How many conservative Christians have you ever REALLY talked to instead of condemning as bigots?
967875
Joanna,\nYou ask a genuinely thoughtful and, I think, respectful question.  You deserve a likewise, respectful answer.  I don't know your age, so I can't determine how much experience you may have talking about or hearing different views on the subject of   people's sexual orientation.  I've had many years of listening to the rantings of religious conservatives (granted, usually through the media) who have at various times claimed that: gays deserved AIDS as it is God's punishment for immoral behavior; gays and lesbians should not be allowed to teach school, providing a negative role model for kids; homosexuality is sinfully perverted, no different than pedophilia, or any number of other criminal behaviors; public signs of affection between same sex partners is somehow more disgusting and socially aberrant than straight PDA's; etc, etc, etc, etc, ad nauseum.\n\nIf gay people and those who know, love and support them and their right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness have a hard time having a "talk" with religious conservatives (Christian or otherwise) it may be because there often seems to be a condescending, 'holier than thou' attitude to these discussions.  We're told that "I love homosexuals, but hate their lifestyle", or "God made us all equal, but we must overcome our urges to sin"!  Ugh, it's depressing, frustrating and frankly insulting coming from someone who isn't gay and hasn't lived through the threats, intimidation and sometimes physical violence perpetrated on gay people.\n\nWe sometimes feel like the 'last acceptable minority' to single out to disparage and scapegoat.  Sorry, Joanna, but you asked the question, and I want you to know the answer from my perspective.  I'm a spiritual person, who believes deeply in my connection to God, the divine, and it's awfully offensive to have to hear people with no greater moral compass than I, and often I think, much less, offer pronouncements on my soul's fate.\n\nThat you've "never heard anyone say 'I HATE gays'...", doesn't sound very convincing to me, I'm afraid.  It does speak volumes about 'how' we hear what we hear, and what we 'want' to hear at times.  Trust me, it's being said, in many ways subtle, sometimes with sweet, sweet kind tones.....but make no mistake about it, the intention IS there.\n\nI wish we could have had this discussion in person; I certainly don't mean to offend you, and I hope I don't come across that way, but I do emphatically want to stress that when you, or anyone talks to a gay person about their life, lifestyle, etc. you are treading on something so fundamental, so private, and so much about who they are as a person, that you can't help but stir their deepest feelings.
619643
I also try to be civil in my answers, but let's be honest:\n\n1. Many Christians ARE bigots.  Perhaps not you, but your religion doesn't have a very good track record over history.  Even today, most Christians dont' support equal rights and marriage for homosexuals.  That, in my opinion, is being a bigot.\n\n2.  I usually use logic and reason in my response to biblical questions.  Usually, Christian read right past it and ignore the logic for the sake of faith.  This is unforutnately, but most (perhaps not you) do this.\n\n3.  You belong to a big club (Christians).  I belong to the atheist sect.  Both of us are sometime "guilty by association" and there is nothing we can do about that.  Just something we have to live with.
803671
Atheist here, and yes, I have indeed tried to see the other side of the arguement.\n\nI was raised Lutheran from infancy, so I've got 20+ years of Christian teachings under my belt. Went to church services and Sunday School weekly. With my family not going was NOT an option. I also own a Bible as a result of Sunday School attendance. New Revised Standard Version(NRSV), not a King James or any other version, but it's a Bible nonetheless. And yes, I have read it. The most recent time was this summer.\n\nSo there's no way that I'm unqualified to speak on religious matters as far as Christianity's concerned.\n\nWhen I answer questions on here or the rare times I'm able to speak with someone personally about religion and not end up in a fight over it, I try to see their side of the arguement, provided they haven't jumped right into insults and "You're wrong" and "You're going to burn in Hell" sort of crap right off the bat. Unfortunately, a lot of people where I live do just that, so you can see why it's rare I'm able to speak civilly with people in my hometown about religion.\n\nWhen it comes to insults and bigotry, I don't even bother. I walk away from people who talk like that to me in person and on YA, if I see questions I feel are biased or worse, I don't even bother to answer them. If a person's honest and polite, I'm all too happy to answer. If a person's just being an obnoxious jerk, I don't even waste my bandwidth.\n\nWith polite people, I do try to see their side of the arguement, especially when I do already understand Christianity. When it comes to other religions I'm not as familiar with, even though I might not fully understand them, I try to, and I do defend other religions as I know that religion itself isn't a bad thing. No truly bad religions, just bad followers.\n\nYes, I have even defended Christianity more than once. I defended it just a few minutes ago with the question I answered just before this one about the whole church and state and prayer in school issue. A lot of Christians think they don't have the right to pray in a public school, but I've looked into that myself for the last ten years.