Critics of homosexuality do not like being called homophobes do they?

Question

"The word simply means a dislike of homosexuality and this exactly describes their situation. But it has deeper roots. Some people who are attracted to others of the same sex find that this causes them great anxiety, which they externalise and blame on other people. In the church, some celibate priests have a homosexual orientation, which they repress, but they condemn homosexuality in other people. Other innate minority characteristics, such as left-handedness or ginger hair, do not cause comparable anxiety or scapegoating."
LGCM, Alan Sheard)

Answer 1

I can't blame them. I am a confirmed religiophobe. Religious people frighten me because they are powerful, stupid, and filled with hate. Look at the middle east. We are becoming more like them every day.

Answer 2

Regardless of how you feel about the subject, the term "homophobe" is not proper English.

It is derived from 'homophobia', which is itself a poor construction, because homo- from homosexual means 'same', as in same sex. And phobia, of course, means fear. So 'homophobia' means 'fear of same', which is silly enough. Then we chop off the end of it and make it 'phobe', which makes NO sense whatever. I mean, we don't call someone who is afraid of heights an acrophobe. It's just crude use of language.

Anyway, the choice of using 'phobia' is a very political choice, since it implies precisely what you've said...that they are afraid of something. Frankly, that interpretation demonstrates a great deal of ignorance. Certainly, there may be those who have the traits you mention, but there are many more who have completely different reasons for their opinions, yet are labelled "homophobes" too. Before you try to psychoanalyze an entire nation, perhaps it would pay to talk to the people and learn about their beliefs and their opinions. Perhaps it is you who is holding a bias.

Answer 3

"Homophobia" is a word poorly constructed from its Latin roots. What it should mean is "Fear of man." Whenever I hear this, I picture terrified Woolly Mammoths running from Homo Erectus. :-)

However I understand the word actually means "fear of homosexuality." While many people, I am sure, oppose homosexuality because they do have some fear or anxiety regarding it, I think the case can be made that some oppose it simply because they are deeply religious, and their religion prohibits homosexual activity.

Such people might qualify as being "critics of homosexuality" without truly qualifying as "homophobic," particularly if their criticism is kept strictly within the religious realm (I think, for instance, of someone like Rabbi Shmuley Boteach qualifying as such a person.)

Answer 4

Actually while its used as you said - its used as a Guilt Trip device that carries no weight with me. From a technical point of view a Homophobe is one who fears homosexuals as in acrophobia is a fear of heights and so forth.

I find it amusing how the "Homophobe" word weapon is effective on the politically correct. They would sell their mothers and children before they would stand accused of being a homophobe.

In reality I am within my human rights to have the opinion and belief that homosexuality is wrong, evil and perverse. Because I do not agree with you does not make me a homophobe. I neither fear gays nor do I hate them. I just refuse to give into their perversions and tell them its perfectly normal.

My opinion is just as much my right as yours is to you. "Homophobe" is a word used by people who act like children throwing out experimental insults until the find the right one that has the desired effect.

Non the less - as a Christian I have no control over what others do. Sin is sin, and most any sinner (Thief, liar, adulterer, etc) does not like it when they know its true and will challenge the accusation. In this case it is not I who labeled sin and its various types - but God. I personally try not to throw these around like Gatling gun stone throwers..., but realize some of us go absolutely nuts with it as if God gave them authority to harass people.

I could not win a soul to Christ if I am strong arming someone and all the while saying, "Jesus loves you brother... and you are going to behave Godly or else!"

We can not and are not, supposed to force people to live holy lives. That has to come from desire, need and willingness. We are to help our fellow Christians and support them in their hour of weakness to temptation, encourage them to overcome and pray for them

Answer 5

I think people associate the "phobe" as scared like arachnophobia. Most people don't like admitting they're afraid of anything, especially something that they dislike. Also, since homosexuality is seen as perverse, those who experience the feeling of attractedness to the same sex don't want to feel that way and so they repress it. Their condemnation of it is a condemnation of themselves and a show to the world of how much they dislike it.

Answer 6

Homophobe means "fear of homosexuals or homosexuality" I am not afraid of them or the concept, just don't agree with it as being correct. Nor do I buy the fact that there is a gay gene. As I have stated before, this would actually give rise to prejudice against gays, since people would have a scientific reason to call it a "disease" that needs "medical help and research."

Answer 7

You are overgeneralizing the priests. Only a handful of them have severe sin in their lives. I do not believe in having priests run the church, but I will not be bold enough to condemn them.

I personally do not care what I am called as long as I am on God's side nobody can hurt me more that God will allow.

Answer 8

We usually use homophobe to mean "hates gays" rather than "is afraid of gays." So gay-haters object to it, arguing that they aren't afraid of gays. This may or may not be true. Some people are truly afraid of gays -- afraid of their own temptation toward homosexual experimentation because they have latent gay tendencies -- and so they are afraid you will "destroy souls." (I'm not naming names, but I'm sure you have come across some people like that on YA.) Honestly, I don't think someone would have a reason to fear gays, unless they feared being hit on because they knew they couldn't say no (latent / repressed homosexuals), or unless they are so ignorant they think gays don't have self-control and so they think they or their family are in imminent danger of being raped by a gay person.

Answer 9

The suffix "phobic" connotes a much deeper meaning than simple "dislike." Both critics of gays and gays themselves would do well do tone down the rhetoric and add a bit more light than heat to the discussion.

Answer 10

The gay movement is too radical. The notion that gays should be allowed to marry is something only today's morally fallen generation could even entertain. The same people who allow abortion, and have a 50%+ divorce rate, and mock God...are the same who consider gay marriage an option.