Young People Rejecting Christianity, Have Perception of Religion as Homophobic

[Nomad559]

http://www.alternet.org/blogs/peek/64873/#more

I've been saying for a while now that the religious right in America finally and firmly jumped the shark over the past few years. But now that that big ol' shark's behind them, there's another bunch of critters looming ahead that may prove to be even more damning. It's that whole big flock of chickens that are finally coming home to roost.

I don't know how long they thought they were going to go on that way, all self-righteous and judgmental, blaming homosexuals and feminists for everything from 9/11 to the price of gas, ignoring the interests of the poor in favor of those of big business, and dismissing any kind of environmental stewardship as nothing more than a way to waste time until the Rapture comes.

Clearly, the didn't see anything at all wrong with elevating the most spiteful and amoral among them as their national spokespeople, and rewarding them in direct proportion to the heat of their rhetoric. No, these folks were on fire (we're still not sure if it was Jesus or heartburn), and they weren't afraid to let their bilious light shine on the TV, in the streets, all the way to the White House. They did their best to set it high above the rest of the culture, where none of the rest of us could miss it if we wanted to.

[tularetom]

1. If christianity doesn't get all its shit in the same sock

it will be as extinct as those dinosaurs that adam and eve used to ride around on. The real christians need to disavow the fake fund-o-mentalist christians quick before the youngeer segment of the public gets the impression that all christians are stupid ignorant bigots.

[More Than A Feeling]

3. I'll bet the "real" Christians you are talking about look a lot like

Secular Humanists. Same belief in human rights, civil liberties (including the separation of church and state, more or less), and democracy, same support for a rational public policy with regard to sexuality, science, and public education, same regard for reason and science (more or less) in general. The only difference that I can see is that "real Christians" dress all of that up in god language, and Secular Humanists generally believe that is unnecessary and distracting, and gives the reactionary Christian right far more influence than they should have. Other than that, no real difference that I can see.

[varkam]

5. What is a real Christian? eom

[Odin2005]

13. No True Scotsman Fallacy.

Anyone who calls himself a Christian is a Christian.

[electprogdems]

2. i'd like to hope that in addition to the gay bashing,

one million dead Iraqis, health for profit, and the largest transfer of wealth to the upper classes had something to do with it.

I remember listening to one of those "christian" right talking heads on the radio, and he was saying that the liberals and Dems "had a lot to prove to him". I almost choked on my morning coffee, excuse me all you "Christian" righters, if this is what you call Christianity, you have a hell of lot to prove to me.

[msongs]

4. only the massive bribery of children at Xmas keeps the religion going

[DeSwiss]

6. Very succinctly put.....

have one on me..... :beer:

[jmm]

8. About fours years ago

I visited the family of my brother's then girlfriend on Thanksgiving and her nine year old niece kept on telling me about her church. She told me how she loved CCD, I was invited to watch her in the Christmas play, etc. After this had gone on for awhile she asked me if I wanted to know why she love church. I asked why and she said that the kids all got donuts in CCD. I resisted the urge to tell her to hold out for a better bribe. Atleast my neighbor growing up who tried to get all the local kids to come over for weekly Bible study who make cheese cake and rice crispy treats.

[DeSwiss]

7. Perception?

Its not a perception that gay people don't have the same rights as hets. Its not a perception that gays are discriminated against, bashed, and killed. And it is not a perception of who it is we see screaming the loudest condemnations of gays from the church pulpits, the morality conferences, and on the teevee screens that come through satellite feeds, broadcasting their hatred for democracy world-wide. These aren't perceptions, but the realities for being gay. Religion foments its, advances it, and encourages it.

And the religionists who aren't doing these things directly to gays, have civil laryngitis, and are thus voting with their silence.

Ironically, both embody the antithesis of most religious beliefs. And of Christianity's in particular, as the religion whose principle credo is supposedly to "love ye one another."

[Lydia Leftcoast]

9. Excuse me?

My church's clergy march in our local Pride parade, even though they're straight, and since we're located along the parade route, we set up a free refreshment stand on our lawn.

We also host the ecumenical service that is part of Pride weekend.

In addition, our clergy have announced that they will continue holding weddings for same-sex couples, no matter what the national Episcopal church decides.

We're not all bigots. :-)

[DeSwiss]

10. I meant the "other guys".....

;) :hi:

[and-justice-for-all]

11. Religion to the dumpster I say!!

The control freak, dominionist mentality is losing its choke hold..serves them right. A few kicks to the ribs, couple of black eyes and a broken nose should do just fine.

[NMMNG]

12. Nice to see all of that hate has come back to bite them on the backside

Considering all of the harm it's done to others, it's about time it did some damage to them.