Does the religious right truly believe that hate speech is an integral component of their faith.?

Question

Yesterday, the House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act, a bill that promises to extend protection from violent or discriminatory acts of hate to gay and lesbian Americans.

In a shocking turn of events, even for this administration, President Bush has threatened to veto this anti-hate bill. With the overwhelming congressional and public support for this legislation, many are asking who the President could possibly be serving with such a commitment; the answer unfortunately is the religious right.

Over the last few months the religious right has waged a deceptive campaign opposing this pro-equality legislation.

© 2007 DefCon: Campaign to Defend the Constitution

They have employed a range of excuses; Chuck Colson compared the law to something out of George Orwell's famous novel 19841, Tony Perkins has stated that the legislation is “contrary to our heritage and our values,”2 and just this week James Dobson told listeners of Focus on the Family Radio, “there’s a vote coming up on some insidious legislation in the United States Congress that could silence and punish Christians for their moral beliefs. That means that as a Christian – if you read the Bible a certain way with regard to morality – you may be guilty of committing a ‘thought crime.”3

Such sentiments beg the question: does the religious right truly believe that hate speech is an integral component of their faith?

This notion is preposterous and simply goes to show just how out of touch the religious right is, not only with real American values, but with mainstream Christian values as well.

While most Americans see the religious right’s campaign for what it is -- an attempt to make gay and lesbian Americans second class citizens -- their bigoted views have found audience with at least one man, President Bush.

Answer 1

I dont really know all of what this prevention act contains so forgive me if i sound a bit ignorant. about 8-10 years ago there was a simular bill being lobbied around and the concerns from the christian camp was that to pass such a thing would infringe upon our rights to believe as we do.ie the bible tells me that homosexuality is an act of sin so in your eyes it would be a hate crime for me to say and or teach that to my children,or for my pastor to read those passages in church.indeed wouldnt the whole bible have to be edited? or perhaps banned? and in doing so doesnt that infringe upon my right as a citizen to worship as i believe and maybe my freedom of speech?Isnt this asking me to giive up my rights , I.E. live the way you believe is right for you?
as a citizen of the united states you should be protected by the constitution (13th ammendment and by state and civil laws, why do you need a set of laws particularly for gay and lesbians?
im truly asking in all sincerity,all though I do believe that to be obediant to God I must accept the bible as his unerring word,I do not believe in discrimination or violence towards anyone.and that christians esp. are to obey the laws of the land and show love and tolerance to the lost so as to win them to God.
Id be interested in information about this act.where can i find it posted?And why the G and L community feel that present laws dont protect their rights .you can e-mail me with more info if you like.
peace><>

Answer 2

I beg of Christians to remember when the Bible was being used to enforce racism and the same claims were made against these bills then...

Also, the bill does not give "stiffer penalties" to those accused... it simply allows them to enter their known prejudice as motive to convict them...
These laws already protect every other minority in America so why have gays been left out for so long?

Also, 30 republicans passed this bill... so it is a BI-PARTISAN campaign... don't chalk it up to a bunch of liberals... it's Bush who is behaving "radically".

Answer 3

even however i'm no longer a Bush supporter, nor a precise wing Fundamentalist Christian, i'm a student of history. heavily look at Hitler's upward push to skill and his "merely precise answer" of the Jewish "difficulty". you will see close parallels between his strategies, and the what's happening with this bill. regrettably, human beings many times and polititions in specific, do no longer look on the long term destiny, yet merely recent expedency. What could ensue if the united states of a went right into a deep melancholy, and a charismatic individual promised to treatment the area. ought to or no longer it relatively is that merely as Hitler grew to become a dictator, so this individual takes over the elected govenment of the united states of a. (certainly one of those melancholy must be closer than we expect of. look on the quantity that we import from China. In China, there are 1000's of persons who paintings for much less han a greenback an afternoon. Very quickly we heavily isn't waiting to compete. China then will become the best united states of the international and the united states of a is going into an exceedingly deep melancholy, merely as Germany did after WWI.) so as to earnings skill, this individual will ought to locate a scape goat, merely as Hitler got here across the european Jews. ought to or no longer it relatively is that this individual will 0 in on the "religious precise"? This proposed regulation places a mark on people who've a definite religious and ethical attitude. (merely as Jews have been marked in Poland and Germany for the time of the conflict.) quickly the assumption police, (in Germany it replaced into the SS.) knock on the doorways of the religious precise and imprison them for their ethical stand. quickly they're moved into Ghettos and finally to places like Auschwitch. you will be able to declare that this might in no way ensue. This regulation must be the 1st step. keep a precise eye on China. I hate to declare it whether it must be which you or i'm going to be begging to be on Schindler's record