\n\nJust because it was decided in 1963 that it wasn't right and constitutional to require kids to recite a prayer(from my mother, it sounds like it was usually the Lord's Prayer, at least when she was young. Seeing as how the ruling was made long before I was born, I can't say if that was standard or just what my mother's school did), doesn't mean Christianity is "banned". Christian kids can freely pray or read the Bible or hold Bible clubs(if they allow things like photography clubs, they can allow Bible and other religious clubs as well) or invite another classmate to join them for services.\n\nI might be an atheist and I might not want my own children to have to recite the Lord's Prayer or any prayer in school, doesn't mean I won't stand up for the rights of Christians and anyone else who's religious to have their beliefs at school, or when holding office, or whatever. Just because you step into a public place, doesn't mean you have to leave your beliefs at home. All it means is that you have to be aware and respectful of others and that goes for everyone.\n\nI was raised Christian and had my own beliefs(and eventually nonbelief as I was sort of paganistic for a time before I turned to atheism) stepped on and treated as if I was undeserving before. My own family has unfortunately taken to this sort of behavior from time to time. It's happened to me way too many times, so I'm not about to do it to anyone else.\n\nI have gone to church, I've read the Bible, I've studied church and state matters and tried to learn about and understand other religions for some time. I've had painful personal experiences when it comes to my beliefs being stepped on.
568378
I don't think all of them do this; maybe it's only a relative handful.  But there are some who do.  \n\nThere are even some "Christian" churches that openly accept both homosexuals and homsexuality (my church, the Catholic Church, accepts the former as people but not the latter as a behavior).\n\nOne way "gays" attempt to justify their actions with religious groups is to portray themselves as a discriminated-against minority, similar to black people.  But being "gay" involves behavior, not skin color.  Not to mention, "gays" have never been denied their freedom or their right to vote or their right to use integrated facilities along with straight people.  \n\nAnother way they attempt to justify their behavior with religious groups is to bring up Jesus' "may he who is without sin cast the first stone" from the Gospel of John.\n\nIn doing so, however, they are admitting (though they won't say they are) that what they do is sinful.  \n\nThey also forget that Jesus never said those words for the purpose of excusing and enabling a sinful lifestyle.  After all, He did finish off by telling the adulterous woman to "go, and sin no more."  The gays usually forget that part.
176784
I just wanted to say that I have read your questions and answers to several questions (including my own) and I find you to be very level-headed and well-spoken. I used to practice Christianity and then evolved into feeling differently - a lot of the reasons I did had to do with the way Christians around me looked at issues - it got under my skin. But your views that are influenced by your beliefs are not at all offensive, even to someone who may not believe in the same things as you. I am glad to read what you have to say, as I am more inclined to listen to someone who is rational, if nothing else.
707696
I think there are a lot of Christians who have been taught to hate themselves and their God given sexual orientation, and it hurts not only them, but their families.  I pray constantly that God will free people from the bondage of lies that keep them closeted.  Someday, homphobia will seem as outdated as racism, and probably take twice as long to shake off.
1151416
Some Christians are all for Gay right and marriage
648900
There is a lot of bigotry out there. If people admitted that the Catholic church was the source of the protestant denominations, they'd be acknowledging that perhaps the bigotry they hold onto in their heart is not entirely justifiable.
871025
I do, but it is hard to find in politics.  I do look for Christians, but just because they say they are Christians, it doesn't necessarily mean they are.  So I try to see if they ACT like Christians.  It is one thing to talk the talk, but they also have to walk the walk, publicly and privately.
969125
I don't care what religion, or lack thereof, an individual has.  Do they have good morals?  Do they care about their constituents.  Do they understand the issues?\n\nI don't care what name they call god, nor do I care if they believe in god.  My ex wife considers herself to be deeply religious, however, she was constantly breaking our wedding vows  She was also very judgmental.  You don't have to be a Christian to have Christian Values, nor does being a Christian mean you have them.\n\nI am a liberal, and have had so many conservative friends I've lost count.  Each one of them considers me one of the best people they know.  It is just a shame that those values have all too often disappeared these days.
581647
"Liberals"? Let's assume that all Christians are Conservatives: then yes.\n\nHowever, no, not all feel that their faith is being threatened by these things: only the close-minded and unoriginal ones.\n\nQuestions like this bug me out. The girl who put "cuz they believe stupid things!" is a complete twat, and the guy below me...look, don't pray for any body's salvation except your own.
