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ARTICLE: 'Brokeback is in, Bible is out'

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Aussie Chris:

--- Quote from: delalluvia on April 21, 2006, 07:50:41 pm ---Homosexuality is not a 'sin' like getting drunk or being adulterous or lying or stealing.  If you don't have the urge, you don't have the urge.  It's a sin you have no problem avoiding and thus can come down hard on people who are homosexual and justify the condemnation by saying 'it's a choice' and thus can be resisted "see I can resist it with no problem. You're just wanting to sin".

--- End quote ---

This is really good delalluvia.  I've often wished for a simple explanation for this - and here it is!  It still doesn't explain (for me) why so much over-the-top hatred and condemnation is applied to orientation though.  Easy target, you think?

Lynne:
I tend to oversimplify, I know.  And this is such a complex subject, so bear with me...I certainly have no definitive answers.

In my opinion, the so-called religious condemnation of homosexuality is rooted in fear and ignorance.  My experiences are anecdotal, but I have never met a seriously homophobic person who actually knew any gay people except perhaps in passing.  After you develop a personal relationship with some gay folks, it's becomes clear that choice has nothing to do with it.  On the other hand, it seems it's human nature to fear the unknown and that fear leads to rejection.  Some organized religions just provide an 'acceptable' means for rationalizing/legitimizing that rejection.  Couple that with a society that is repressive in the extreme with respect to sexuality and the fear thrives - anything related to serious sexual discussions is taboo.

The trouble I have is with the more fundamentalist types who insist on literal translations of scripture and dogmatic opinions that leave no room for independent thought and analysis.  I'm afraid there may be no way to reach this group of people short of educating the next generation.  But the current trend toward private religious education and homeschooling in these groups may even preclude that.

Just some random ideas...This is a terrific discussion.
-Lynne

DecaturTxCowboy:
One Christian blogger screamed, "Now they're out to destroy the American legend of the cowboy. God help us, and John Wayne forgive us!"

TJ:
It is interesting how many people are completely ignorant about Marion "John 'Duke' Wayne" Morrison and they believe that he was a real cowboy before and after he got into the movies.

John Wayne being a cowboy in real life is just as fictional as the most of the cowboys whom he portrayed in the movies.

From what I have read, heard and even saw on TV documentaries about Wayne, he was an abusive husband, too.

Oh, "Marion" is sort of a masculine way to call a man "Mary."

The cowboy legend comes for the old dime novels written mostly by city folks who had never been in the Western USA in the first place. And, most of the movie cowboys are based on similar stereotypes.

I suggest that people go to larger city libraries and read the books written by real cowboys when they were working in the real Old West.

In the local Tulsa City-Country Library System and at the main location down town, I have seen real pics of (read real stories of) where cowboys on ranches and on cattle drives shared the very same bedroll, even when each of them had their own bedroll so that they could sleep alone.

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