(September 25, 2008 at 7:33 pm)Jason Jarred Wrote:(September 25, 2008 at 11:51 am)starbucks Wrote: Even in cultures that aren't hung up on religion or any religious moral codes, homosexuality is still seen as wrong. Thus, makes me wonder if this perspective is something that is just wired in humans. Which leads me to say this: it's NOT surprising to find a high number of pedophiles or homosexuals hiding out in the church. First, it appears they sought the church to hopefully help them overcome this so-called sinful behavior. Secondly, they can hide their sexuality (if they can resist temptation) because nobody is going to question why they aren't married, blah blah blah 'cause their excuse is that they're doing God's work.
Wow, my bullshit meter just hit the ceiling, and the crap is coming not only from the right but also from the left!
What's this business with homosexuals hiding out in the church? Please don't equate homosexuality with paedophilia, it only shows your ignorance on these two completely separate topics.
Secondly, I would dare say that religion only compounds these separate issues, pushing otherwise heterosexual males into actions of paedophilia as they attempt to suppress their sexual urges. Ok, I just took a completely random *hypothesis* of mine and threw it out there for discussion, but at least I'm identifying my *hypothesis* for what is. Neh?
As for homosexuals? I'm not aware that there are a particularly large percentage of homosexuals in the church, can you quote your sources please? Or is it possible that there really aren't that large a percentage, but that the homosexuals that *do* exist in the church, that you know of, are simply well known because of the religious implications surrounding such an issue?
I never said that there was a higher number in the churches. I'm saying that it's not surprising to find many homosexuals or even pedophiles in the church since SOME atheists feel all Christians should be perfect and these sort of things should be obsolete.
In a culture where being homosexual or a pedophile is immoral, I'm not surprised if they've all turned to the church either to seek self-help or to avoid social confrontations.
In other cultures, though homosexuality is seen as unnatural and perverse, they DON'T GET PERSECUTED. It's not like they have to avoid getting stoned to death. Also, the religion of that culture is more for medicinal purposes than a "moral teacher" so nobody is preaching to them that what they're doing is ungodly or against Shamanism/Animism, etc.
And as far as pedophiles go, each case is treated differently. It's not immoral for an 8-year-old to be engaged. I'm not saying that I agree, I'm just saying that in some cultures the social norms are different.
