If you are religious, say ultra Catholic, or Mormon, or any other deeply religious person, who is to say that their beliefs are wrong?
These people say that they have read the Bible and in the end, their decision is final...no support of homosexuality. The Pope is not going to change on this issue. The Amish still have the same opinion. The list goes on. We all know that these families have gay children like anyone else, but at the end of the day, to them it is wrong. I will agree that no one has the right to discriminate, say offensive things, or give haircuts, but they are entitled to their beliefs and their vote. These arguments remind me of a woman at a day care center where I worked (co-op). She disciplined a child for a racist remark, telling the child that the comment was "wrong". I asked her in the future to tell the child that that kind of behavior would not be tolerated at such and such facility. There is a difference. I am not into the business of telling anyone or their family how to think. It is more about what they DO that matters. Yes, having a clean heart matters too, but it is not my right to reach into the inner workings of individuals, families, and their religions to confront them on these issues. |
Well said! |
Are you serious? You really don't think a teacher should tell a student that saying something racist is wrong?
People like you cannot be reasoned with. |
Because it promotes intolerance? Intolerance divides, victimizes the innocent and breeds a sense of ultimate rightness over obvious wrong. |
Exactly, if you think the racism example is a good example, then clearly you are not someone with whom I am willing to argue. |
Discrimination is built into every animal specie for protection against predators and rivals for food, shelter or mates.
Our work as "civilized" humans is to force tolerance and inclusion beyond superficial resemblance and social mores. But it goes against the grain, by definition! That's why everyone on this world holds some prejudice or other. You do too. Don't throw the first stone, but instead focus on educating people and explaining that they are not being threatened by others' differences. |
But I would dare, double dare a teacher in say DC to tell a student that his family's position on gay marriage (against) is wrong.
That would likely trigger a complaint. |
I would say "not acceptable or inappropriate" |
My religion is anti-black. How dare you say I can't tell my kid that Jemal is not as good as we are. |
Hmm.... "Is the black church guilty of spiritual hypocrisy in same-sex marriage debate? Some people wonder if the black church will punish President Barack Obama for announcing support for same-sex marriage. Here’s another question: Why would the black church cite scripture to exclude gays when a similar approach to the Bible was used to enslave their ancestors?" http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2012/05/12/is-the-black-church-guilty-of-spiritual-hypocrisy-in-same-sex-marriage-debate/?hpt=hp_c4 First they came for A, but we weren't A. Then then came for B, but we weren't B.... |
You know, there are parts of the Bible that are racist (Noah curse of Canaan) and other parts that are not. The issue is more tricky when you look at the LDS Church/Book of Mormon. God punished those with dark skin again. |
Do we tell Mormons that dark skin is not a result of a punishment and that the BOM is wrong? |
I thought the made up leader of Mormons had a revelation from God that said blacks were A-OK now. |
Not completely. The book still says that the skin color is from a punishment. But do we have the right to tell their kids that their religion is wrong? |
OP,
It's a clash of "Truth" versus "Moral Relativism." In our current enlightened society, moral relativism is the order of the day. We've progressed from the day when we considered various populations to be lesser citizens. Women have the vote now. Blacks aren't slaves. While we certainly have social classes, we don't have a rigid caste system; mobility through the classes is possible and indeed romanticized. So, as part of our evolution of general decency, it seems odd that some individuals would cling to the same texts they once used to justify discrimination against women, against minorities as a safe haven to hate gays. It simply doesn't compute. For one thing, I read the Bible too. The message I take from it is one of love and tolerance. Of acceptance. Everyone is welcome at the Lord's table. EVERYONE. So, in that context, it's kind of hard to reconcile the hate. Shorter me: Stop hiding behind a backwards way of thinking and get with the program. Your way of thinking is simply invalid. Live and let live. How does gay people getting married in any way shape or form affect you or your own marriage? |