Answer 4

Yes, bigotry seems to be part of their method, judging from statements made by religious leaders. Here is a quote from Rev. Jerry Falwell:

"[homosexuals are] brute beasts...part of a vile and satanic system [that] will be utterly annihilated, and there will be a celebration in heaven." Jerry Falwell: Quoted in Jim Hill and Rand Cheadle, "The Bible Tells Me So", Anchor Books (1996), Pages 69-70

And, of course, what discussion would be complete without insults from Rev. Pat Robertson:

"Many of those people involved with Adolph Hitler were Satanists, many of them were homosexuals--the two things seem to go together."--Pat Robertson, "The 700 Club," 1/21/93

And then, there is Rev. Jimmy Swaggart, who said he would kill a gay man (with no regard for "Thou shalt not kill"), and then he would lie to God about the cause of death:

http://www.castroonline.com/spectrum/1004/swaggart.html

Answer 5

And are we supposed to be surprised that this is President Bush's choice in the matter? lol. We all know that he is a religious fundamentalist, and has no desire to do anything but further his agenda, which is the same agenda as the religious right. Notice that he's never objected to creating laws against hate speech of any other kind, he only is opposed to outlawing hate speech against homosexuals. If he does this, then we will HAVE to allow hate speech against anybody. I can tell you, the closest I've come to praying in a long time has been to pray that this idiot gets out of office sooner than later. He is a frightening, frightening man.

Answer 6

My question is who in the US government will determine what type of speech is appropriate and what type is hate speech. Just exactly what is hate speech anyway. Your description of people in the religious right could be considered offensive and borderline hate speech. Forget the political correctness and both groups on the left and the right can back up off my liberties and mind your own businesses.

My United States is Free.. the government does not have the power or authority to legislate hate or love... And what gives you the impression that God has a problem with Christians who hate sin... because he doesn't... and if he does it is between him and his hateful followers...just as it will be for all the sinful followers


thank God he forgives

Answer 7

Many of the people who are part of the religious right have turned to their churches and received support. Later on, the same ministers commit emotional and spiritual abuse of these congregants.

The ministers are doing what they have been taught, and the church members, who depend upon the church for emotional support, have no choice but to comply with the ministers, and to adopt the hate speech often see in churches.

Fortunately, an ENORMOUS number of Christians in America do not adher to this hateful thinking or speech. But the far right fundamentalists and evangleical extremists are loud and obnoxious, and so they get most of the attention.

Answer 8

Hate speech is a sin. However, if this bill is passed into law, it would be illegal for pastors to preach/teach that homosexuality is a sin. And that is a problem. Where would free speech end and hate speech begin? A real problem for Christians who are commanded by God to teach the truth of His word.

Answer 9

God bless America eh? The land of freedom, yeah i see.. Maybe George "beat around the" Bush should wake up and realize that the current year is 2007 not 1507.

Answer 10

The hidden problem with this proposed bill is that it makes it a crime for Pastors to preach that sexual sins are sins.

For religious freedoms. To call sin sin.

Because preaching that homosexuality lifestyle is a sin isn't hate speech.


Already we do not have the freedom to threaten others in speeches. That is considered harrassment. But to legislate it a crime to say that any type of fornication or adultery (including homosexuality) is a sin & the Pastor can be imprisoned because of it. This takes away the freedom to preach moral.

In other countries Pastors have been imprisoned because of this type of law that was passed. I believe one was in Canada.


Also, true Christian Pastors will never incite hate against sinners. Pastors teach what is morally right & wrong. How to have the victory over sin in our life.