Tea Party Candidate Says It's OK To Stone Gays To Death

[Sheilbh]

But homophobia doesn't just mean fear anymore.

[Admiral Yi]

But homophobia doesn't just mean fear anymore.

If, as many people prefer, it merely means someone opposed to any public policy advocated by gays, then Ide's original statement is rendered meaningless.

[Sheilbh]

I don't think anyone would give it that meaning.

But look at Russia. When we're talking about homophobia there we don't mean 'fear'.

[Admiral Yi]

I don't think anyone would give it that meaning.

But look at Russia. When we're talking about homophobia there we don't mean 'fear'.

I could quibble and say Russian animus is rooted in an irrational fear of "going soft," but generally agree.

But my point still stands.  It's possible to base opposition to gay-approved policy on something other than ill will.  Take for example my reservations about gays in the military.

[Valmy]

The universality of God's love is the very essence of the Christian faith, after all.

The same sects that declare everybody who does not believe as they are going to hell forever?  That is a strange passive aggressive sort of love.  I am not so sure if all Christian sects share this as their very essence.

[Sheilbh]

Didn't that boil down to men don't like to shower with men who like to shower with men? Sounds pretty fearish

[Barrister]

The universality of God's love is the very essence of the Christian faith, after all.

The same sects that declare everybody who does not believe as they are going to hell forever?  That is a strange passive aggressive sort of love.  I am not so sure if all Christian sects share this as their very essence.

I dunno, only a few fringe churches (like the Witnesses, of the Catholics) believe that "if you don't follow our teachings, it's to Hell! with you"!

In any event, it's not the universality of God's love that is in question, but whether people choose to accept that love.

[Admiral Yi]

Didn't that boil down to men don't like to shower with men who like to shower with men?

No.

And even if it did, my recognition that men might be uncomfortable showering with men who want to slip their dicks up their asses isn't rooted in ill will towards gays.

[The Brain]

Men who fear going to a civilian public bath may be slightly weird.

[Viking]

Men who fear going to a civilian public bath may be slightly weird.

Men who fear showering naked at a civilian public bath are weird.

[Valmy]

I dunno, only a few fringe churches (like the Witnesses, of the Catholics) believe that "if you don't follow our teachings, it's to Hell! with you"!

Wha?  Huh?  The traditional belief if that if you do not believe in Jesus you are damned.  That is not a fringe belief.

In any event, it's not the universality of God's love that is in question, but whether people choose to accept that love.

You have to admit it is a pretty conditional sort of love.

[DGuller]

One can believe in a God who disapproves of homosexuals without having an irrational fear of homosexuality.

You'd have to define terms pretty carefully for that to be true. 

Belief in a God who disproves of homosexuals is equivalent to believing that the power that constitutes the very nature and structure of the universe has an animus against homosexuality.  That seems pretty equivalent to "fear" unless one is going to quibble about precise meanings.  And such a belief, not being based on any kinds of logical or empirical reasoning process, could fairly be described as irrational.

I think that's really reaching.  You can have disdain for something without being fearful of it in the least.

[Barrister]

I dunno, only a few fringe churches (like the Witnesses, of the Catholics) believe that "if you don't follow our teachings, it's to Hell! with you"!

Wha?  Huh?  The traditional belief if that if you do not believe in Jesus you are damned.  That is not a fringe belief.

It was meant as a swipe against the Catholics

"Believe in Jesus" - yes.

"Believe in the Evangelical National Lutheran Church doctrine or go to Hell" - not so much.

In any event, it's not the universality of God's love that is in question, but whether people choose to accept that love.

You have to admit it is a pretty conditional sort of love.

umm, no I wouldn't agree with that.

[Sheilbh]

I dunno, only a few fringe churches (like the Witnesses, of the Catholics) believe that "if you don't follow our teachings, it's to Hell! with you"!

Some fringe

Anyway the actual teaching's a little more nuanced than that.

And even if it did, my recognition that men might be uncomfortable showering with men who want to slip their dicks up their asses isn't rooted in ill will towards gays.

No. But there's an element of fear, no?

[Viking]

I dunno, only a few fringe churches (like the Witnesses, of the Catholics) believe that "if you don't follow our teachings, it's to Hell! with you"!

Some fringe

Anyway the actual teaching's a little more nuanced than that.

And that is Apologist speak for "You are absolutely right but I don't want to think about it."

But for the Witnesses and many Calvinist groups they don't believe that. The Elect are pre-destined to go to heaven. So even if you do follow the teaching you still might end up in hell. You can only hope that the ability to follow the teachings is a sign that you are one of The Elect.