An article I read today really puzzled me. If you would like to read it, click here.
Now, I know that most Christians do not believe the same things these people do, but it is things like this that make me a little concerned about Christian beliefs. I used to go to a Catholic school, and I remember liking the idea of Christianity, you know the whole “love your neighbour” thing, and it did have some very good morals. Of course, I had some cynicism for a few bible stories like the one where Abraham is told by God to sacrifice his son (yes I know, the son doesn’t get killed… but still) and for biblical “plot holes” such as the dinosaurs, but I didn’t mind it.
Years later, the same school I used to go to did not allow students to go to a debate tournament where the topic was on abortion and whether it was right or not, which kind of alarmed me. I mean, yes, abortion isn’t part of a Catholic’s belief system, but what’s wrong with having a friendly debate over it? What’s wrong with trying to fight the other side?
Another thing that troubled me was the belief that homosexuality is a sin. It really didn’t, and still doesn’t make any sense to me. This brings me to the article in question.
The article is about this group of Christians in Michigan who are complaining about hate crime laws, which now extend to protect homosexuals, saying that they criminalize their religious beliefs and are trying to silence Christians for expressing this belief.
I’m pretty sure this is not what the law was intended for. If you read further, the law does not force Christians to change their beliefs. I mean, if you don’t like homosexuality, that’s your own preference. What the law is saying is that if you try to harm someone *because* of their homosexuality, then that’s a crime.
Although, I don’t know why homosexuality is considered a sin. I mean, it kind of implies that homosexuality is something that gay people have chosen to do of their own will. I’ve looked at the main reasons, and I don’t really see what they’re getting at. Now, before anyone attacks me, I’m not trying to change your beliefs. I’m just trying to express my own opinion on the matter.
1. It destroys the sanctity or holiness of marriage
- in terms of the “holiness” or “sanctity” of marriage, I’m not quite sure what the problem is. A lot of people have common-law marriages, or do not take part in the traditional church wedding with a priest. Is the “unholiness” of their weddings such a bad thing?
2. Homosexuality does not lead to children
- our world is growing more and more crowded and the rate it’s going, there aren’t going to be enough resources for the number of people on earth. Is not having children a bad thing? What if a infertile man/woman marries? That doesn’t lead to children either, so is being infertile a sin too? What about people who choose to remain single?
I’m sure there are other reasons as well, so feel free to leave a constructive comment if you feel like it.
Continuing on, I thought it was a Christian belief to love your neighbours, at least the last time I was in a Catholic school, that was the idea. It’s one thing if someone has murdered your family, but how has the simple act of being homosexual harmed anyone else? (Please note that I’m just talking about *being* gay) Last time I checked, homosexuals aren’t forcing anyone to become gay. Why not leave them alone? Why can’t we accept them as a part of our community, like we do with people with other differences? Why treat it like a strange disease?
Speaking of that last thought… there was actually a famous computer scientist by the name of Alan Turing, who was a World War II veteran who decrypted enemy transmissions, and made all sorts of contributions to computer science in areas such as artificial intelligence. It also turned out that he was homosexual.
So, the British government stripped him of his honours and fired him from the university he was working at and tried to treat his homosexuality, as if it were some terrible affliction. He eventually committed suicide at the young age of 42 by cyanide poisoning.
I guess what I’m trying to say is, why all the hate? Why does homosexuality have to be a sin? Why must we treat it like something taboo or malicious? When Jesus said to love your neighbour, did he mean “love all who believe in God, but not gay people/non-christians/whoever else”? I would like to believe that he meant that we should be able to love all human beings equally, regardless of who they are.
Hopefully I didn’t offend anyone with this message, it was certainly not my intention.