I had a discussion with my roommate a week ago about gay marriage. I told him as a Christian I don't support homosexuality and by extension I don't support gay marriage. He accused me of being a homophobe which I think is ridiculous. I am not scared of gay people at all. I do not agree with their lifestyle but I am not afraid of them which is the literal definition of homophobe. So I'm wondering does it truly make me a homophobe not to support gay issues?
2007-11-02 02:31:57 · 32 answers · asked by harry 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I'm going to expand on my thoughts of homosexuality. I have no problem with gay people as people. I do not fear them, I do not persecute them or call them slurs, I even have a gay friend who I care about very much. When I say I don't agree with their lifestyle I mean I do not belive (according to my Christian beliefs) that homosexuality is pleasing to or accpeted by God. Now I don't claim to know the mind of God but I have read the Bible and the Bible clearly states that homosexuality is not an "alternative" lifestyle. Tolerance does not mean you openly accept everything. Tolerance means you learn to coexist with others different from you while not persecuting them. I also believe that God loves everyone including gays and he has commanded me to love everyone including gays. But just because I love them does not mean I accept everything they do. I know some people will read this and recognize the distinction I'm trying to make and others will just call me an ignorant bigot.
2007-11-02 02:50:24 · update #1
Why do you care what the world calls you? Call yourself a child of the Most High and serve Him... I am IHS Jim
2007-11-02 02:52:30 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
That is exactly how I've felt all along. I guess if some want to call us homophobes, then we should also be called sinaphobes, murderaphobes, adultaryaphobes, lieaphobes, stealaphobes, hateaphobes...(you get the idea).
So by those standards, everyone who approves of a homosexual lifestyle is a Godaphobe?
2007-11-02 03:18:10 · answer #2 · answered by kaz716 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
When people can't refute the rationale of your arguement, they will instaed attack you personally. Be it Homophobe, Racist, Nativist, Bible banger...whatever. The point is that they cannot debate the possible truth or falacy of your beliefs, because by demanding that their feelings be recognized, on civil or humanistic grounds, they would be acknowledging that your feelings also deserve validation. So instead the issue by necessity becomes personal.
The problem is magnified when people relate to everything on a purely emotional level, to the detriment of reason That is why it is futile to try and reason with an emotionally driven person. Their response will invariably be "How dare you think that!?" as opposed to a more intellectually honest and rational response like, "I disagree with you because..."
They argue not to entice converts, but rather to silence dissent. They prefer intimidation to persuasion.
The opposite of Agree is not Hate, it is Disagree. The opposite of Hate is Advocacy. This distinction is lost on people who are advocates.
So long as you respect other people's rights to their own opinions, you have every right to expect that they give you the same courtesy.
2007-11-02 03:09:26 · answer #3 · answered by righteousjohnson 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well, by your roommates accusation, he would tell God He's a homophobe. I know that is not the case.
To speak the truth, you can expect persecution for His name's sake. Homosexual behavior is an abomination...a sin in the eyes of God. Unfortunately, modern society has twisted the nature of God as some Giant Teddy Bear that does nothing but see us a wonderful creations, ready to forgive anything and all things. Never mind the part about God being just to punish the guilty...never mind the part about His own Son Jesus paying the price for our sins with His life...never mind the wrath of God displayed in the end times on the faithless.
Speak the truth, and let the Law condemn the individuals. Then, once they see their condition in sin, they will see a need for a Savior.
YOU SPEAK OF TOLERANCE. Exactly where in the Bible does God tolerate sin? The answer is nowhere. Then why aren't sinners immediately swept to Hell? The answer is right in the Bible...for God is patient, kind, and longsuffering. God is not tolerant. Unrepentent sin will be punished. Unrepentent sin for non-believers will result in an eternity of hopeless torment. Tolerance may seem like a politically correct thing to say, it might be a thing folks view as desireable today, but tolerance of sin is not Biblical. Rather, patience, kindness, and longsuffering are the qualities we ought to stive for through faith in Christ.
2007-11-02 02:48:18 · answer #4 · answered by BowtiePasta 6 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Please ignore anybody here who attacks your opinion. You sound like a very sincere, good-hearted person. I am bisexual myself and your beliefs about homosexuality do not offend me. You present your opinion in a very honest way and back it up with a good, solid reason. I respect that.
I'm personally agnostic but I think religion can be very beautiful and empowering. Nobody can tell you that you're wrong for being so devoted to your faith! All major religions teach good morals and lessons. What's wrong with that?
Maybe you should sit down with your room mate and have another discussion with him. If he can't accept your opinion, then HE is the bigot. After all, if you tolerate homosexuals and treat them as equals, who cares about whether or not you support their lifestyle? Nobody can force you to like or support something.
Thumbs up to you for being respectful, honest, and kind to homosexuals, despite your personal beliefs!
2007-11-03 05:52:28 · answer #5 · answered by ? 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The word "homophobe" doesn't literally mean that you are afraid of gay people. It means someone who is against their lifestyle and dosn't want to support them. Basically, yes, you are a homophobe.
To add my unsolicited opinion, being a Christian is no excuse to be a homophobe. Just let people live the way they want to and mind your own business if you have a problem with it. Homosexuals face enough hate already.
2007-11-02 02:42:31 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 3⤋
Your roommate is obviously worked up about an issue and probably overreacted. Forgive her and you'll be happier.
There are a variety of ways a Christian can approach homosexuality. Mine is simply to refrain from homosexual acts, but I don't presume to judge others who do. I think it's an infringement of church/state separation that legal marriage is limited to what ONE religion says it should be. In other words, I think Muslims should be able to have multiple wives (I live in in the USA) and think atheists/agnostics should be able to marry androids if that's what they want to do.
The answer is to get government out of the marriage business. Reform the tax code so that it treats married and unmarried people the same, and quit having the gov't issue marriage licenses. Let churches, mosques, and other private organizations (including secular ones) take over this function. If the Roman Catholic Church (for instance) disapproves of gay marriage, then they don't have to issue their marriage licenses to gay couples. But they shouldn't be able to stop the church down the street from doing so.
2007-11-02 02:46:38 · answer #7 · answered by Skepticat 6 · 1⤊ 2⤋
No more than you would be a Jewophobe if you didn't support Jewish rights to love each other. Or a 'Francophobe' if you didn't approve of the French lifestyle.
'Phobia' usually mean intense dislike of, or repulsion towards.
Homophobia definition:
Function: noun
Date: 1969
: irrational fear of, aversion to, or discrimination against homosexuality or homosexuals
http://www.m-w.com/dictionary/homophobia
2007-11-02 02:51:35 · answer #8 · answered by Bajingo 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋
im not agreeing with you, i have many gay friends. But, if they are your views, then thats that. I think, yes you are homophobic (it dosent mean youre litterally scared of them), but i think you are because those (out of date) views have probably been forced upon you from a young age. Maybe its time people stopped living their lives according to a mass produced rule book designed to keep the human population under control. Its ridiculous to live your life by a teaching thats ancient, un-founded and thousands of years out of date!
2007-11-02 02:40:05 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 2⤋
If you truly don't care about homosexuals, then drop the double standard. You stand on both sides of the issue, pick one.
If you are against homosexuals in any way, then you are a homophobe.
2007-11-02 02:38:26 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 3⤋
No you are not homophobe...that is the Liberal Left's way of calling us Christians out, because we will not support their views...of gay lifestyle...
2007-11-02 02:48:46 · answer #11 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 2⤋