How most religious people are so afraid of homosexuality?
105495
Religious people are not "afraid" of homosexuality, they fear the creator, the one who has power over all things and the one who deals out punishment in the hereafter. Those who choose not to engage in things they or their religion deems as sinful acts only fear the one who will judge them for their good and bad deeds when this life is over. Fear of the things that people choose to do with their own lives has nothing to do with it.
948515
Why do people refer to homosexuality as "wrong" and a "problem"? - apparently God tells them to
59340
They have trouble with maintaining healthy trusting relationships with others. If they were abussed by somebody of the same sex then they canot make frieds of the same sex as they tend to be Homophobic.They get real confused because they were molested by a preacher and then other preachers say that if you have homosexual sex it is an adomination and you will go to hell.
563539
Fear and ignorance.\n\nIf a person gets freaked out by the notion that someone around them is gay it's usually because they are afraid that the gay person will see some obvious gay traits that they have and "out" them.  Not only is this an unreasonable expectation to put onto someone, it leads to fear, hysteria, and violence.  \n\nNobody can "make" you gay, and if you are afraid you might have some traits, YOU DO, everybody does, that alone doesn't make you gay (or straight for that matter!)\n\nGender can be graphed on a bell curve, and everyone has a combination of male and female traits.  It's perfectly normal.  I wish the ones who react with fear could get over their irrationality as much as you do!
1098113
I thought your reply to her was great! I know it can be frustrating when you see such intolerance towards gays, but violence is not the answer. Such people really missed the, "Judge not, or you too will be judged" lesson in Sunday school. (That's Matthew 7:1, the NIV translation.) About pride: Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall. --Proverbs 16:18\n\nSuch people are like mosquitoes--bothersome and they will feed off you if you let them. Just put on your bug spray and you'll be fine. ; )
213839
Christians do not hate gays.  They just cannot agree with the lifestyle, which are two different things.  For instance, I am a person and heterosexual.  Two things that can be separated, just like people can separate politics and religion.  So, I know someone will say well "I am gay, so you hate me."  I would reply, "No. You are a human, and I do not like your sexual preference."  As far as people hating Christians, many people have many different reasons.  The biggest reason is that people are afraid to give up themselves for a reason bigger than themselves and they are afraid of those who do.  Some Christians are not great examples of what way to react to homosexuals, or other things.  But they freak out, out of fear that their way of life is being threated.  Just like the homosexuals do.  Just look at the responses here so far, they are reactionary.
536521
shouldnt that make you afraid of Gods wrath ? seriously?
489840
There are legit christians, but many are homophobic. They may not be violent, but their words are. They claim "Homosexuality is a choice", but that contradicts the latest scientific experiment on the brains of homosexuals and lesbians (I also know myself, being gay, that it's something you have since birth, I myself discovered I was gay around age 5). Basically, everything they're saying about gay people is false, and they need to grow up. Even though I'm an atheist, I don't mean to offend anyone's religion, but sometimes I think people take advantage of their religion and their bible and "paraphrase" content in it to meet their specific agenda for hate. You can tell they're doing this because they ignore the fact that gluttony is a sin, as well as wearing certain fibers, yet they ignore that, and persecute the gays. It doesn't add up, does it.
1162491
I believe the majority of our population are lost and misguided souls. Homosexuality is immoral and an abomination to our Lord Jesus Christ. None of us are supposed to judge others, though we still do. Some of us do it openly while others only confide their opinions with someone they trust. We live in a society that is accepting and encouraging of so many sins. The truth is often hard to find if you're not looking for it or don't know where to find it. I believe we are living in the end days. The news we read and watch on tv validates the warning signs given to us in Revelations. All we can do as Christians and believers in Christ is pray for them and let his light be seen through our example. When judgement day comes, each and every one of us will bow before our Lord and proclaim that he is the one and only Lord and Saviour. If homosexuals as well as all sinners do not repent of their sins, accept God into their hearts and lives and change the way they live according to his will, they will be lost for all eternity in a firey lake.
