Evangelicals less tweaked about Homosexuals?
It used to be that gay marriage was the big scary thing that the Republicans (Bush and Rove) could use to galvanize the reborn or evangelical vote. The fear of, for example, two men saying I do, promising to love each other forever and having a kick ass yet tasteful wedding party, might just have cost Gore and Kerry the elections.
Now there are signs that this Christian community has become more diverse and maybe less focused on the traditional hot button issues (abortion and gay marriage). There are growing concerns about the war, torture, the environment and social justice – not very Pat Robertson or Dr. Dobson like.
A recent poll by Beliefnet showed that 80-percent of respondents saw reducing poverty as "very important", where as only 49- percent chose stopping gay marriage.
It seems also that the younger generation is not as judgmental, threatened. They probably all have seen old episodes of Will and Grace or the Ellen show; they probably all have a friend who bought a Rufus Wainwright or a Scissor Sisters CD.
Jim Wallis, an influential progressive evangelical stated "The religious right, their dominance is finished, their monologue is over. They have a voice, but they're not the only voice now."
What is happening when even a former Republican sports star ( a profile not known for pro-gay pronouncements) is calling for a change in the guard? My new hero, Charles Barkley, in an interview last week, on reasons why he is supporting Obama:
"I've got great respect for Sen. McCain, great respect, but I don't like the way Republicans have taken this country," said Barkley. "Every time I hear the word 'conservative,' it makes me sick to my stomach, because they're really just fake Christians, as I call them. That's all they are."
"I think they want to be judge and jury," Barkley said. "Like, I'm for gay marriage. It's none of my business if gay people want to get married. I'm pro-choice. And I think these Christians; first of all, they're not supposed to judge other people. But they're the most hypocritical judge of people we have in the country. And it bugs the hell out of me. They act like they're Christians. They're not forgiving at all."
We here on Yahoo Music have a very diverse crowd. I wonder what our Christian readers think.
I am not quite certain how homosexuality is spreading disease. Many people get AIDS, and it is from various forms (no one is advocating fighting AIDS with drug use, but trying to limit the disease destroying one's body). CONDOMS prevent AIDS.
I think there are some issues of history that have been ignored in many of the posts, and some people also need to take another look at the Bible. There are only 3 mentions of homosexuality, and 50+ on taxation. Why do we choose to pay attention and forbid certain aspects? Aside from that, when the Bible was initially written, homosexuality was not even a concept. The word only came about in the 19th century.
Where is the forgiveness that should be occurring? Why are we focused on this as opposed to much much more important issues like the genocides taking place around the world? People speak more about these issues trying to discriminate rather than trying to prevent others from DYING. Speak up about something that's legitimately harmful.
Wow! So many errors and misconceptions in one blog! My mind boggles. #1 Condoms DO NOT stop all aids transmissions any more than they stop ALL pregnancys.Aids is transfered by many ways, fornication, adultry, homosexuality,i.v. drug use, impure blood transfusions and mosquitos.Re-read the other blogs previous- there are many more admonitions against homosexuality in the Bible than three.People who need forgivness(from sin)are not asking for it.Only forgivness from God has any meaning and MUST be accompanied by repentance. A common misconception is that God is at any time accepting of sin. He is not! We humans have NO AUTHORITY to forgive sin.As far as "focus" on one thing or another, Christians ARE focused on the ills of the world.How about joining us instead of trying to justify immoral behaviors?
Tiffany also stated that, "Aside from that, when the Bible was initially written, homosexuality was not even a concept. The word only came about in the 19th century." Since homosexuality is a rather recent behavior ("not even a concept" in Bible times), then it appears that it is a choice based life style vis-a-vis a genetically driven life style unless we are prepared to believe that the homosexual gene only emerged in the last two thousand years or so (can't wait for Darwinists to tackle this contention).
Tiffany asks the question, "Where is the forgiveness that should be occurring?" Inherent in God's forgiveness is the concept of confession of sin. The homosexual activists do not regard homosexual behavior as a sin so what would they need forgiveness of? In addition to the confession of the sin and repentance, there must be a sincere effort to refrain from committing that sin again (although most people probably will repeat the sin. The difference is in the heart of the sinner. If the homosexual asks for forgiveness but has no intention to refrain from the behavior in the future, then God knows that is not a genuine confession and repentance).
Finally Tiffany asks, "Why are we focused on this as opposed to much more important issues like the genocides taking place around the world? People speak more about these issues trying to discriminate rather than trying to prevent others from DYING. Speak up about something that's legitimately harmful". This blog began as a discussion about the Christian perspective on same sex marriage. That is why we are not addressing world hunger, genocides, etc. Tiffany clearly does not consider homosexuality to be immoral otherwise she would likely consider the impact of socially accepted immorality to be "legitimately harmful" like pedophilia.
The POINT of the discussion is to point out that there is a flaw in the way that the Christian movement is moving, and there are more important things that Christians COULD focus on, like accepting condoms as a form of protection against AIDS instead of continuing UNSUCCESSFUL practices. Do you know that clean needle programs in the US are not allowed? That would be an example of ignoring the problem and thinking that ideology will structure actual behavior. Unfortunately it does not.
Come to San Diego ... you can have all the clean needles you want at taxpayer expense.
This blog was never about taxation, which you seem to have a fixation on or hatred of.I wanted Mike Huckabee to be the next president, he would have done away with the i.r.s.Again it is NOT any humans alleged hatred of the clearly defined sin of homosexuality that should concern you and others, but GOD's hatred of sin(disobedience).Nobody said anything about "eliminating" anyone. Education about unsafe(immoral)practices would certainly help in eliminating all std's.Did you know that in some places in Africa men with aids believe that they will be cured by having sex with a virgin?Now THAT is ignorance!Clean needle programs are only enabling sick people to continue to abuse illegal and very harmful drugs. Why do you believe that helping addicts to use more drugs is a good thing?Again you are confusing Catholics with other Christian groups, Catholics have a problem with condoms, and not even all of them.I know that many Catholics are true Christians, but not all-too many are more clearly defined as ritualists.As far as us Christians thinking for ourselves, you seen to think anyone who disagrees with you can't be using their own sense of logic.How bigoted and narrow minded!