I have to admit, when it comes to certain Christians I am a bigot

[dsc]

If I know someone is an evangelical or otherwise conservative Protestant then I figure they are sure to be anti gay. I know that isn't fair. But it is what I think. My experience with that type of Christianity is that they are anti gay but I admit to not being very happy to admit this bigotry. I type this because religion and politics often becomes a hot crossing point here. I admit to being uneasy with a candidate who is overtly religious. For most of my adult life the role of religion in politics has been to restrict my rights. It hasn't been the historical fight to eliminate or at least mitigate poverty. I won't vote against people for being religious but have to admit that might break ties. I know it isn't right, but it is how I feel. When people complain about overtly religious Democrats maybe this should be kept in mind.

[rusty quoin]

1. I don't know why you say "I know it isn't right".

I think it is reality. There is a very large population of fundamentalist christians who are intolerant.

[dsc]

3. because it isn't all

[Bongo Prophet]

12. The sin of generalizing is a minor one - EVERYBODY does it.

See there, I just did. :)

[redqueen]

2. anti-gay, anti-choice, anti-science

yeah... that 'evangelical' tag has a stigma

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

4. So if you admit to being a bigot, what are you complaining about?

[Obamarama]

5. I have absolutely no use for right-wing, fundamentalist, God-fearin' Christians.

And I'm not afraid to say it out loud.

It's not just the gay issue. It's ALL the issues they carry as their banners as they try to entrench their "old time religion" into our government and laws.

If I ever saw a resume come across my desk with academic credentials from, say...Oral Roberts University, Liberty University or other fundie diploma mills, I'm quite sure I'd be able to find another resume in the stack with the right combination of qualifications so as to disqualify the fundie. I've worked with these people, and they insist on bringing Jesus to work with them. Not on my watch,they're not. If they want to accept Jesus as their personal savior and "witness" to others about their faith, they can do it away from work, off the clock. PERIOD.

Normal, rational, respectful Christians who realize it's inapporpriate to proselytize at work, or who won't tell me they're going to pray for my soul to save it from the fires of hell because 1) I'm Jewish, and 2) I'm gay, I have no problem with.

[LiberalinNC]

8. Absolutely!!! Couldn't agree more with your comments!

[Wildewolfe]

6. It's simpler than that..

..and I would think most of us are subject to it.

We expect "them" to behave like "us". Play by the rules, say I'm sorry and mean it. Share the toys and have a good time.

As often as not, for those here who have problems with this group or that group, it's cause "they" don't play by the same rules and "we" finally wake up to that fact after the 20th bloody nose. We're like the abused spouse, we keep blaming ourselves or saying it's nothing and going back.

it's more than just "evangelicals" though... you can fit nearly any group definition there at one time or another... "republican" fits really well here on DU to the model.

Like it or not, a lot of liberals see the world through rose colored glasses (our congress kinda leads that list to me...;p) Until you see "them" for what they are it won't change. That doesn't mean however stepping down to their level. Knowledge and realization provides most all you need.

my 2 cents and not worth that...

[BlooInBloo]

7. No, bigotry is when you drag someone to death from the back of a truck...

... not when you have a default opinion about those people.

[MrCoffee]

9. I have to admit, when it comes to certain gays I am a bigot

If i knokw someone is gay then i figure they are sure to be anti-Christian. I know it isn't fair.

Your post is crap. Bigotry and prejudice are equally bad regardless of what position you take them from.

[dsc]

10. What part of it isn't right did you not read?

[rusty quoin]

11. I disagree.

I am biased against white supremist. I hate them. I would have nothing to do with them. And I see nothing wrong with it.

[Warren DeMontague]

13. I have no problem with deeply religious people. It's the ones without boundaries that bug me.

I've always thought "live and let live" was a religious value. For some, it is. For some it is not, apparently.

For instance, if you're personally opposed to gay marriage to the extent that you, yourself aren't going to marry someone of your own gender, that's fine.

If your opposition to gay marriage means that you need to keep the gay folks down the street from getting married, then it's a problem.

If your religion tells you that a fertilized egg, or a sperm, or an unfertilized egg, is a "person", and because of that you refuse to get an abortion, use birth control, masturbate or menstruate, hey- more power to ya.

But if your beliefs mean you have to pass laws affecting the rest of us, it's a problem.

If you believe that looking at pictures of consenting adults naked or screwing is "sinful" or "evil" or constitutes "oppression" (etc. etc. etc.) hey, that's your business. So don't look at Penthouse or Playboy or Playgirl or whatever.

If your beliefs in that regard give you some kind of religious (or quasi-religious) need to censor or otherwise tell other consenting adults how to get their jollies, that's when it becomes a problem.

I don't even care if someone genuinely belives that the Earth is 6,000 years old or Dinosaurs were on "Noah's Ark". Just don't try to peddle it as "science" and keep it away from my kids' public school curriculum-- and, honestly, I would have enough questions about the intelligence & judgment of someone like that that I probably wouldn't want 'em fixing the engine on an airplane I was going to fly on.

[rusty quoin]

15. I was right along with you till the part "dinosaurs on Noah's Ark" LOL

[baldguy]

14. To Jesus, hypocrisy was a major no-no.

You just recognize hypocrisy when you see it.

[Critters2]

16. All groups do this

Groups build cohesion by finding a person or group everyone in their group can hate. This hate transcends differences in the group to build a sense of community. They accuse the hated person or group of the worst offenses they can think of--for conservatives, being gay, being liberal, being unChristian; for progressives--being homophobic, being conservative, being fundamentalist. Then a groups consensus forms agreeing that hating the named group is acceptable. If the community is REALLY in crisis, actions will be taken against the enemy group, to build stronger community.

The challenge is moving beyond this kind of group identity-building, which is HUGELY difficult. So, don't feel so bad...you're human.

Critters
off to read some more Girard

[xchrom]

17. ok -- i was going to write a long descriptive about why i can't stand them either --

but you know what?

if you're a reader and some one who follows history -- then there is no need for a wordy explanation about why i hate them.

and as a disclaimer -- i am a christian.