717104
it's largely due to christian hate.\n\nchristians are preoccupied with a need to hate people.\n\nfor example, the moron above named Doc seems to think that being gay is a choice, so that makes some "difference" in a civil rights issue.\n\nif that was the case, then NO conscious choice we make would be protected.  but, religion and the freedom to choose your religious preference is protected under the constitution.  it's a choice that people make and often change during their lives.  and that is constitutionally protected as a civil right.\n\nbut most morons like Doc cannot think past their bibles and their religious/christian hate for others.  and those are the truly evil, hateful people in the world.  Doc is typical of the american christian who is preoccupied with what all american consenting adults do with their penises and vaginas at home.  he probably paces back and forth at home, on his 1972 orange shag carpet, wringing his hands and sweating, thinking and agonizing about all the male penises having sexual contact with other males all over the country...maybe even right next door to him!!  oh my goodness!!!!\n\n(PS - sexual orientation is not a choice.  but the point i made above is, even if it was a choice, it must still be a protected civil right...protected especially from those who choose christianity and choose to hate others.)
205805
So many people are narrow minded and only see things in black and white and to them being straight is right and being gay is wrong.  They are afraid of what they don't understand and society has pushed them into what it believes is right.  \n\n(The easiest way to ignore is to skirt the issue as always.)\n\nSadly, no one has the right to judge someone but God,  although we do it everyday unconsciously or shall I say without much thought process going into our judgments.  We should respect the fact that we are different, each and every one of us but instead many wish to clone a perfect society but one which will be wholly based on ignorance and fear.  \n\nIt's a bloody shame that the same society that teaches us freedom also teaches us hypocrisy...I dare to be different!
1183689
Homophobia is a fear/belief really, much easier changed than sexuality.  I've known people in my life that were very homophobic but changed their views after getting to know a few gay people.   I guess that's the secret, the closest there is to a cure, letting people with those attitudes get to know as people instead of remaining a faceless avatar to them.   As a gay male as much as I would love for everyone to universally accept us, we don't have the right to tell someone what they can or can't believe.  When dealing with a people like this it's ok to be assertive, but I refuse to gve them even an iota of power over me by letting their words hurt me.
1075012
Yes, the religous folk do seem very contradictory at times. Personally, I believe that a lot "religious people" (Think Dana Carvey as the Church Lady) miss the point of their beliefs. And that is acceptance. The way gay marriage is being protrayed in the media is almost laughable if it weren't true. Them not being allowed to get married is just another form of discrimination and this time in history will be marked for this civil right. I don't believe people will start marrying sheep or some other idiotic claim these people make. It's just fear of the unknown and the fear makes these people want to get rid of it. \n\nAs for sex, it's a natural thing. Whether you believe me or not, religion is a way of controlling behavior, look back to the Middle Ages if you don't believe me, and sex is one of those urges though totally natural, suppressed. Just like nudity (see Genesis) or other "sins." As for why these people speak of it constantly, well, let's just call it "sexual frustration" and thus they must get the frustration out of their system. It's a lot like if you had a fight with a friend and have to vent to someone so you feel better.
337599
A lot of people are afaid of homosexuals because they are diffent. A lot of people are afraid of anyone who acts out of the "norm" and think that there is something bad about them. Many of the sever homophobes are actualy masking a fear that they may be gay themselfs. And of course religion plays into it a lot (i know you said no religious answers but i feel this needs to be adressed) a large portion of North American people are christion, a religion witch forbays homosexualy in many sects. These traidtions create a cultureal norm and make hatred more accepted.
243806
because many people are scared of what they dont know and anything that isnt in the 'norm' they tend to become ignorant about. like if they go near a gay person they might become one or catch something. if only they could open their closed minds a bit and see that gay people are just like the rest of us they have hearts and they have feelings too. we can only pray that one day we all be treated as equals.
652621
Beats me. One of the biggest things that turns me off to Christianity.\n\nThe Bible does speak of homosexuality being wrong. I have a problem with that. \n\nBut, it also speaks of those who follow it loving others as themselves, and that he who is without sin should throw the first stone.
436709
yup - as a teenager I was fairly homophobic if I'm honest, I was trained as a dancer and felt branded as 'gay'.  however by about 20 years I'd seen enough scientific evidence and met several gay men in the profession to change my mind.  It's not their fault, it's in their genetic make-up, they have to live with that too, it's not a choice they make.  However, I still wish they wouldn't be so stroppy!! it's a characteristic I've come to laugh at from time to time, you can stop them from a mile away just from the disturbance!  I don't envy them at all, glad I'm straight, got married and had kids.  There are worse people in the world (like religious folk in cults, like Christianity etc)...