Evidence for Christianity

[OnlyNatural]

This is the best article on why homosexuality is bad for society that I have read.

http://www.davidmacd.com/catholic/why_ca...rriage.htm

Okay, I read the article. It's actually about why gay marriage is bad for society, but I'll go with that. I'm paraphrasing each argument (to save space), though I'll include some quotes. Then underneath I'll include my response.

First of all, there is NO source given for the French study. In fact, the only sources this gay-and-celibate Catholic author refers to are Xtra magazine, a Gay and Lesbian newspaper (*raises eyebrow*), and some irrelevant statistics about divorce rates for different professions. Very unimpressive, but I didn't expect anything legitimate from such a biased site. Anyway, off we go:

Argument #1: The gay community was never really into marriage.

Even if the majority of people in the gay community didn't want to get married, why should the few couples who do want to marry be prevented from doing so? You can't generalize against an entire group as if they all have the same values and desires. Except when I say that we are all human, and as a group, we all deserve equal rights.

Argument #2: Gay people have more health problems, STDs, and a higher risk of suicide.

STDs can be prevented by using contraception. What we need is more education about the risks of sex, preferably in adolescence when young people have raging hormones and are figuring out their sexuality. But Catholics would see sex education banned, and LGBT acceptance discouraged. Where does this leave gay teens? Without being provided with the tools and information to maximize their sexual safety, and being ostracized and denigrated by society for who they are, no wonder they are at higher risk of infection, substance abuse, and even suicide. The Catholic Church seems to view homosexuality as an unhealthy choice some people make, that, if discouraged, will stop being made. They fail to realize that the vast majority of gay people have identified as such from a very early age, and it was not a choice, but a realization.

The gay community may very well have more health problems as a group, partly due to lifestyle and partly due to society. However, that is no reason to deny them equal rights! African Americans also have a higher risk of certain health conditions, but would you say this makes them undeserving of marriage?

Argument #3: 'Secular fundamentalists' have made 'human rights' their religion, and the poor Christians who don't agree that gays should have rights are being persecuted and are the victims of hate crimes. Oh, and they're worried about losing charitable donations and having to pay taxes, because more and more people are against the Catholic church's discriminatory policies.

'Secular fundamentalism simultaneously belittles religion, and sets forth its own religious dogmas. It's ultimate outcome is to throw Christians in jail, or worse. This is a modern day inquisition against anyone who does not hold with the state religion which is fundamentalist humanism.'

'Here are Christian business people (referring to school staff who don't want to include homosexuality in sex ed classes) who no longer have the human right to work without compromising their values.'

'The human rights commission...is an anti-Christian institution and it is regulating the way that people in Canada live their lives. Teaching your child the Bible is now being seriously considered a discriminatory behaviour.'

'The genesis of the modern "human rights" movement is based on Christian theological principles.'

Seriously? Wow. Just... wow. So this 'good Christian' goes on about how gays don't deserve this and that, how their chosen lifestyles should be outlawed, and THEN to have the AUDACITY to turn around and whine about how Christians are being discriminated against? And then he claims that Christian values are the foundation of 'human rights?' Fucking arrogant and disgusting.

I don't think he even knows what Humanism is. Since when is 'the greater good of humanity' a bad thing? Oh wait, it's because God and the Bible aren't necessary for this philosophy.

'Our culture presents human rights as some kind of universal truth.'

So tolerance and human rights are a bad thing, and shouldn't be universal? Or maybe you think only certain people deserve rights. Didn't you Christians want your human rights respected? And who says you have any knowledge of a 'universal truth?'

Argument #4: Gay rights activists want to legalize promiscuity, public sex, group sex, illegal pornography, the sex trade, and lower the age of consent for anal sex to 14.

Mostly this is bullshit. But consensual sexual activity between adults is legal because it does no harm. Public sex, exploitative porn, 'the sex trade,' and sex with unconsenting children is illegal, and likely to stay that way. Gay rights activists may want more freedom of sexual expression, but not in a way that is immoral and destructive. Maybe the Catholic Church should take a look at their own immoral and destructive beliefs and policies before pointing their finger at others.

