I often self-censor to avoid offending Christian conservatives, especially family members who are really into religion. I won't do that any more. I do not filter my judgment, logic and thought through anyone's "holy scriptures." I am a member of no religion, including Christianity. I judge religions by the amount of joy they impart to their followers. Religions that replace joy, wonder and optimism with fear, loathing and prejudice are to be devoutly ignored.
I admire Carl Jung, a great thinker and psychiatrist who tried to understand religious concepts (like an afterlife) through his own direct experience. He was wonderfully open-minded about it. A couple of Jungian quotes:
Every form of addiction is bad, no matter whether the narcotic be alcohol, morphine or idealism.
Everything that irritates us about others can lead us to a better understanding of ourselves.
My stand on gays is easy to understand: leave them alone. Do not insult them, taunt them, fire them (on that basis alone), and most certainly, do not beat them up. Teenage gays have a very high suicide rate, mainly due to bullying from their peers. Don't add to that by your own behavior. Live and let live.
My personal standard goes even further: do not ostracize gays, nor deny them kindness, inclusion and friendship, assuming that the only area of difference is their sexual orientation. I thought the actions of some social conservatives to boycott CPAC over the participation of a gay conservative group were mean and narrow-minded.
As far as religion and gays is concerned, I will say this: any religion that requires you to hate people you don't know, for things they can't help and who are doing you no harm, is a false religion.
My personal standard goes even further: do not ostracize gays, nor deny them kindness, inclusion and friendship, assuming that the only area of difference is their sexual orientation. I thought the actions of some social conservatives to boycott CPAC over the participation of a gay conservative group were mean and narrow-minded.
As far as religion and gays is concerned, I will say this: any religion that requires you to hate people you don't know, for things they can't help and who are doing you no harm, is a false religion.
5 comments:
I couldn't agree more. Well stated!
But, you're conservative, Stogie. I agree with all you said. It's what's not said that's troublesome. I support traditional marriage, yet I want to be inclusive to gay Americans. My policy positions are well known --- I blogged this topic for almost a year straight --- and I now say leave it to the states to decide, through initiatives preferably. Perhaps you might write a follow up and clarify a little deeper the policy aspects of your comments. And not only that, I can guarantee you that gay radicals do not share your values of tolerance and live and let live. They threw stones at blacks after Prop 8 passed, at an L.A. protest. They're Stalinists.
Donald, you're right about the radical gays, and it was not them that I was referring to. That's why I said "assuming that their only difference is their sexual orientation." Some gays are great people and some are royal jerks.
bonjour Stogie , je suis entièrement de votre avis très sage !
Kate says she is entirely in agreement with my wise opinion.
Thanks Kate!
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