Are Christians generally homophobic, in your opinion?

[closeupready]

(Trying this again)

Anyway, it was supposed to be a poll, but you can just give your thoughts, as if it were a normal thread.

[VMI Dem]

1. Yes, absolutely.

[el_bryanto]

2. It depends on what you mean by homophobic

But by most definitions, yes.

That may not prevent them from voting the right way.

Bryant

[Bobbie Jo]

3. Flamebait. nt

[spoony]

5. To be fair, it's related to my poll.

I mean, it didn't just come out of nowhere, the OP wants to know something related to what I asked.

[closeupready]

9. Right. I started this at your suggestion. Cheers.

:hi:

[spoony]

4. "Generally" will depend on the type of Christian that makes up your everyday

encounters with them. Is there a national poll? It's hard to say. But I think more important than that actual number, whatever it is, is the trend. I think American Christians ARE becoming more open and tolerant.

[raw oysters]

6. No. Not the true Christians. At least I think so, I've never met one.

...

[canetoad]

7. You would never know

I doubt whether a *real christian would ever need to publicly acknowledge their faith, let alone spruik it aloud to show how 'morally' superior they are.

[City Lights]

8. The real ones? No. The fake ones? Absolutely. nt

[closeupready]

10. Ah, yes, of course. Like Haggard or Falwell.

Or Jesse Helms.

[City Lights]

40. Or most of the self-described Christians I know. nt

[Iggo]

11. That is some badass flamebait there.

Nice going.

[closeupready]

12. See post #9.

:hi:

[mitchtv]

13. absolutely

that includes those who sit back and allow their pulpits to spew hate, and quietly disagree

[David Zephyr]

17. Yep.

If all the cruel bigots on earth could fly, then Christianity would be one of the biggest airports on the planet.

[seabeyond]

14. no. nt

[eShirl]

15. You mean the ones who blather on and on about how Christian they are?

I believe there tends to be a correlation. But individuals, they can surprise you.

[Sebastian Doyle]

16. I'm as pissed off about Maine as anybody

but is this really helpful? :shrug:

[JerseygirlCT]

23. I don't think so

It seems that some feel the need to take out and flog "Christians" at any opportunity.

[closeupready]

26. Kind of hard to argue that a Roman Catholic Church led by someone who excoriates gays

by calling their families "part of an ideology of evil" and who reminds parishioners regularly that THE CHURCH IS NOT A DEMOCRACY - that these people generally are not homophobic - kind of a tough sell, don't you think?

I was raised Catholic, by the way.

[JerseygirlCT]

35. Only if you're looking for stereotypes and not at individuals

The Catholic Church hierarchy? I'm with you - a former RC myself, I'm thoroughly disgusted with the boys in Rome and their representatives in the US. It's hateful, it's horribly counter to the lessons of Jesus.

But I also know many Catholics who love and support and yearn for equal rights for gays and lesbians. I'm not willing to tar them with that broad brush. What does that accomplish? Are we hoping to punish those who are part of the struggle for equality in a thirst to rail?

Likewise the broader picture - plenty of Christians, both clergy and laity, who are still blinded to the horrible harm their ignorance and hate causes. But plenty of others who are fully part of the struggle - either because they are themselves gay, they have loved ones who are gay, or because they understand that the teaching of love that form the core of our faith cannot exist where people are hated and mistreated for being who God made them. And that furthering love is always God's work.

[BolivarianHero]

38. If you're dumb enough to believe in Papal Infalliability...

You're too gullible to have an opinion that's worth a damn. That said, I suspect most Catholics are wise enough to think for themselves.

[JerseygirlCT]

39. You do understand that

papal infallibity is a teaching with some pretty strict boundaries, yes? It isn't a "say whatever you want and it's true" thing.

That said, I'm no fan of this pope, or, as I said, any longer RC. I do know and love many R. Catholics though, and among them many wise and loving people. And many terribly intelligent people.

[Toasterlad]

58. If You Donate Money to the Catholic Church, You Are Financing Hate. Period.

The RC donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to Yes on 1. Where do you think that money came from?

[closeupready]

60. If you read my opening post, you will note that I passed no judgment on anyone.

It was a question to inquire about opinions.

If Christians and their friends are highly defensive when it comes to how they actually regard gay people, that's just the way it goes. Not going to stop discussion.

