Religious right leaders say it is anti-Christian to oppose hate

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http://www.examiner.com/x-2071-DC-Special-Interests-Examiner~y2009m6d17-Religious-right-leaders-say-it-is-antiChristian-to-oppose-hate?cid=examiner-email


In the war of ideas those who believe only they have Truth on their side often find they provide the best ammunition for their opponents. This is certainly true in the hysterical reaction on the extreme religious right’s opposition to hate crime legislation. They worry that prohibiting the encouragement of violence against certain groups will have a "chilling effect" on religious free speech.

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"A violent act may physically hurt just a single victim and cause grief for loved ones," he said. "But hate crimes do more. They distress entire communities."

In response, Ashley Horne, federal policy analyst for Focus on the Family Action, said Reid has it backwards. A hate-crimes law, she said, could distress entire communities – particularly Christian churches.

"As we've seen in other nations where such laws are passed, they can have a chilling effect on the free speech of those who would simply share from the Bible God's views on issues such as homosexuality," she explained. "Hate-crimes laws are unnecessary in a civil society like ours based on the rule of law.

"All crimes are hate crimes," she added, "To give special status to certain groups of people allows courts to reach beyond punishing people for the illegal acts they commit and judge them for what they may or may not be thinking as they commit those acts."

-snip-

The religious right seems to believe that opposing hatred of gays may remove the stigma they wish society to brand on certain individuals. In a bizarre video found here, Gary Bauer explains that hate crime laws are fronts for advancing the “homosexual agenda”. He even trots out a black minister who explains that in the race to be oppressed gays have nothing on African-Americans. It would appear that American fundamentalist right wing Christians have added an 11th Commandment: Thou shalt hate gay people above all others.
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the religiously insane are dangerous

[sutz12]

1. Funny. I think the "chilling effect" is the goal of hate crimes legislation...

Heaven forbid we should require people to actually think before they incite violence.

[Stellabella]

2. I'm surprised Ms. Horne's head doesn't spin around 360 degrees.

That's quite some lack of logic on her part.

And she's right - the Bible does promote hate. And death. And war. And slavery. And bigotry. Just a few of the reasons why it should NOT be a blueprint for society.

[pscot]

3. This make perfect sense

if you start from the premise that the business of religion is spreading hate. How this comports with the Teachings of the New Testament is less clear.

[sarcasmo]

4. The Hate Preachers are doing their job.

[damntexdem]

5. Yeah, where would the Inquisition have been without hate?

Or the Crusades? Or particularly the religious wars from the Sixteenth Century forward? Why, without hate, the Thirty Years War might only have lasted 30 months, or even just 30 days. How dare the government interfere in the worship of the god of hate?

[Cheap_Trick]

6. Where's the fucking lions?

I think it's way past time to start throwing certain "christians" to them.

[fascisthunter]

7. sounds like these right wingers pray to Satan

and pretend to pray to God

[AndyTiedye]

8. Showing Their True Colors

These "Christians" left Jesus behind long ago.

They also oppose all anti-bullying programs in schools since anyone who gets bullied in school must be gay. :wtf: