Do you believe homophobia a religious only fear?

[RepentantSky]

When I ask this question, I don't mean for you personally, I mean for everyone as a whole. Looking at the bill that may be passed in Arizona got me thinking about this because every person who is opposed to this is saying it's just religious people who have this fear. Every video I've seen on it quotes bible verses and calls every homophobic person a bible thumper.

My opinion personally, regardless of my beliefs is that this is being just as narrow-minded as the people who are homophobic. Unless someone can show me proof, that one hundred percent of people who have a problem with same sex couples are religious, it is no different than treating religious people the same way that they all supposedly treat gay people. While I'm on a bit of a roll here, we might as well make up a new phobia for the fear of people who fear or even hate homophobic people. Need to come up with a name for that phobia.

There are people are christian's who believe that same sex couples are not a bad thing. They are called most liberal christian's. Doesn't it seem odd that an millions of people clearly have homophobia and yet all of them are perceived as christain? That seems just as judgemental as anything else in this whol same sex debate. Thoughts?

[mark f]

Thread closed. :)

[RepentantSky]

Thread closed. :)

Uhm, what?

[Mmmm Donuts]

I think this is a very legitimate thread, compared to, let's say, Mes's nonsense.

It's an excellent point. I find that a good portion of any news that I hear about this topic relates to those opposed to gay marriage citing religious reasons for it. However, I've also heard arguments based on the fact that marriage is some sort of sacred thing, and others of that nature.

So no, I strongly disagree that homophobia a "religion only" problem. I see it in equal parts a "norm" problem. People see homosexuals, and it's not what they're used to, so they'll automatically reject it. As gay rights continue to gain ground, this kind of thing will slowly start to become a norm.

However, I also believe that certain religious beliefs will always be a big thorn for gay rights.

[jiraffejustin]

I think mark's point was that this will lead to mayhem. Which it most likely will. Though, I won't speak for mark. I don't think he likes that too much. :p

[Mmmm Donuts]

I think mark's point was that this will lead to mayhem. Which it most likely will. Though, I won't speak for mark. I don't think he likes that too much. :p

We'll have to wait and see. I'll grab the popcorn.

[christine]

Nah homophobia isn't confined to people who believe it's against their religion. Lots of people who're homophobic are just conservative minded and don't like anything perceived as against a 'normal' way of life . Although who you live with or have sex with is anyone else's business is beyond me.
I can only talk about the UK, I do think that homophobia is starting to disappear as that older more conservative generation die out and gay people are represented right across the media specially in soaps and on adverts. There is still a certain casual homophobia which I see in pub culture, specially amongst groups of blokes. In my local I wouldn't be surprised to hear stuff, but when the new landlords were two gay blokes they were quickly taken into the fold!

[Sexy Celebrity]

There are definitely atheists, agnostics and other types of non-traditional believers and non-believers who don't like gay people. It's definitely not just a religious thing. Religious folks are always shown as the big enemy, true -- but of course, there's also plenty of religious people who aren't this way, and there's gay people who are religious, of course. Gays are not all just a bunch of atheists -- they don't all throw out God and religion just because a lot of religion speaks against homosexuality.

Religion can even be a saving grace for homosexuals, even if the religion condemns their sexuality, because the religion might also preach love and kindness and redemption -- they'll give gays the chance to switch to heterosexuality and save themselves.

Homophobic atheists might not be so kind. They might see homosexuality as a sickness, a plague, a biological error, a deviancy of nature. Instead of thinking about love and acceptance, they might think about eradicating the problem. They could be the most dangerous because if homophobic atheists took over the world, they might look for ways to end homosexuality in cruel and inhumane manners. For example, if they believed it was genetic, they would probably try to erase the gene from the gene pool. At least with religious people, they may not mess around with nature because they see it as part of God's plan. That's why they don't fool around with stem cell research and other things -- they don't want cloning and other stuff -- ABORTION, they don't want that -- because that would be an abomination. It would be trying to be God. Trying to control His will.

Homophobic atheists, on the other hand, would try to be God, because there is no God for them. And they could be a much more scarier God.

[The Sci-Fi Slob]

I'm gay and I'm homophobic.

[Sexy Celebrity]

There are even gay people who are homophobic. Yes. You could be gay and hate that you are and hate other gay people.

[Sedai]

SC owned it! I tend to agree with SC, and I think it's a bit hypocritical to condemn discrimination (against gays) with more discrimination (against religious folk). I'm not saying OP does this, as his post is more of a question, but more so I am speaking about the people in the videos he mentioned etc.. My father, who is a devout Christian, absolutely adores and loves my nephew, who is openly gay, and has been since sophomore year in high school. Our entire family, many of which are quite religious, and a few of which who are religious AND gay, all get along really well.

As usual, it's the extremists on both sides that yell the loudest.

[Mesmerized]

Do you believe homophobia a religious only fear?

I don't think homophobia is an accurate term to describe the opposition to homosexuality any more than anti-choice describes opposition to abortion. Neither homosexuality nor abortion are productive ways of life since neither of these produce children.

[Yoda]

Aaaaand thread closed. Not because of the topic itself, which is fine, but because of the handful of posts at the end I had to delete, which suggest that, disappointingly, this was never going to be a respectful, productive conversation.