[Zywiec]

48. When was the last time you were at mass?

I'm a Catholic and never hear any of the hateful things that are supposedly taught weekly.

It just doesn't happen at my church.

[Hansel]

54. You're lucky then. nt

[closeupready]

57. Probably about 20 years ago.

I know nothing about your particular church, nor about why you've never read that JPII said, "gay families are part of an ideology of evil", that gay people must suffer in chastity and pray to God for their entire lives, that when gay people push for gay marriage, homophobic violence "makes sense", but you may be willfully ignoring facts that are discordant to your apparently liberal political leanings. Peace.

[JerseygirlCT]

65. Nor was it at the church I grew up in

I have heard it - part of why I'm no longer RC. But it's definitely not everywhere, and I think being raised where I was definitely contributed to me being a liberal today.

[Critters2]

63. The OP doesn't say "Roman Catholic". It says "Christian". nt

[StarryNite]

18. Only the ones in the closet.

[Starry Messenger]

19. Homophobia is usually based on the Old Testament.

Some branches of Christianity adhere to these verses and some branches do not. The first anti-gay laws in history were created by Christians. In the 300s. Some Christians today are not homophobic and do much good. I think there should be more acknowledgment of the role Christianity took in creating oppression though, IMO.

[raw oysters]

27. True but plenty of them like Paul/Saul, the terrorist of Tarsus who penned

a bunch of hysterical rants after eating funny mushrooms and falling off a jackass down around Damascus.
He espoused just the sort of misogyny and misanthropy that appeals to knuckledraggers even now. The fact that he didn't even live at the same time as Jebus who never uttered one single word about homosexuality (if the scripts are to be believed) never gets in the way of adopting his nutbaggery by those who like it.

[jonnyblitz]

20. fundies, yes. nt

[nomaco-10]

21. What a stupid, fucking OP designed to stir up shit..

as if there wasn't enough shit stirred up already.

By the way, three american soldiers just shot up an army base in texas. Why don't you do an op or poll asking "Did gw bush* push the troops to the limits after starting a war and an occupation with a sovereign country that had nothing to do with 911?

Then ask: Could multiple tours of duty of young troops that only joined the military because of no jobs, because bush* ran the economy into the ground?

you dumbass.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

22. are most extremely religious people homophobic?

yes. i dont think christians are special in that regard

[closeupready]

25. My own experience is that, putting Jews, Muslims, Christians, Hindus and atheists side by side,

Christians of all kinds are uniformly homophobic. Jews and Muslims might say they subscribe to homophobic principles, and Islamic states have draconian laws, but on a personal level, I find them to be more gay-friendly than most Christians.

There are obviously people here whose opinions I respect who disagree with me, and that's fine, I didn't expect opinions to be unanimous. I won't go calling those who disagree with me "trolls" or "idiots" and I simply laugh at those who are doing so; getting on my ignore list ain't THAT easy. lol

[raw oysters]

31. Gee, I'm gay so I think I'll move to Iran or Nigeria, the religious folks there love us so much.

:eyes:

[La Lioness Priyanka]

32. and this was related to my comment how?

[raw oysters]

41. Uh...by agreeing with you? In that way, mayhaps?

I obviously lack the vocabulary to express solidarity in any meaningful way. I am desiccated with mortification.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

47. maybe if you didnt add the eye-roll i would have realized that

[TokenQueer]

36. Because when I think of leaving the country, Iran & Nigeria are always the first options I consider.

:freak:

[raw oysters]

42. As I said. Did I leave out some required disclaimer? I get YOUR sarcasm,

did you miss mine?

;-)

[TokenQueer]

51. That's why I used the *freak* emoticon.

I was never really sure how to use that little bugger. Apparently, doubling down on someone's snark doesn't quite fit the bill either. I'll keep workin' on it.....

:)

[Toasterlad]

61. This Sub-Thread Has Spiralled Tragically Out of Control.

[TokenQueer]

66. Lol!

:spray:

[mdmc]

24. NO

[Dramarama]

28. Most of the Catholics I know

dont care. It is California tho

[DailyGrind51]

29. Not true Christians who believe in the words, "Love, then do as thy will."

[Critters2]

64. That's not a quote from a Christian text.

Maybe you meant, "Love your neighbor as yourself"?

