Monday, April 20, 2009
What Do You Think?
I am a Christian (albeit a somewhat unconventional one) and I support Gay Marriage, Legalization of Marijuana, and all kinds of other things that most other Christians seem to get all bent out of shape about. Mainly because I don't remember Jesus saying "Go Ye forth and pass laws that make people act the way you think they should." Furthermore, does it not put a barrier up between people that immediately shuts down dialogue because they feel "oppressed"? Just seems like it's a loose/loose situation. What do you think?
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5 comments:
i think that support would be the wrong word for me. i don't bash those that are different. i include them in the conversation and actively try to engage them in conversation. i may not condone their actions. and believe they are harmful to themselves and others. but i still love them.
That's a tough one. On the one hand I agree but on the other hand I wonder where you draw the line. At some point someone has to decide what the laws are. No matter what the laws are someone will push to change them. How do you decide what laws can go out the window just because society has changed?
That's a good question Rob. What is the purpose of law? There are a ton of books out there on this topic. One of them, that is on my "To Read" list is "The Law" by Bastiat. But, right now, I would say that laws should exist to keep on person from impeding on another. Acted out it would look like...you have the right to swing your fist and violently and angrily as you want...even if it hurts you. But your right to do that stops where my nose begins.
the bible states that one can not judge another for his/her chioces and to accept everyone for who they are and that He is the ultimate judge in all things. so therefore, if someone is gay, then let them be gay and experience what the straight guy experiences. I support Gay marriage!
i think you're moving in the right direction, scooter. the core of jesus' teaching is the sermon on the mount, which includes the beatitudes, his teaching of the golden rule, as well as the ideas of nonresistance - turning the other cheek.
i actually just got banned this morning from a forum for getting into a heated argument with a hate-filled, "personal responsibility above all" sort of christian, who was perpetuating all sorts of misleading information about obama and national security and everything else. the thread in question had started with this guy praising these nationwide tea parties, which i thought were wholly stupid - wasting tea to protest wasteful spending. alright.
that's beside the point, though. i kept getting accused of forcing my beliefs on others. yeah, i know, by this guy who considers christianity the state religion and that it's perfectly acceptable to legislate christian morals.
the obvious flaw being that a state is not a belief system. the state, as it pertains to our country, exists to ensure the life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness of ALL of its citizens. as i recall, those who settled this country believed in religious freedom and were fleeing a country that HAD a state religion.
ALL citizens. gay, straight, transgendered, christian, muslim, hindu, agnostic, atheist, etc.
the continuing issue with gay marriage is a moral one, which has no place in our legislation. homosexuals should absolutely have the right to marry, and it's a real travesty that they can't. abortion should continue to be legal, which it will, because again, the morality of the issue - the extent to which it's tied up in christian principles - should have no bearing on the legality of it.
as for marijuana, everything else has been attempted to control it. it's ludicrous anyway to think that our prisons are filled with nonviolent offenders. marijuana is not a threat to society, and the case has been made that the only reason it's really illegal is that there's no quick way to test for its presence in the system. so it would be difficult to charge, say, someone driving under the influence of it.
regarding christianity, though, christians really should embrace progressive thought and focus on christ's teachings in interfacing with non-believers. which means that evangelism will most likely have to die out in the permutation we see now. you said "dialogue", scott, and i think you're right. if you believe in christ, you should want to have a conversation with someone who doesn't believe the same as you, and clearly and honestly - passionately, as well - state your reasons for your beliefs.
instead of frothing at the mouth and playing into the victim complex so rampant among the christian community.
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