[How would you handle this:] Religion & Homosexuality

That's generally the idea. I think some denominations might think otherwise, but that's the general position regarding salvation via Christ's love for the uber-conservative Southern Baptists.

That's what I'm wondering. I've been experiencing an influx lately of old high school and college friends coming to MySpace, Facebook, etc. and finding me. Most have been relationships that I'd like to rekindle, which is what I'm trying to determine right now re: what I should do about this one.

To be fair, I did say that some of the greatest people I've ever known are devout Christians. The 'nuts' I was referring to are the fundamentalists....the haters....people sympathetic to blowing up abortion clinics and casting everyone they consider to be sinners into the pit of hell. THOSE people are the nuts, and every religion's got 'em: Islam vs. militant Islam, or even atheists vs. militant atheists, etc.

Other's have answered your question: Bi's are attracted to both sexes. Concerning my friend in question, this is how (I believe, anyway) he was able to 'pray away the gay' and only focus on, and eventually marry, a woman.

This is basically what I'm struggling with. He has his opinion and is entitled to it. I wrote above about rekindling old friendships, but I also don't want to be judgmental of him....if he ever comes to his senses, I don't want to be one who has abandoned him.

LOL. I'll remember that one.

Um....I happen to like the poon, thank you very much.

I do happen to have very entrenched positions on both subjects. I'm not Christian myself, but I'm no Atheist, either. As I said in my original post: my cousin is a lesbian, and I love her dearly. I know the pain she went through coming out to the family and from her community, and the pain she still endures with strained relationships with her parents. She's 40 now and came out as a teenager. That's a LONG time to suffer. I've also worked with many, many people who tried to kill themselves because others could not accept their orientation.

As for your suggestion to try talking to better understand where he's coming from: I did so. For literally hours. I already understood the fundamentalist POV. I understand his POV. I was trying to get him to understand my own POV, and the POV that hate speech causes nothing but pain and suffering, and that, IMO, god can tell the difference between the Nazi's and Montrose.

So: yeah. I've got lots of opinions on the subject.

It was. I spent six freaking years at that place. The band was great and they gave me a lot of money. Unfortunately, I didn't transfer when I should have. Again, there were some great, great people there....but the nuts really jaded the whole experience.

Please consider my psych background (if you didn't know I had one, well, now you do). I spent several years getting paid to (amongst other things) breed understanding and resolve conflict. I ran an Anger Management group (and several others) for nearly four years....in other words, I have a natural tendency to want to help resolve peoples issues.

I appreciate all the responses, y'all. I'm still plenty conflicted on this, but hopefully I can reach some resolution with myself. Thanks for keeping things civil and staying on track.

 

He'll probably be there already. Waving one some stupid sign and casting them all into the pits of hell. Besides, he lives in Ft Worth.

 

I don't think he was asking for help. Not at all. I'll get to that below. I otherwise agree with your points....he's found the strength through a fundamentalist interpretation of the bible, and it has "cured" him. He believes that....strongly.

You're both right, of course. This is a philosophical dilemma that I've wrestled with quite a bit over a variety of subjects, to be perfectly honest. I'd imagine the same is true for others as well as it is, by its very nature, a philosophical conundrum.

I've kind of settled on a theory to only judge the judges; to not tolerate only the intolerant. Obviously, this isn't working too well for me, or the circumstances wouldn't exist for me to have started this thread in the first place.

This guy is not looking for help. In fact, I started the whole argument in the first place after finding his blog on the subject (after he looked me up on Facebook). I was so stunned that I emailed him asking "What's up with all the hate?" and we then had the ensuing argument/debate via email and chat.

Very true. Thing is, he doesn't want to talk about it at all. He wants to just 'agree to disagree' and not revisit the subject. To be honest, I don't want to argue about it again either as we've both said our piece and made our arguments, and neither of us was swayed in the least.

Even though I've said he isn't asking and hasn't asked for help, I'm quoting this for the truth it contains. Good stuff here, Invisible Fan....you're very right in that his source of strength is, indeed, the very faith that he has. Too bad he uses it to fuel such negativity in some warped crusade against an entire group of people.

Its more of a question of accepting his friendship again when we believe so differently.

I do NOT look down on theology....just the parts I don't agree with.



I'm teasing, but there is some truth in what you say. I love theology and mythology. Some of the greatest and most beautiful stories ever told have come from the religions of the world. All religions have served the purpose to try/help to explain the universe; the meaning of all of this. It has served to instill good judgment and moral strength. What's not to love there? That's my biggest grief with militant atheists, but I digress.

Please, read on:

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Perhaps I haven't made this clear, though I thought I did:
I'm in the middle of a bit of a moral and philosophical crisis: My old friend is a raging fundamentalist; an admitted "zealot" (<--his word, not mine) who believes his bisexuality has been cured by god. As a result, he has some pretty inflammatory stuff written about gays, and it pissed me off to no end.

What I am struggling with is this:
Am I not being as judgmental and as intolerant as he is? Granted, I'm not putting forth hateful rhetoric, but the principle is the same. Would my rejection of him ultimately make me that which I wish to be least of all? Or, if I accept his friendship, am I not by association supporting his view? Am I not, in essence, betraying my cousin, my friends, and my own beliefs?

Ultimately, this whole thing isn't about him; its about me.

Thanks again, y'all.