hapki68
Orange Belt
Technopunk,
You're absolutely right. Christian does not equate to bigoted or homophobic. Far from it. That's why I said "Religious Right," which has acquired a well-deserved reputation for ignorance and hate. Unless you're from Venus, you know that the Religious Right/Social Conservatives are leading the charge against any type of equal -- not special -- equal treatment of gays and lesbians. And remember, it's not just us they're after. For example, they are actively supporting pharmacists being able to legally deny birth control -- not abortions -- birth control to customers because of their religious beliefs. Do straight people really want to get a lecture on what the Bible says (supposedly) about birth control from their pharmacist?
But there is a Religious Left. They are not as well organized yet, but they are getting there. These true (in my opinion) Christians, Jews, Muslims, Hindus, etc believe that their holy texts are about love and compassion and reject the hate speech coming out of the religious right. Here's an example of one such group.
http://www.christianalliance.org/
Remember, left-wing churches were strong backers of the civil rights movement and played a crucial role in its success. Many whites were killed in the south alongside of blacks by people who believed the Bible supported a separation of the races. The religious left could not reconcile segregation and its insidious consequences with the teachings of Jesus Christ, just as they can't reconcile the mean-spirited policies against gays today.
So I'm very grateful to those Christians, Jews, Muslims, etc -- on the Left -- who, because of their faith, put their reputations and lives on the line for me.
But I don't know any true Christians who are surprised that Christianity is getting a bad reputation -- or where that reputation is coming from.
Patrick
You're absolutely right. Christian does not equate to bigoted or homophobic. Far from it. That's why I said "Religious Right," which has acquired a well-deserved reputation for ignorance and hate. Unless you're from Venus, you know that the Religious Right/Social Conservatives are leading the charge against any type of equal -- not special -- equal treatment of gays and lesbians. And remember, it's not just us they're after. For example, they are actively supporting pharmacists being able to legally deny birth control -- not abortions -- birth control to customers because of their religious beliefs. Do straight people really want to get a lecture on what the Bible says (supposedly) about birth control from their pharmacist?
But there is a Religious Left. They are not as well organized yet, but they are getting there. These true (in my opinion) Christians, Jews, Muslims, Hindus, etc believe that their holy texts are about love and compassion and reject the hate speech coming out of the religious right. Here's an example of one such group.
http://www.christianalliance.org/
Remember, left-wing churches were strong backers of the civil rights movement and played a crucial role in its success. Many whites were killed in the south alongside of blacks by people who believed the Bible supported a separation of the races. The religious left could not reconcile segregation and its insidious consequences with the teachings of Jesus Christ, just as they can't reconcile the mean-spirited policies against gays today.
So I'm very grateful to those Christians, Jews, Muslims, etc -- on the Left -- who, because of their faith, put their reputations and lives on the line for me.
But I don't know any true Christians who are surprised that Christianity is getting a bad reputation -- or where that reputation is coming from.
Patrick