To a Supportive and Accepting Christian

[thaaang]

This was intended as a comment in melanie's journal, responding to a gay-supportive Christian objecting to people talking about Christians as homophobes, when she herself is not. It went too long, and I wanted to share it in my own journal anyway, so here it is

Comments

[joakleaf]

This was really interesting. Being neither gay nor Christian, I must respectfully also point out that in this case, it could be the minority that is the loudest.

I have started to notice "God is still Speaking" banners on different religious institutions here in the Twin Cities, and after what they mean was explained to me, I was pretty happy about that.

I dunno. I would like to believe that there is a quiet, tolerant majority among the Faithful, and guys like That Crazy Asshol From Kansas are able to be louder. But that's probably just me.

[thaaang]

Attitudes towards homosexuality are hardly a dichotomy - there's a spectrum between "totally accepting" and "total phobe". True, total phobes are probably the minority when you consider Christians as a whole, but in my experience they're more common than totally accepting Christians, and anyone who labels themselves as Christian tends to sit on the more phobic end of the spectrum (i.e., being accepting only of specific gay people they know who are otherwise just like them, accepting gay people as long as they're celibate/monogamous, accepting gay people in theory but freaking at the thought of having one working as a teacher or whatever) than people who aren't Christian or to whom their Christianity isn't a big part of their lives

[vasilatos]

Love it when you get thoughtful, dude.

It makes *me* thoughtful too, and then maybe I'll write a longish thing back, but probably not, except I want you to know you cranked up my head, so thanks.

[clawdia]

The thing that popped in to my head when I read this was this. "IF this is true, then I should be sorry for being white too?"

The same logic you're using is applied by the black community regarding whites. White people did something really really horrible to black people a while back and they still hate us for it. I understand that hate but I didn't chose to be white. I can't do anything but be open and accepting of people of color, it's all I have to prove I'm not prejudiced. But people of color (and gays) need to meet their opposition half way. You need to allow for the possiblity that your assumptions are wrong.

I understand that religion is a choice but when you're raised with it, in to it is it really? Every generation is more accepting than the last and people change their minds every day. But the injured party needs to be willing to accept aplogy, friendship and 2-way communication or this cycle is never going to end.

That's what I was thinking.

[stealthpup]

But the injured party needs to be willing to accept aplogy, friendship and 2-way communication or this cycle is never going to end.

I saw nothing in thaaang's entry that denies that at all. He's perfectly willing to do all that. His issue, as I see it, is with the notion that supportive/open/"cool" Christians sometimes want to make it All About Them with regard to the issue.

[thaaang]

I don't say you should be sorry for being straight here, either. Nor do I say that gay people shouldn't allow for the possibility of a Christian being truly accepting and supportive

[thaaang]

Perhaps a more reasonable analogy than race, here, is the Catholic attitude towards birth control or abortion. There are diosceses where the bishops speak out in favor of birth control and choice (I think? Or do they get excommunicated for that kind of insurrection? Well, for the sake of argument let's say they can voice these opinions), and there are a hell of a lot of Catholics who are in support of these things, who have sex extramaritally, who are in favor of allowing women into the priesthood, who are in favor of allowing priests to marry, blah blah blah