Religious attitudes against the GLBT community is one of the

[ezgoingrl]

main issues that helped me make the journey to being an atheist. I just couldn't reconcile the love with all of the hate. We're failing the GLBT citizens of this country and I'm so sorry.

[Skittles]

1. I despise the intolerance of religion

always have, always will

[ezgoingrl]

2. The older I get, the worse religion looks.

[Divine Discontent]

3. that's unfortunate you let other people dictate your religious beliefs because of their hate

remember, and using Christ as an example, the very church he was trying to reach crucified His talk of love of all - WHO-SO-EVER believes, He said.

Sadly, like Gandhi said - "your Christ I like, your Christians not so much" (off the top of my head), and I can understand why he said that, but like him, I base my views on what I think of Christ based on Christ, not Christians, or any one else.

My best to you in feeling like you're being attacked by religious people. I feel the same, but there's plenty of us on this site who are religious of whatever flavor, and we support full equality for all. I think the churches that were actively involved need outed, just like the Mormons have been!

[Fumesucker]

8. I think you misunderstood the OP..

When many of us see the disconnect between the message of the Christ and the attitudes of those who claim to be His followers it makes it easier to walk away from something that we were taught as children.

Early training can be remarkably difficult to overcome but the sheer unbridled hypocrisy of a great many theists makes it much more likely that those who are capable of thinking for themselves actually follow the dictates of their intellect.

It's instructive to note that the Christ never once mentioned homosexuals or homosexuality while at the same time the sin He most often and vociferously denounced was that of hypocrisy.

[Toasterlad]

10. He Doesn't "Feel" Like He's Being Attacked By Religious People.

He IS being attacked by religious people. Anyone who believes that two people should be allowed to love each other without interference from anyone else is being attacked by religious people.

[Bluenorthwest]

13. 'Feeling like you're being attacked'? WTF?

To imply that those organized and public attacks are imagined is really part of the problem.

[TokenQueer]

17. Seriously, why be born again? Just grow up.

Christianity is the largest, most heavily funded hate group in the country. Any way you slice it, religion is bad news... for everyone.

[TommyO]

21. Feel like we're being attacked?

We are being attacked by people who use their religion as a weapon against us. It happened yesterday, in Maine, again. No organized religion that works against the civil rights of American citizens deserves a lick of respect or deferences.

[TexasObserver]

4. Recommend. Religion is the petri dish of homophobia.

[harry_pothead]

6. I don't think it can be said better than that

Proud atheist, and proud brother of a gay American.

[dkf]

5. I call myself an atheist but really I don't believe the Evangelicals have a clue

about God.

I don't know how they got it so wrong.

[piratefish08]

19. Actually, if you read the OT, the fundies and evangelicals are pretty much spot on.

It's a hate-filled book.

[dkf]

22. But Christians are all about the New Testament and Jesus Christ right?

hence "Christ"ians?

Maybe they have mis-named themselves.

[piratefish08]

23. It's been my experience that my 'mainstream' Christian friends cling to the

'peace and love' Jesus, but even Jesus was very clear in Matthew that the tiniest letter of the OT laws must be followed.

Not to mention that even the mildest of Christians still work to legitimize faith and magic in society and most hold the view that religion should be revered and not criticized.

This only opens the door wider for the evangelicals and fanatics.

[GodlessBiker]

7. +1

[jonnyblitz]

9. religion is a POX on humanity. it's the fucking 21st century for

chrissake. SANTA CLAUS DOESN'T EXIST!!

[Jester Messiah]

11. Just one of the many evils brought to you by organized religion. [nt]

[donco6]

12. Religion is a parasite on society.

Not only have I no use for it, but I will oppose its intrusion into any area of life for as long as I live.

[Berry Cool]

14. I guess some of you will never realize that not all religious people are enemies of GLBTs.

That some Christians really believe that their faith is about love and inclusion and not about hate and exclusion.

But far be it from me to interrupt yet another round of atheist self-backpatting!

[justiceischeap]

15. As a lesbian I can definitively say, I can separate those folks

I think the people that follow the Catholic (not all but alot) and Evangelical dogma are our enemies. I think the religious movements that raise the most money are our enemies. I don't think every person who considers themselves religious is my enemy but their church may be.

I am very convinced that if Jesus were to come back today, he would be hated by the Evangelicals (and possibly the Catholic church) for being too liberal. You can see that line of thinking with the way some of his teachings (if you believe in such, which I don't) are either ignored or twisted.

[Joe Bacon]

16. Welcome to the club

When I was a kid, I still remember churches saying Jesus Loves You while they defended segregation. Then along came Anita and her pals to slam gays and lesbians. On Sundays I sleep in my bed instead of sleeping in a pew while a preacher spits out the latest Republican bullshit.

[Hepburn]

18. Love thy neighbor...

...unless he or she is gay.

[kwassa]

20. It is not so much a religious attitude as it is Western cultural history

and part of Western cultural history is religion, of course, but it is a particular interpretation of the Bible that has prevailed that is gradually changing. Many different cultures have prohibitions against homosexuality, not just Christianity.

Homosexuality has been socially taboo for a couple thousand years, and only became publically acceptable in Western countries in about the past 40 years. I think it is important to understand how recently things have changed, and to keep that in mind, and understand the weight of that traditional taboo, and the traditional understanding of marriage, in people's minds.

Many churches are very accepting of GLBT, and some like my own, the Episcopal Church, have openly gay clergy. Simply being religious does not make one anti-gay.