Originally posted by an0maly33
I was happy sitting on the sidelines and taking in the different viewpoints until i read this. I think you need to take a step back and read that
line you typed. I'll just come back with "Christianity is a religion, not a lifestyle choice, and therefore does not deserve the same respect."
You know. Just to get you thinking about it.
What are you trying to say? That a Religious Theology is the same as a Lifestyle Choice?
Na-ah...
A Religious Theology DICTATES your lifestyle choices. If it does not then you don't have a very strong faith in that theology. In Christian terms
someone like this would be said to be a “lukewarm” or “wishy-washy” Christian.
Originally posted by an0maly33
Are African Americans doing the same thing because they feel "guilty" for being black?
Race is something that someone is born into, its not something that someone chooses to engage in. Apples and oranges. Heck I am discriminated against
because I chose to smoke, but I accept that my choice to do that has certain ramifications and stigmas attached to it, if I chose to continue doing
it. Are you going to say that I am oppressed the same as the African Americans are?
Originally posted by an0maly33
No, I'm not gay so don't run off and get your pitchforks and torches yet.
As I said before, even if you are, that is not really my concern or business as long as you keep it out of things that are my business, like what my
kids get taught in school.
Originally posted by an0maly33
I just find it curious that you can have such..."selective respect" to those groups that you feel deserving of it. When you try to back it up with
reasoning it STILL doesn't really make sense.
That is because you are trying to make equal two things that are not equal.
Originally posted by an0maly33
I doubt it. Gay...ism isn't a fetish. This argument isn't as extreme, but the logic fits well with others I've seen that compare gays to
murderers.
They are sexual preferences, and thus exactly the same thing.
Originally posted by an0maly33
Last I checked the Church didn't have a monopoly on marriages.
Then you need to check again, marriage as a tradition comes from Religion. It predates any existing laws on this Earth today.
Originally posted by an0maly33
I myself was married by the state by a justice of the peace. They're not necessarily asking for rights to invade your church. Just rights to be
legally considered a family unit.
Then don't call it marriage and don't ask to do it in church, that is what many Christians get up in arms about.
Originally posted by an0maly33
Close. I was taught to respect everyone.
It depends, you can respect everyone to a point, but not what everyone does. Were you taught to respect people who were criminals? Drug Dealers? Where
do you want to draw the line.
Originally posted by an0maly33
Every time you rub me the wrong way, you will lose a bit though.
Guilt trip again? You think that is going to really effect my feelings on this?
Originally posted by an0maly33
For the record I was raised a Christian and I still have an inherent respect for the values and morals it embodies. But I just couldn't wrap my head
around the idea that God would hate me for swearing, not going to church to worship, etc.
Then you did not understand a thing you were taught. God Loves everyone, its sin that he hates. God does not “send” people to hell, but rather he
cannot allow anything sinful into his presence. You missed much of the point of Christianity obviously.
Originally posted by an0maly33
My stance on the issue is "I do my best to lead a good life, be a productive member of society, and instill values and morals in my children." If
God is going to damn me for swearing like a sailor and never going to church along the way, then he doesn't deserve my worship.
Again, God does not damn you, your sins do that.
Originally posted by an0maly33
This is the beef I have with organized Christianity in general. I honestly don't know how people do it. Why would you readily accept the notion
that the people you love more than anything could burn in eternal damnation just because they "sinned" - maybe they just didn't go to church
enough.
Again you did not study when you were a Christian, which is why you never really understood it, unless you were a Catholic. You are talking about
Works vs Grace. You cannot turn in enough boxtops to get into heaven, you need to read up on how Grace works.
Originally posted by an0maly33
Maybe some of us will have some learning to do or issues to work through (hell) before we're allowed in, but I'd like to think that we all end up in
a heaven of sorts.
Universalism is a neat concept, but I would rather not have to count on it for my salvation.
Originally posted by an0maly33
Well to be blunt the gays have a better track record of not burning people at the stake for "heresy". Seriously, though I'm not sure what
"agenda" your talking about.
If you truely read my first post you would see that it was not Christianity that did this, but rather the Roman Catholic Church. Many protestant
religions consider the RCC to be the Beast of Revelations, including me.
Originally posted by an0maly33
And Defcon, I'm not out to attack you specifically, but you were the only one that chimed in on the Christian front and some of what you said I
found a little offensive.
Well I am sorry for that, but I am trying to be truthful as possible.
Originally posted by an0maly33
The crux of the issue is not gays vs. Christians. It's this attitude of "We are right, everyone else is wrong - we'll pretend to "respect" you
if you're different, but it's only a word to us - we actually believe that you're deserving of eternal torture.
I don't know a single Christian that thinks this way. I would not wish my worst enemy to go to hell, I don't think that anyone deserves that from
my human perspective. Hell itself is an interesting concept that I could write a lot on, but it goes beyond my time to spend on here today. As to
respect, I can respect certain things but I cannot respect certain actions. Christians also know they are not always right, but we are forgiven.
Originally posted by an0maly33
Sometimes we'll even tell you so to your face." I don't think Jesus would approve.
And maybe you were doing something that he would not have.
Originally posted by an0maly33
I see respect like this: If someone said they think they're gay, I might tell them to explore that and If they decided they were then I would be
supportive - because I respect that. If you can't support something, it's a given that you don't actually respect it.
I would tell them its not really my business, which its not any more then who my friends pick up at the bar this weekend. However, they still know
that if they asked me about it, I would tell them the truth, that its a sin. Kind of a don't ask don't tell policy, cause if you ask you know
already what your going to get for an answer. Believe me I have sinned many times in my life as well, but i try not to make a habit of it.
Originally posted by an0maly33
Accept that other people live their lives the way they see fit, and most of the time they don't need or want anyone else telling them they're doing
it wrong.
I believe I covered the topic of the self-centered/self-worship lifestyle already in this thread somewhere. It might be in the thread that originally
spawned this one though.
[edit on 11/21/2008 by defcon5]
