Should Christian extremists who bash (physically harm) gays be called terrorists?

Answer 1

Absolutely! Even those who only threaten and bash verbally should be referred to as terrorists. A terrorist is a person who terrorizes/evokes fear in others. A person, usually part of a group who advocates and/or uses terrorism. Terrorism is the use of violence and/or threats to intimidate and/or to achive political, social or religious ends. Absolutely, those people are terrorists.

Answer 2

Maybe not terrorists, but not Christians. Christ loved everyone. If you read about the work that he did he cared for those that were marginalized and cast off by society - the people that his society looked down upon. Not that I think gay people are marginalized, but that Christ behaved in a way that I am not sure the gay bashers get.

Answer 3

Sadly, the term has become so broad that it has become almost meaningless, referring to anyone who attempts to frighten others via violence. Under such a definition, spouse abusers are terrorists.

If you want to use the term from the perspective of the Gay community, then it probably fits. From the non-gay community, however, it doesn't hold as much sway. Black people no doubt consider the KKK to be terrorists, but they're no threat to the white majority.

Personally, I consider the terrorists to be those who are attempting to win a political battle, not a hate-based battle. While some may use anti-gay violence to reach such an end, most of them don't think anywhere near so deeply as that. If they did, they'd probably see that they're homophobia is fear-based, which ironically is also one of the causes of spouse abuse.

Answer 4

Since the definition of terrorism is "the use of violence and threats to intimidate or coerce, esp. for political purposes", and Christian extremists who physically harm gay people engage in that exact activity, some people already think of them as terrorists.

Answer 5

I'm not so sure about using the word terrorist, but I definitely see your point. People should believe whatever floats their boat, but hurting/killing human beings that represent a class of people for any reason is extremely wrong to me, so I wouldn't mind giving them some sort of label for the things they do.

Answer 6

I agree with Abbiee. If they were truely Christians they wouldn't be attacking their fellow man nor would they be judging him. If the attack on this gay person is done in the name of religion it is a terrorist act. It would be the same in the case if a Muslim man had beaten the crap out of a Christian woman just because she was a woman. Skewed logic isn't it?
Terrorism in the Name of God is still Terrorism and it's Wrong.

Answer 7

yes, of course. All kinds of violence against another person who is not being violent is 'terroristic' behavior if you ask me.

Answer 8

It shouldn't matter that they're Christian or Muslim or Buddhists or whatever...

All that matters is they're breaking the law -
Also, there are already laws on the books to deal with this....
Send them to jail or otherwise punish them.

I say NO - EVERYONE is classified as a terrorist these days -
Enough is enough already!

Answer 9

No...
I think they should be called cripples...

Gay people should stand up for ourselves and for eachother...
Don't let your gay friends walk the streets at night alone...
and don't be afraid to fight back...

Answer 10

yes I think they should be. Since their awakening can be classified as a hate crime in itself.