Argument #5: Sexual fidelity and chastity are better than sexual freedom.

'All humans have sexuality. It's God's gift, but with any gift comes a great responsibility. Sex is powerful. People are born from sex, people die from sex (STD's). If I get a powerful gift for Christmas, say a car, there are rules that keep me safe. I think it is the same with sexuality.'

'The Catholic Church has always asserted that chastity, or alternatively celibacy, are the correct expressions of our sexual natures. This is supported by the Bible. It applies to everyone, including Gays, Lesbians, Bisexuals and Transgendered (GLBT) people.'

And what gives you, the Catholic Church, the right to impose any of your warped sex rules on other people?? You obviously know nothing about what's natural when it comes to sex. Not really a surprise though, since when the Bible was written, almost 2000 years ago, they didn't really know either. So you're swallowing whole the ancient moralizing bullshit of a repressed and isolated primitive society. You should be proud.

Argument #6: Canada was founded on Christian values, but is now legalizing gay marriage and becoming more secular, and discrimination against gays is highly frowned upon.

Good for Canada! I'm proud to be a Canadian. And don't whine about how Canada was founded on Christianity. It wasn't, any more than America was. The founders were Christian, yes, but Canada has no official religion and is committed to religious pluralism, secular law, and the separation of church and state, just like the USA. Here's an article with a good counterargument:

http://www.homophobie.org/default.aspx?scheme=1501

Argument #7: The two genders are different, with different needs. Men and women are naturally complementary in relationships.

'A same-sex union is not a physical union that transmits human life, producing children. A same-sex union is not the joining of two complementary natures that complete each other. Simply stated, a same sex union is not marriage.'

Marriage does not require procreation to be a valid union. And men and women do not always complement each other, just because they have opposite genitalia. Personality matters a lot more in choosing a partner, and compatibility based on personality is what leads to longer-lasting unions.

Argument #8: Gay marriage is harmful to children and families.

Here is an actual summary of research findings from hundreds of scientific studies, from the American Psychological Association (APA) no less, that says otherwise. Click the link, then on the right side of the webpage under Table of Contents, click 'Conclusion,' which sums up the findings.

http://www.apa.org/pi/lgbt/resources/parenting.aspx

'Not a single study has found children of lesbian or gay parents to be disadvantaged in any significant respect relative to children of heterosexual parents. Indeed, the evidence to date suggests that home environments provided by lesbian and gay parents are as likely as those provided by heterosexual parents to support and enable children's psychosocial growth.'

And again, dqualk, there is NO link to an 'exhaustive secular study' done in France that says gay marriage is bad for children. Other than this non-evidence, the author includes a few personal anecdotes to support his case. Pretty pathetic.

Argument #9: We should revive the institution of marriage. Yes, hetero marriages are often screwed up, but homo marriages will only be worse.

'Instead of trying to further soil the institution of marriage, I think we should be reviving it. We should be reviving the idea of lifelong commitment and chastity before marriage.'

'There are many faithful Christians who still value marriage so why not leave the definition of marriage for those to whom it still means something.'

So Christians should be allowed to define and dictate what marriage should be like for all other citizens, because they believe the Bible's definition is the only right one. The arrogance of these people is unbelievable...

Argument #10: It's unconstitutional to change the definition of marriage.

Author got an e-mail that he disagreed with. The e-mail said: 'there should be an amendment that defines marriage as inclusive to all people regardless of sexual orientation.'

Then he whines about how judges should only interpret laws, not redefine them, and how our laws are getting all messed up. He probably would've whined when slavery laws were eradicated too, 'It's not faaaiiirrr, you can't just change the law!'

For the record, I totally agree with whomever wrote that e-mail.

Argument #11: Marriage 'was intimately related to the Church and the teaching of Christ,' not just a 'medieval convenience.'