[kenny blankenship]

30. Compared to what?

[underseasurveyor]

33. I generally don't like to generally say.

Just generally sayin:shrug:

[NMMNG]

34. Some of them are

And instead of simply admitting they're fucking bigots they use their "religious beliefs" and/or "the Bible" as an excuse for their bigotry. They're cowards wrapped in a cloak of righteousness, a-la Carrie "opposite marriage" Prejean. They proclaim they believe in "Biblical Principles" and that certain others, who don't live up to those "principles" for one reason or another, don't deserve the rights they take for granted. When you scratch the surface, however, you discover a hypocritical, festering boil that has no business declaring itself the moral arbiter of anyone else's life.

[tigereye]

37. no.

[mikeSchmuckabee]

43. Self-hatingly so

But who can be aligned with Jesus and not be gay?

I mean really, the NT is like Priscilla Queen of the Desert. Guys in skirts traveling around with the only females being prostitutes, raising Lazarus, going to weddings with mom? What, no dead females to reanimate?

[treestar]

44. The ones I know are

But that's not very scientific. And the loud mouthed ones are those you hear.

[SoCalDem]

45. Are blonde buxom women all Marilyn Monroe? n/t

[TexasObserver]

46. Yes

[pipi_k]

49. I don't know a whole lot of them, but some of the ones I do know...

a whole extended family, in fact, don't seem to be homophobic at all.

In fact, one of the young men just "came out" recently and everyone seems to be fine with it.

[dorkulon]

50. Humans are generally homophobic. So, yes. nt

[Orsino]

52. Most non-Christians, too.

I'm not sure it would be possible to demonstrate a significant statistical difference.

[Hansel]

53. No, homophobes are.

The homophobes just chose religions that preach what they believe in and then use "God" as their excuse for their narrow minded hate.

I was brought up as a Roman Catholic. I left the church because it was so misogynistic, homophobic, self-righteous and authoritarian. Also, two doctors from one church I attended nearly killed me because of their staunched objection to abortion and refusal to abort the deceased and decomposing baby I was carrying, so there is no love lost between me and the Catholic church.

Most Christians chose to go to churches that are homophobic because they are homophobes. They could just as easily seek out Christian churches that are not homophobic.

Let me edit to add that some Catholics contend that their churches don't teach this stuff. That's good if you can find one. Every Catholic church leader and Catholic church member I've ever known has been a raving homophobe so I'm basing this on my experience with the Catholic church. I think some are probably more liberal ones than others, but I've never been to one that has been.

[closeupready]

56. This is my view, as well.

Whether modern people like it or not, adherence to RCC doctrine is part and parcel of actually being a fully participating member of the church. You can dismiss that all you like, and claim that nobody really believes that, but when the very fundamental doctrine of your church teaches that gays are second-class, that God approves of treating gay people cruelly (we'll just say they shouldn't be treated cruelly and then we'll treat them cruelly), doesn't want them or their relationships to be respected as much as heterosexual ones, when the Pope states unequivocally that gay families are part of the ideology of evil - sorry, doesn't make any difference what you think.

[redsoxrudy]

55. Absolutely!

[donco6]

59. Absolutely. n/t

[Toasterlad]

62. Certainly.

[saltpoint]

67. No.

[onenote]

68. given that most of the gays and lesbians I know would describe themselves as christians

I'd have to say no.

[thelordofhell]

69. Most religious people are not homophobes, however

All homophobes are religious.

[quaker bill]

71. not correct

I have met more than a few homophobes who haven't seen the inside of a church in decades. Hang out in any red-neck bar and you will find dozens upon dozens who are completely religion free. Go to a truck pull or race track and find 100's more. It is really not all that difficult.

In most places, you could not get anywhere near a majority vote if you restricted the homophobe vote to confessing Christians only. Christian homophobes may make up a very sizeable chunk of this demographic, but they do not account for anywhere near all the homophobes out there.

[Critters2]

72. Yep. I doubt my next door neighbors have ever been to church,

outside of the occasional wedding or funeral. But they hate "them homos" as much as any fundie pastor you can name.

[BillDU]

70. No

No. The real Christians just want to be Spiritual.
The massive amount of fake christians are hypocrites.
After they are done having sex with a member of the same sex they spout anti-gay propaganda to cloud the issue.