There is such a defensive reaction to saying something like homosexuality is wrong according to scripture. I get this really hateful vibe from people "shouting" things like homophobe. They accuse us of not understanding and being afraid of the gay community. Isn't that simply a misunderstanding, a fear of Christianity?
I DO understand it. I was in it for 8 years. I think I have every right to share my beliefs on the subject. I have freedom from a life that I viewed as hell. I'm not afraid of the issue, I'm more sad for those still trapped in that hell. Am I a homophobe? If you quit smoking and say to others that it is wrong are you a smokaphobe?
2006-11-09 05:04:07 · 13 answers · asked by BaseballGrrl 6 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
It is not a "newfound" religion. I've always been a Christian. I just didn't really get it fully.
So you're saying that the person I really am is a miserable wreck? I don't particularly want to live with myself then. I think it is hateful of you to condemn me to that hell when I'm so happy and at peace now.
2006-11-09 05:19:00 · update #1
How can you deny that fear is at the root of Christians' condemnation of gays? They usually include in that argument the fact that the homos are sending our country to Hell. What friggin high-horse of denial are you riding?
Smoking afflicts others, thus fear of second-hand smoke is justified.
And I call homophobes "closet gays" ashamed of themselves. You validate this by basically admitting that you're using your newfound religion to condemn the person you really are. I'm sad for you, but please, don't be destructive and dangerous to others.
edit~ Rachel R.: Please cite your "many places." That's right, you can't.
edit~ Yes (Asker), you are spewing hatred by condemning the spirits of people who only express, in love, who they are. "Newfound" is an appropriate term because Christianity and homosexuality are reportedly incompatible. How you feel about yourself is your business. The impression you give is that you are self-loathing. I didn't say "miserable wreck" or "condemn to hell." I can only imagine where that comes from.
2006-11-09 05:07:55 · answer #1 · answered by georgia b 3 · 3⤊ 4⤋
Not all Christians are homophobes, which pretty much proves that you don't have to be homophobic to be religious. They aren't speaking the word of God in the sense where God directs them to love thy neighbor; they are interpreting scripture in a way to advance their own bigoted views. This is very similar to the condemnation of interracial marriage by Christian groups 50 years ago.
2016-03-19 05:48:51 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Many Christians are homophobes who use Christianity as an excuse to hate homosexuals. It's a disgrace to Christianity.
2006-11-09 05:06:00 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 2⤋
You have the right to have tried something else, and to share your beliefs. But LGBT people have the right to live our lives, too. It *is* homophobic to keep people from marrying the person who understands them best, to make it difficult for them to keep a job, and to separate them from their families for being gay or bi. I don't view my life with my wife as hell. (It's not quite heaven, either--she breaks my glassware and we share a menstrual cycle--but it's closer to that than hell by miles.)
Your unhappiness as a lesbian is not my responsibility, bottom line. You don't need to make sure other lesbians, bisexuals, and gay men are unhappy, nor do you need to make others live by your beliefs. And to expand on Girl Wonder's point, I'm an ex-Christian, too. I'm not going to testify before Congress about my horrid former lifestyle in order to keep the poor Christians who are still in it down and make the lifestyle less enticing. In a free country, we may all make choices for ourselves.
2006-11-09 05:18:56 · answer #4 · answered by GreenEyedLilo 7 · 2⤊ 2⤋
Christians aren't afraid of homosexuals (some just don't agree). In the Bible it explicity talks against homosexuality in many different places. The purpose of husband /wife is to procreate.
Also, it should be noted that in most other religions it is a sin as well.
2006-11-09 05:08:13 · answer #5 · answered by Rachel 4 · 1⤊ 3⤋
Because the christian right does everything in it's power to subjugate the gay community. They strip any right from them that they can and slander them. It's very judgmental and not christian at all. It really does seem to the casual observer that they are afraid of homosexuality.
