Religion, Secularism and Homosexuality

[Eric the Green]

(06-15-2016, 02:31 PM)radind Wrote:

(06-15-2016, 02:20 PM)Eric the Green Wrote:

(06-15-2016, 02:07 PM)radind Wrote:

(06-15-2016, 01:59 PM)Eric the Green Wrote:

(06-15-2016, 01:44 PM)radind Wrote: I agree that the so called 'pastor' is fundamentally flawed and his comments are evil.
These comments are in no way supported by mainstream Christians or by anyone with a Biblical worldview.

However, your comment about Barna is absolutely wrong and not founded on any facts.

Barna is not against homosexuality?

The issue is your statement "It's not a long step from barna, to Verity Baptist Church, to Pulse nightclub June 5 2016.".
The statements from the phony 'pastor' are outrageous and EVIL.
No Christian with a Biblical worldview would make such a claim.
To associate anyone else with the Verity Baptist Church without any basis is terribly flawed.

Maybe I'm wrong and barna does not attribute moral prohibitions against homosexuality to a Biblical worldview. But you didn't answer the question. The issue is their view of gays and their behavior in relation to their religion.

If barna's view is that homosexuality is wrong, and Bible believers should agree, then that is part of the steps toward hate and murder.

It doesn't mean barna advocates hate and murder. It means that those views create the conditions for sick minds to take the next steps. As Pastor Jimenez did, and as Mateen acted it out.

It seems to me that your view has been, that religious believers should have the right to refuse service to gays getting married on the basis of conscience. And similar situations arise in regard to contraception and abortion. And you say, as I read you, that if religious believers are forced to serve gays, that is intolerance by seculars, and an attack on religious liberty by the dominant secular culture.

I understand the feeling of conscience. Sometimes the Obama administration has tried to accomodate it. But on balance I think allowing discrimination, and the idea that homosexuality is morally wrong, are steps toward intolerance and hate toward those who practice those lifestyles. That connection is clearly shown in Pastor Jimenez's remarks.

 I will  try to see what barna has posted.
I don't agree at all with  your view about the steps leading to hate and murder.
In my view each person is created in the image of God and there is no room or basis for hate.

It IS a step. Because some people like the pastor and Mateen feel that the penalty for doing "wrong" (e.g. homosexuality/sodomy) is or should be death. They simply ignore the idea that each person is created in the image of God, which should mitigate such doctrines.

The cure is to stop saying that being gay is wrong, in any way.

It may not be the right thing for you or me, but it may be the right thing for others. That is not moral relativism. It is moral decision, or moral intelligence.

Like Obama said, straight members of the army applauded gay members. We're all on one team.