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General discussion

What is ~fair's fair~ in religion and sexual issues in SE?

Feb 29, 2004 9:29PM PST

8 days ago I received an email from a very highly respected person suggesting that my postings about sexuality and religion did not accord with my stated beliefs about love as the core of an acceptable God, and the logical extensions of this into earthly relations.

My riposte to Jonah about his experience with teenagers etc was taken as being an unfair case in point. That is, that it was OK for Jonah to raise his experience as a denigration of my experience, but the riposte was not a good thing. I can live with that, but I was surprised.

I like Cindi, and Greg, though its probably a year or so since I talked to them on the 'phone. Cindi has gone from atheist to agnostic to committed Christian in the time I've been reading her posts. I can understand that, people under sentence of pain or death tend to look beyond the physical to the spiritual to maintain the flagging spirits.

But, in terms of Speakeasy, it goes way beyond Cindi's conversion. I find SE becoming more and more homophobix, more and more influenced by intense CHRISTIAN beliefs, more and more intolerant of those who believe in alternatives.

How do you see it?

Ian Clark
Gladstone QLD
Australia
AKA IanC/OZ

Discussion is locked

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Re:Re:Re: Still inappropriate ...
Mar 4, 2004 3:51AM PST

I've been following/reading your excellent posts on the subject and this caught my attention that I never thought of:

"BTW, if these unions are about loving couples committing for the sake of obtaining some benefit, and not about sex/sexuality/reproduction, then why can't I marry my sister or my Dad or my Mom. Not that I would want to, but there is no argument against extending the definition if we are going to redefine marriage to be either than husband and wife."

Yeah, might as well legalize/rewrite and perhaps produce more 'normal' beings to help support the movement.

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Thankyou John ...
Mar 4, 2004 8:03AM PST

... for me this will be short but sweet

BUT

You really nailed what I've been trying to say all along.

Evie Happy

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nt you said that so well, thanks!
Mar 3, 2004 12:36AM PST

.

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Re:Re: I'm not sure what you expect.
Mar 2, 2004 10:13PM PST
"The problem is that many posts here are of the "my opinion is right and if you disagree you're evil" variety. "

Strange as it may seem to you Dave MANY of those posts contain YOUR signature block.
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Re:What is ~fair's fair~ in religion and sexual issues in SE?
Mar 1, 2004 1:14AM PST

Ian, you'll have to forgive us our intolerance sometimes. Some of us were so brainwashed as children, we have a hard time being open to other religious opinions and policies. I enjoy your diverse opinions but don't always agree.. Doesnt mean they are not thought provoking. The problem is really not you but our own prejudices

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as always, MK, you are a peace maker.
Mar 1, 2004 8:39PM PST

I didn't read your post to my last contretemps, I just emailed the moderators that I'd take some time out.

You are equal in my estimation with the lady who sent me the email. Human, but a better one than I.

If there is a God, I wish its blessings upon you.

regards

Ian

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Re:What is ~fair's fair~ in religion and sexual issues in SE?
Mar 1, 2004 5:27AM PST

Gee Ian, I've never known Cindi to post that she is or was an Atheist. You have posted disenchantment with Christianity several times and some time ago even left me with the impression that you were an Atheist. Then later indicated you were a Buddhist.

Hmmm....".... SE becoming more and more homophobix, more and more influenced by intense CHRISTIAN beliefs, more and more intolerant of those who believe in alternatives."

Sheeeee.....IMO there in no indication of "more and more". The majority around here are Christians, perhaps 3-4 of Jewish faith, maybe 1-2 Muslim, and perhaps 1 Buddhist. These current numbers are just my guess from reading SE in the past 5+ years. So, what is the expected in regards to "more and more"? Would not the majority of any group embellish (expound) more and more than a minority or minorities of the group regardless of any given point in time.

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No Secular Humanists?
Mar 1, 2004 9:58AM PST

Or are they included under atheists?

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Re:No Secular Humanists?
Mar 1, 2004 10:12AM PST

Sorry if some religions I didn't observe beaming out of members are absent. As desired, please just list/name them as yours so you won't feel left out.

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Re:What is ~fair's fair~ in religion and sexual issues in SE?
Mar 1, 2004 8:02PM PST

Couple of things. You run afoul when you do things like what you just did to Cindi -- psychoanalyze her, mistate her beliefs, and draw your wild conclusions. She has corrected you once before regarding her acceptance of Christ in her life. You owed her an apology then, certainly now, and should refrain from any such repetitions of this annoying (to put it lightly) behavior.

Second way you run afoul is to pronounce "if you knew anything about _______ <--- fill in fave Sci Fi author, period in history or icon of the psyche field, you would know _______ <--- usually some wildly outrageous claim that you cannot and do not back up with facts. Examples would include the Catholic church's official promotion of anal sex as a means of birth control and the grossly inflated and unsubstantiated claim that one in five men molests their daughters.

As for homophobia, it is a slur to call anyone who believes homosexuality is not normal a homophobic. I can't think of anyone here who is phobic of homosexuality. There are many who do not accept it as a legitimate lifestyle, or who believe the teachings of the Bible that it is sin. These people are no more obligated to accept the continued efforts to legitimize it. Those who cry homophobe and bigot at the slightest criticism of their lifestyle are no different than the extremely religious who preach and try to convert homosexuals. Just because it has been demanded or decided by some with an agenda that homosexuality be accepted, codified and even celebrated doesn't make it so, and doesn't nullify the beliefs, religious or otherwise, of those who don't subscribe to that train of thought.

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Advice to Evie
Mar 1, 2004 8:47PM PST

In the interests of my remaining a member of this forum and not being banned by Lee Koo,

having tried to approach the issues with which you berate me,

I will no longer ever read a message you type nor, logically, make a response.

I hope your life brings you greater happiness than you have brought me.

regards

Ian Clark

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(NT) Wonderful News, Happy Trails to you too Ian :-)
Mar 1, 2004 9:08PM PST

.