Questions for Christians/Catholics?

Question

From everything I've read on Christian websites, books, and heard from preachers, I've gotten the vibe that the majority of Christians truly hate gays, atheists, etc. Basically anyone with differentiating religious/sexual beliefs.

However, I know that the media does not speak for everyone.
So, what's your opinion on these groups?

Answer 1

Homosexual marriage is a perversion of the institution of marriage and an offense to the God who created marriage. God forbids and condemns homosexuality, so He clearly is opposed to homosexual marriage. As Christians, we are to seek to share the love of God and salvation through Christ with homosexuals. We are to be loving and kind to homosexuals, while at the same time not condoning their sinful lifestyle.

Answer 2

My opinion is that God loves everyone . He never discriminates . If you read the bible , you will see that the people that Jesus always hung out with were the social outcasts . He didn't choose to associate with the people who were politically correct . I don't think that it was a mistake that he always chose to be around the people that the rest of society wanted to throw away . There is absolutely nowhere in the bible where God condones discrimination of any kind . God does not hate gays ,atheists or any other group . He may not want that lifestyle for them , but maybe that is because he wants them to get all they can out of life . ( And we all know that society can make life hard on anyone they deem "different " . ) Maybe you should read the New Testament for yourself and draw your own conclusions instead of getting the information second-hand . I hope you will at least consider doing this . It could be the most important decision you ever make . Good luck !

Answer 3

Your questions shows the extent to which the media has effectively done it's job.

Genuine Christians do not approve of the lifestyles or mind-sets of the two groups you describe.

However, it is preached nearly every Sunday from every Pulpit that God loves the Sinner but hates the Sin. Genuine Christians will follow God in this attitude.

Thanks for asking.

Answer 4

The haters tend to be more vocal.

Get a level-headed Christian that actually gets what's going on and you'll understand that they don't hate the 'sinner' per se, nor do they feel any particular disdain for them. They oughtn't to, anyway.

Would they like to reach out to them? Of course. Is it because they feel that they're dirty, rotten, and hell-bound? No, there ought to be an understanding that it's not man's place to judge another's heart. It's simply because they have compassion and want to share the spirit in love. But I would feel completely comfortable with someone who considered his or herself gay coming to church if their heart was focused on finding God. Likewise with an atheist, so long as they were trying to come to an understanding rather than tear others apart. Repentance doesn't come before understanding.

I think some Christians pick on gays because it's easier to spot a gay and ridicule them because their tendency is somewhat more obvious by stereotypical (though inconsistent) mannerisms.

Answer 5

I don't hate people who are homosexual in their orientation. My sister is a lesbian and I've had many gay/lesbian friends & co-workers over the years. I played on a softball team with my two lesbian roommates, which was sponsored by a gay bar. Every single one of these people had much to love about them.

As for atheists, I don't hate them, either. I was raised atheist and members of my family (including the aforementioned sister) are atheists.

There isn't any point to hating people and furthermore, it is a sin. No true Christian would hate anyone else but seek ways to see Christ in those other people.

P.S. I am a devout Catholic

Answer 6

Christians are not supposed to hate anyone. It is against our religion.

We may hate the sin but we must love the sinner.

Created in the image of the one God and equally endowed with rational souls, all men have the same nature and the same origin. Redeemed by the sacrifice of Christ, all are called to participate in the same divine beatitude: all therefore enjoy an equal dignity.

The Catholic Church believes there is nothing sinful about being homosexual. But homosexuals like all unmarried people are called to celibacy.

The Church specifically says that homosexuals "must be accepted with respect, compassion, and sensitivity. Every sign of unjust discrimination in their regard should be avoided."

Here is the text of the document, On the Pastoral Care of Homosexual Persons (1986): http://www.newadvent.org/library/docs_df86ho.htm

For more information, see the Catechism of the Catholic Church, section 2357-2359: http://www.usccb.org/catechism/text/pt3sect2chpt2art6.htm#2357

With love in Christ.

Answer 7

Speaking strictly from the Catholic perspective, the Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches:

2357 Homosexuality refers to relations between men or between women who experience an exclusive or predominant sexual attraction toward persons of the same sex. It has taken a great variety of forms through the centuries and in different cultures. Its psychological genesis remains largely unexplained. Basing itself on Sacred Scripture, which presents homosexual acts as acts of grave depravity, tradition has always declared that "homosexual acts are intrinsically disordered." They are contrary to the natural law. They close the sexual act to the gift of life. They do not proceed from a genuine affective and sexual complementarity. Under no circumstances can they be approved.

2359 Homosexual persons are called to chastity. By the virtues of self-mastery that teach them inner freedom, at times by the support of disinterested friendship, by prayer and sacramental grace, they can and should gradually and resolutely approach Christian perfection.

2358 The number of men and women who have deep-seated homosexual tendencies is not negligible. This inclination, which is objectively disordered, constitutes for most of them a trial. They must be accepted with respect, compassion, and sensitivity. Every sign of unjust discrimination in their regard should be avoided. These persons are called to fulfill God's will in their lives and, if they are Christians, to unite to the sacrifice of the Lord's Cross the difficulties they may encounter from their condition.

2396 Among the sins gravely contrary to chastity are masturbation, fornication, pornography, and homosexual practices.

Answer 8

Just as Jesus disagreed with the lifestyle of many He ate with; so do we. I'm sure you don't agree with at least some peoples' lifestyle choices, but does that mean you hate them? I hope not. Not approving of one's choice to live a certain way, does not preclude me from loving, and actually liking, anyone. If I did, then I would be wanting to live in isolation from others. I believe that I would miss out big time just enjoying how God has made others so different, and I'm sure others would with me, even if they didn't recognize it. As I said, Jesus did, so I do too.

Answer 9

A real christian doesn't hate anyone. It is against their religion to hate. Just because a christian doesn't agree with you it isn't hate. It is just their belief differs. What is wrong with letting them have their beliefs?

If you think it is hate now, just wait until the Islamics take over. Unlike Christians who may speak their beliefs, the Islamics stone and cut heads off non-believers and non-conformists.

Answer 10

My best friend is a gay male... My coolest cousin is gay as well.... I think people should NOT be judged by their preferences... or their faiths. You'll find that most ancient beliefs are anti-gay, and the reason for this is that deep down, every religion has a deep root in procreation. Man and woman "should mate and have offspring" for the species (and religion) to survive. I think it's bollocks, really, but then again, that's the way these things are. People are just people and we all have a right to choose whatever we want to lead a full, happy life.

Answer 11

I have no opinion other than that they are human beings and deserve the same love as anyone else. To disassociate one's self with a person because they are gay or atheist would be no different that not associating with someone because they stole a pencil in the third grade. According to the Bible, there is no varying degree of sins.

Brightest Blessings