-gay feelings (though some may be just queasy about gay marriage, which is a lot less bad than many people would like to make us think). I am a gay atheist, but know many believers of various denominations who are not anti-gay or anti-gay marriage. Still, unequivocal acceptance by some of the larger church organizations would do a lot to reduce anti-gay feelings. We can feel certain of that, but it would take two generations to say that change was really wrought.
The same would be true of the military. A small (though really a very important) change in policy there would spell relief from most anti-gay feeling across American society. When President Truman ordered the racial integration of the armed forces in 1948, it took two generations for America to pretty much get with the program. We could expect the same delay to occur if the military changed its policy toward homosexual soldiers.
I would bet that a change on the part of the churches would bring about an even faster transformation, simply because they are (supposed to be) in the love-thy-neighbor business, not the kill-thy-neighbor business. The problem is, of course, that the large church organizations are NEVER going to take steps that may be perceived as compromising their professed morality. We are more likely to see a change occur in the policy of the American armed forces than in the policy of a large church. So I think people ought to put their efforts into change within the public or secular domain rather than within the private or spiritual(?) domain.
I think that religion plays a huge part with the anti-gay sentiment in this country. Most religions don't accept homosexuality. And if you're following the debate on gay marriage, you will see that a lot of the Christian religions absolutely hate homosexuality, and aren't afraid to voice that opinion.
If religions would accept homosexuality, I think it would still take about 20 years before it became no big deal. The reason for that is because you still have the ones who hate it around, give it enough time for the next generation to come in and there won't be as much of a problem.
The original question asked if religion is why there is anti-gay abuse. The answer is NO. I'm assuming the person writing the question was speaking of all organized religion that preach their word from the number one, all time best selling book, for over the last 100 years. "The Holy Bible".
The Bible clearly states at least 3 times that I'm aware of, that Homosexuallity is a sin. Though, the Bible also says that eatting pork is a sin, pre-marital sex, having sex with animals, eatting camels, etc. The one thing that many of you seem to be forgetting is that it also says in the Bible that God so loved the world that he sent his only begotten Son, and who ever shall believe in him shall not parrish, but have eternal life.
True Christians, are not anti-gay, because Jesus told them to love one another...not just other christians, but everyone, even their enemies. A person who knowingly and continually kills, covets, or tortues a homosexual is not a true Christan. A true Christian is also not a homosexual, because it is a continous sin. A person who knowingly and continually defies the word of God is simply not a Christian. No big deal. IMHO I think if homosexuals want to practice a modified religion to suit their sexual desires, than they should build their own religious denomination. It's your American right to worhship any God you choose, but you should NOT demand that Christians Change the beleifs they have in their God.
I think the reason so many homosexuals feel as though religious denomiminations decriminate against gays/lesb. is because many homosexuals feel that Christians should CHANGE what they have beleived and studies and worshiped since the beginning of time. The True Christians will not Change Gods word, and really why should Christians have to re-write "The Holy Bible"? Homosexuals need to adapt to their own relgion which says its great to be a homosexual. Christians beleive that Jesus Christ is the son of God...The Jews don't. A true Christian doesn't expect the the Jews to Change their beliefs, because it doesn't suit them...or cry discrimination because they don't practice the same beliefs.
It really mistifys me that so many various social groups demand others to change to suit their needs. If 1/2 of that energy was spent working on themselves, building their own communities, and worrying about issues that really matter, like alternaive fuel sources, soil conservation, pollution, and child walfare this would be such a glorious planet.
As a gay Catholic I would say that religion is a big reason why there is so much anti-gay abuse out there even though the numbers of people going to Church are dwindling. There is also the "macho man" image that many young straight guys seem to think they have to have - although what exactly is tough about a group of guys bashing up one gay guy is beyond my comprehension.
To top this off the Courts seem to think that it is ok to beat up gay people - although this attitude is changing thanks mainly to the deaths of Matthew Sheppard and others and the subsequent outporings of anger. It is sadly a cultural problem that encompasses a couple of generations and it will take two or three generations to wipe it out.
Luckily things are slowly changing for the better but it is baby steps all the way and soetimes it is two steps forward, one step back, and at other times one step forward, two steps back, but I think overall we are making slow progress.
Sadly it will take politicians with some testicular fortitude and it appears doubtful that we will ever be likely to see any. The Democrats (in the US) and Labor (in the UK, Australia and NZ) keep promising us the world but never seem to deliver. We faithfully give them our votes and they dribble bits of legislation our way here and there, all the while promising great sweeping change - but never delivering on their promises.