2006-11-09 05:09:05 · answer #6 · answered by ChooseRealityPLEASE 6 · 3⤊ 2⤋
Personally, if I was a smoker, I wouldn't want someone else coming up to me and saying "OMG! I used to smoke but I stopped it is awful don't dooooo it!" That's annoying as hell.
If you don't like homosexuals, fine. If you were "in it" for 8 years but are not anymore, you were never homosexual to begin with. But keep your views to yourself, please. I was a Christian for much of my life, but left. You don't see me telling you that Christianity is wrong and that you have to leave now or else, do you?
2006-11-09 05:15:45 · answer #7 · answered by Girl Wonder 5 · 2⤊ 2⤋
Lectio Divina is Latin for “spiritual reading” and represents an early monastic technique of prayer which continues in practice though less widely, intended to achieve communion with God as well as providing special spiritual insights and peace from that experience. It is a way of praying with Scripture that calls one to study, ponder, listen and, finally, pray from God's Word.
History
Lectio Divina was first expressed in the year 220 AD. It was found that to read the Bible profitably it is necessary to do so with attention, consistency and prayer. The systematization of “spiritual reading” into four steps dates back to the 12th century. Around 1150, Guigo II, a Carthusian monk, wrote a book entitled “The Monk’s Ladder” (Scala Claustralium) wherein he set out the theory of the four rungs: reading, meditation, prayer and contemplation. In 2005, Pope Benedict XVI stated, “This is the ladder by which the monks ascend from earth to heaven.”
Method
Lectio is typically practiced daily for one continuous hour. A selection from the Holy Scriptures is chosen ahead of time, often as a daily progression through a particular book of the Bible.
Time
Selecting a time for lectio divina is important. Typical methods are to pray for one hour in the morning, or to divide it into two half-hour periods, one in the morning and one in the evening. The key is to pre-select the time that will be devoted to the prayer, and to keep it. Using the same time every day leads to a daily habit of prayer that becomes highly effective.
Place
The place for prayer is to be free from distractions. This means it should be isolated from other people, telephones, visual distractions, etc. Some find a religious icon to be helpful. The same place should be used for lectio if possible, especially as one first begins to practice it. Familiarity with a location reduces the possibility of distraction away from the prayer. Some practitioners conduct other devotions, such as praying before the Catholic Eucharist, as a preparation for Lectio Divina.
Preparation
Prior to reading, it is important to engage in a transitional activity that takes one from the normal state of mind to a more contemplative and prayerful state. A few moments of deep, regular breathing and a short prayer inviting the Holy Spirit to guide the prayer time helps to set the tone and improve the effectiveness of the lectio.
Once the stage is set it is time to begin the prayer. There are four phases of the prayer, which do not necessarily progress in an ordered fashion. One may move between different phases of the prayer very freely as the Spirit guides.
The Four Moments
Lectio
Read the passage several times.
Meditatio
Reflect on the text of the passage, thinking about how to apply to one's own life. Gravitate to any particular phrase or word that seems to be of particular import. This should not be confused with exegesis, but is a very personal reading of the Scripture and application to one's own life.
Oratio
Respond to the passage by opening the heart to God. This is not primarily an intellectual exercise, but more of the beginning of a conversation with God.
Contemplatio
Listen to God. This is a freeing oneself from one's own thoughts, both mundane and holy. It is about hearing God talk to us. Opening our mind, heart and soul to the influence of God. Any conversation must allow for both sides to communicate, and this most unfamiliar act is allowing oneself to be open to hearing God speak.
2006-11-09 05:36:13 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
Reread your post, you might get it then.
In fact I don't think I could have done a better job than you.
2006-11-09 05:07:13 · answer #9 · answered by fourmorebeers 6 · 4⤊ 1⤋
I think people say that to christians because you guys are always preaching at us that its wrong, and throwing scriptures at us. If you are so christian you should know it also says in the bible not to judge so stop looking down on us and shut up about it.
2006-11-09 05:07:30 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 3⤋