691455
Thanks for asking. I never get to talk about this.\n\nI am an active member of the United Church of Christ. I am Christian but I have little in common with the "Christians" that seem to be all over yahoo answers. The Christian "right" that spends so much of their time telling everyone how well they know the mind of God. (Another rant for another time, sorry)\nI believe that each person has their own relationship with God and therefore there own interpretation of his word. Sometimes reading the Bible is like reading a letter from God to me. Sometimes it's like reading a history book. I am to make my own choices about God's will for my life and do what I understand to be the right thing. There is no one to interpret for me. There is no one that will tell me what the rules are. Some churches are very clear on what to do and what not to do. What to believe and what not to believe. We don't have that. It's up to the individual to seek their own path. I sit in Worship with all kinds of people each week. Our Pastor is a woman, Our women’s fellowship leader is a very conservative person who teaches History at the local high school and voted for Bush. Our Sunday school teacher is a devoted Democrat and pro-choice advocate. I am somewhere in the middle. Each day must change. Each encounter with God brings new understanding and new questions. Most of us don't believe in hell and some of us believe in re-incarnation. The only "rule" is to be kind and helpful to your neighbor. Charity in all things. We are gay, straight, liberal, conservative, married and living together. Making room for everyone and working together can be a real challenge. Listening to God for myself and going the way he leads ME is harder than most people think.
313521
Don't listen to these conservative mosters. If you are educated in the word of God, then it is not only acceptable but also your duty to do so. \n\nThere are less than a dozen lines concerning homosexuality in the Bible, and more than 600 concerning the SIN of judging others. Anyone who denies homosexuals the dignity they deserve belongs in hell just as much as any other sinner. Thank God true Christians are more forgiving and accepting than some of the selfish people out there.
197728
Probably more than anything, those who claim to be 'TRUE CHRISTIANS' couldn't be farther from the truth of the Christ which they claim to follow.  Look at the Christians in America today, they hate anyone who is different from them, ie gay people, minorities, etc.  They will claim to be doing God's work when they kill someone who committed abortion, or anything of that sort.  They are in short, the farthest thing from what they say 'Christ' taught them.  Christ according to the bible would have been a liberal, liberals care about people, they have mercy, they look out for each other.  Conservatives (what most so called Christians are) care only about big business, money and JUSTICE!\n\nThey fight against you because they need a battle to fight, they need to feel like they are doing God's work by bringing you down.  Oh how little they know!
377016
I'm a Christian, but many times I think if I wasn't I'd be so turned off by how some other Christians behave/act/talk.  In the name of Christ, they do some really outrageous stuff or twist the scriptures to fit their own agenda. Or act SO radically ridiculous  that it is a total turnoff to those who maybe are seeking. It's only a small handful of people, mind you, but those few can really spoil it for those that are genuinely trying to walk day to day and show God's love in every circumstance.  I consider myself a radical Christian, but mellowed by age, and a general sense of not wanting to turn off and offend every person I meet!
1114749
Its the last acceptable discrimination in the eyes of liberals. Good Christian people that care about others, defend their rights and won't stand for socialism are serious road blocks to the liberal/gay agenda. They have launched a propaganda war against Christians for 40 years. They've turned the feeble minded wishy washy people against all Christians. Many people believe Christians are bad and the liberals are aiming to make being Christian illegal. Of course this leads to losing alot of other freedoms we enjoy, but no one cares, they are just content to assist in our downward spiral.\n\nWe Christians know that there will be another persecution and in the darkest of times, Jesus will come again to judge the living and the dead. If you're a good Christian you will be with God in heaven for all eternity.\n\nAlso, atheists, and agnostic people resent Christians having such firm beliefs. For some reason they don't understand, just as they know there is no God, Christians know there is a God. They argue that we always speak of this as fact. Well to us it is fact, just as to them it isn't. They are just too stupid and stubborn to see that it can go both ways. Also they have very little understanding of faith despite the fact that everyone puts faith in many different things including other people everyday.
1097174
Luckily, I didn't have to decide. Jesus come down on a cloud one day and said:\n\n"Thou shalt be heterosexual and the world shalt by thy oyster, no manass shall ye covet for ye are straight and sharp."\n\nHe did the same thing for my aunt, but he said to her:\n\n"Thou art a wicked creature whom i shalt send to hell for enjoying rugby and the company of other women. Thou shalt be chained to intolerant family members for the rest of thy days."\n\nAnd that's how we know whether or not we are gay or not.