'Catholics believe marriage is a religious concept designed by God before any government existed, before any law of man had been written. Marriage is God's idea. Catholics believe it is not for us as humans to tamper with. The word "Marriage" appears all over the New Testament (Mat 22:30, 24:38, Mk 12:25, Lk 2:36, 17:27, 20:34-35, 1 Co 7:38, 2 Co 11:2, 1 Ti 4:3, Heb 13:4, Rev 19:7, 19:9) and it is clearly drawn out as a relationship between one man and one woman. We cannot get around that without throwing out the Bible as "hate" literature.'

I'm not an expert on the history of marriage, but I'm pretty damn sure the Christians didn't come up with the idea. It's much more ancient than that. Yet the author says 'It was God's idea,' what a fucking joke.

I love that last line. Who else here thinks the Bible is 'hate literature?'

Argument #12: Christians who discriminate against gays (by refusing to perform civil marriages, or refusing to let them stay at their B&B) are accused of 'hate crime' and thrown in jail.

Here we go again, more whining about Christians being discriminated against. Don't they realize that it's them who are being discriminatory, them who are against equal rights for all?

Catholics insist on laws being Christian-friendly, but gripe and moan about laws that are gay-friendly? What hypocrites.

Argument #13: Gay marriage is worse than interracial marriage, because it redefines what marriage is, and will have a negative influence on other people and families.

'Others say "hey, my gay marriage won't affect your straight marriage." Catholics feel it will affect everybody, including married straight people. Public school students will be taught against the teachings of their parent's faith. Kids of gay marriages will influence the belief systems of Catholic kids. The concept of marriage would be weakened and vulnerable to another assault that Catholics cringe to think about - polygamy.'

So Christians are afraid that their marriages and belief systems are at risk if other people enter into different kinds of relationships? I just can't get my head around this self-absorbed mindset... it seems like they're terrified of change, and can't stomach the idea of more rights and freedoms for anyone who believes differently. The slippery slope idea is also evidence of their irrational fear. It's alluded to a lot on this webpage. 'If we legalize gay marriage, soon we'll have polygamy and people fucking in the streets! We can't have that!!'

I still say: 'If you don't like gay marriage, don't have one!' And stay the fuck out of other people's lives.

Argument #14: 'The government made the charter of rights and then says it is powerless to support it.'

Now I'm no expert on politics, but neither is this author, obviously. And he apparently thinks that Rights and Freedoms are only for certain kinds of people.

Here's a good counterargument for why gay marriage should be included on the Charter:

http://www.samesexmarriage.ca/legal/why220205.htm

Argument #15: The Bible is the foundation of our justice system.

'The Bible has historically been the foundation of our entire justice system. Our entire moral code is based upon it. Before someone testifies in court they swear on a Holy Bible.'

Wow I certainly HOPE our justice system isn't based on the Bible... what a nightmare of hatred and intolerance and cruelty and immorality and state-sanctioned murder THAT would be. It's a damn good thing we don't base our laws on this evil book.

Argument #16: No one believes in absolute truth anymore, but they should.

'The Old Testament is full of examples of God's people taking off and believing [a different version of the truth]. Eventually their own suffering brought them back to the Lord. I suggest that there is one Truth and it is not reliant on society's acceptance of it.'

More arrogance from Christians claiming that their book and their God are the only Truth. 'Absolute truth' and 'absolute morals' as written in the Bible are no longer beneficial for the good of humanity. In fact, they are quite destructive.

Argument #17: Catholics think that God's laws are more important that human constructs.

'Catholics believe that God is real, and we think he has an opinion about all kinds of things, including our sexual stuff. We think the laws of God's universe are more binding than the laws of man.'

'A Catholic would have to reduce the Bible to a bit of outdated history in order to justify gay marriage.'

What a good idea! The Bible IS terribly outdated! And just because you believe your sky-daddy is real and disapproves of where you put your genitals, doesn't mean the rest of us are that naive.

The final verdict.

In conclusion, VERY unimpressive 'evidence' for why gay marriage is bad for society. No evidence at all, actually. Just the opinions of a Catholic bigot. The more I read, the more my disgust for the immorality of religion just keeps on growing.