Is Christian dissent from trendy views on sexuality a matter of intolerance, hatred, and discrimination?

Question

Equating Christian dissent with intolerance, hatred, and discrimination seems to be popular argument among the people of this world.

Yet Christians clearly tolerate kinky sexual practices. There is no discrimination because all of us have the exact same rules on legal marriage partners (one consenting unmarried non-relative adult of the opposite sex).

Christians don't hate those who don't restrict sex to marriage. We want them to be happy by giving up practices that prevent their reconciliation with God, who is the source of happiness.

It is getting hard to have a reasonable disagreement when one side accuses dissenters of intolerance, hatred, and discrimination.

Some good examples of intolerance of Christian dissent in several answers so far. But perhaps these posters are unfamiliar with Christian tradition, and they have not learned tolerance, a Christian virtue.

Answer 1

You are quite correct. Nothing ends intellectual discussion quite so well as a great ad hominem attack.

I still remember the last time i mentioned that i was morally opposed to homosexuality... a girl standing there called me a homophobe and said if i'd ever met a gay person i wouldn't say such hateful things.

Being the jerk that i like to be, i mentioned that having moral disagreements is okay, turned to my friend standing next to me, and said something along the lines of "this is my friend (name removed), he's gay. He can probably tell you better than I can that I'm not homophobic."

Answer 2

Perhaps ignorance--perhaps just the inane insistance on unreasoned adherence to various mens interpretations of scripture is the root cause for those labels. Clearly even biblical scholars will tell you that the double standard and corresponding Hebrew law and later Christian doctrine came from issues regarding property and inheritance. The first born son of a marriage inherited the whole works. Now the father--and many of the old testament hero's had a wife and concubines (women they had sex with). this was okay because any children with the concubines were not of the marriage and not allowed to inherit. Parentage via the father was known as long as the women were kept to him as a partner. The women on the other hand, if a wife slept with another man--the parentage of the children would be unknown--and inheritance issues and property issues were clouded. Society does not work well in chaos, rules evolve, which attentuate that chaos. The biblical strictures against sex had nothing to do wih morality--they had everything to do with creating a stable society. Those issues don't exist anymore--parentage is easily determined these days. Most people think the Xtian point of view is intolerant--and really it is because of the inane need of the christian to accept doctrin ewithout thinking of its origins and philosphopical implications.

Answer 3

There is a difference between Christians "enjoying" kinky sexual practices, and "tolerating" them.

In what possible way can you deam banning, condemning, and even outlawing practices such as sodomy, fellatio or onanism, "tolerance"??

And you claim no discrimination because everyone has to follow the same rules???? If someone were to enact legislation that said that every person was required to sleep with a member of the same sex to get a driver's license, would you call that discriminatory? I'm guessing you would - but by your definition it wouldn't, because the same rule applies to everyone.

And while not every Christian hates those who don't restrict sex to marriage, there certainly are a vocal number of them that do. Those who carry signs that say things like "God hates F*gs" aren't exactly showing loving concern for their reconciliatory prospects.

Answer 4

The Christianity lived out in the media by the more visible adherents is at time problematic. Having shown no love or compassion to a society or people group, they have not earned the right to speak into their lives. What is shown to America then looks mean spirit, selfish and intolerant. No I am not saying homosexuality is supported by the bible, but loving a homosexual and treating him or her like a valued human being, would go a long way to allow you to effectively speak into their lives. Jesus hung around the wine bibber, harlots, adulterers and publicans, and ministered to them with love and saved souls because of it, we should do the same as modeled by Christ, then the values that we preach has power to change lives. But to be grasping and selfish, and tell the poor it their fault you are starving, and a gospel close to mind science, you have what you think, disengages the christian from being a salt in the world and leaves it as every soul/mind/spirit for themselves. After all if you had faith or believe with positive affirmation you would......fill in the blank.
so yes be in the world but not of the world, but be a light and a salt to the world, as Israel was an example to the surrounding nation, so must we be an example of Christ to our communities, and so communicate our values and message of the gospel.
Peace

Answer 5

A true Christian is not to hate anyone, we can be tolerant by not hating those whose sexual practices are opposite to christianism (any sex outside heterosexual monogamic marriage) but that doesn't mean we will forget our principles and treat them like if they were following the rules, those who don't follow the rules of christianity are likely to face excomunion not because we're intolerant but because their choosen way of life is not christian at all.

Answer 6

DIssension is not a matter of intolerance, hatred, or discrimination. If it was we are all guilty christian and non christian alike. Everyone of us tend to put people who do not agree with us on a lesser level. But to disagree is not intolerance, hatred, or discrimination, it is just a difference of opinion.

Hatred, discrimination, and intolerance comes when one acts on their dissension in a negative or harming fashion.

Answer 7

Christian dissent is not because we have changed, but because society has changed. It is hard to tell the truth when the truth is looked upon as being intolerant.

Answer 8

Christians should not "hate" anyone. However, non-Christians confuse "hatred" with "rejection of sin". Christians are to separate themselves from "the sin-loving world". For example, acknowledging that homosexuality is a sin in God's eyes is not "hatred". It's simply following our Creator's rules, especially the one about "Thou shalt not commit adultery". Bringing this knowledge to the attention of others is also not "hatred". If anything, that person would be showing love to someone else who may not be aware of how their Creator feels about this behavior. If they didn't love them, or if they hated them, they would simply leave them alone and allow them to go to Hell. If a Christian mentions this to a homosexual, they obviously care enough about them not to see them lost. So it isn't "hatred" at all.

Answer 9

Christians should only hate the sin and not the person. And there is no difference between homosexuality, adultery and fornication. They are all sexual sins and God says none can enter the kingdom of heaven.

"But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks. For this ye know. that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no man deceive you with vain words, for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. Be not ye therefore partakers with them. for ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord, walk as children of light: (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth:) Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret. But allthings that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doeth make manifest is light. Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. See then that ye walk circumspectly not as fools but as wise. Redeeming the time, because the days are evil."

Ephesians 5:3-16

Answer 10

A) you have no right to tell ME what to do with my body or who I can share it with. Neither would I try to tell you who or what to do.
B) You don't have to "tolerate" kinky practices. It's none of your business, again. If you don't wish to do them, don't.
C) You're intolerant of gay marriage/unions. Consensual Love is Love in my eyes. I will not tell my friends they can't be together because of some old book.