1. This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this site, you are agreeing to our use of cookies. Learn More.

LGBT News Why does Christianity in America feel it needs to impose beliefs on others

Discussion in 'Current Events, World News, & LGBT News' started by brainwashed, Jan 17, 2016.

  1. Typhoon

    Typhoon Guest

    Joined:
    May 10, 2013
    Messages:
    595
    Likes Received:
    0
    Gender:
    Male
    Sexual Orientation:
    Gay
    Out Status:
    All but family
    That's because old habits die hard, considering that the Church's power was enormous hundreds of years ago. Now they're trying to be more liberal in order to regain themselves but that isn't going to happen. Now people just don't take Christians seriously anymore, especially considering that it just doesn't have that impact it used to have, and when it accepts something modern, it comes across as superficial and fake *cough* Pope Francis *cough*

    Ultimately all religions have done too much harm. At least Christians, save during the Middle Ages and the times of the Inquisition, don't force their beliefs on others on pain of death if they refuse, as would be the case in Islam. Perhaps because the text itself encourages the oppression of others.
     
    #21 Typhoon, Jan 18, 2016
    Last edited: Jan 18, 2016
  2. Euler

    Regular Member

    Joined:
    Dec 15, 2015
    Messages:
    1,061
    Likes Received:
    11
    Location:
    Northern Europe
    Gender:
    Male
    Gender Pronoun:
    He
    Sexual Orientation:
    Questioning
    Out Status:
    A few people
    Please, read carefully what I wrote. Buddhism is distinct from any other religion in a sense that it lacks gods and similar supernatural entities. Yes, it is a religion because the belief system is based on faith rather than research and they are mostly concerned of breaking the cycle of rebirths (as opposed to say, socialism, that is faith based but deals with matters in this life).

    Torah, Bible and the Qu'ran are homophobic because they were made up by illiterate goat shepherds during ancient homophobic times. Those who are responsible for their content are long dead and blaming their descendants is pointless and irrational. Or do you feel personally responsible for what your ancestors have done?
     
  3. Oh Lilac

    Full Member

    Joined:
    Mar 4, 2015
    Messages:
    131
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Boston
    I do not believe it is about religion. It is about hate.
     
  4. Benway

    Regular Member

    Joined:
    Mar 27, 2015
    Messages:
    952
    Likes Received:
    66
    Location:
    Interzone
    Gender:
    Male
    Gender Pronoun:
    He
    Sexual Orientation:
    Other
    Out Status:
    A few people
    Being of the Jewish persuasion, which is father of abrahamic faiths like Christianity, Islam and the more new age Baha'i, Rastafarianism and 'Chrislam,' I do feel partially responsible, yes. If not me myself, then my ancestors, the illiterate goat shepards as you so appropriately called them.

    As for Buddhism, saying it lacks dieties is also largely inaccurate. There are many spirits and gods a Buddhist can choose to worship or revere, even so-called messiah Buddha spirits exist in Buddhism whom offer salvation in exchange for reverence.
     
    #24 Benway, Jan 18, 2016
    Last edited: Jan 18, 2016
  5. PerfectlyNormal

    Regular Member

    Joined:
    Sep 25, 2014
    Messages:
    437
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    North Carolina
    Gender:
    Female (trans*)
    Sexual Orientation:
    Lesbian
    My school:
    Defined freedom of religion as no public atheistic or non-Christian views.
    Claimed to have tolerance for all religions in that they allow the "Pentacostal religion" family with parents that are " 'pastors' at a 'church' " to go to school if the parents would sign a paper saying they acknowledged that they (parents) taught wrong at church.
    Say freedom of religion is to prevent any limits with laws, go on to suggest many that would limit the freedom to Southern Baptist Extremist Christians, and force all others to learn old Engoish verses.
     
  6. brainwashed

    Full Member

    Joined:
    Dec 29, 2014
    Messages:
    2,141
    Likes Received:
    494
    Location:
    Phoenix, AZ
    Gender:
    Male
    Gender Pronoun:
    He
    Sexual Orientation:
    Gay
    Out Status:
    Out to everyone
    It's my belief that Christianity did not start out to be an oppressive religion but over the centuries it has become that way. I say it has been "hijacked" by people with their own agendas - exhibiting basic human traits: power, control, greed.

    So I do agree with HunGuy Christianity is an intrinsically oppressive religion. It is inherently flawed for it basically dictates one has to "come over to my side" to be saved. This "thinking" sets up "I'm better than you" culture and a lack of respect for other peoples and their beliefs.

    Few

    ---------- Post added 19th Jan 2016 at 05:36 PM ----------

    Great point. Thanks.
     
  7. YermanTom

    Full Member

    Joined:
    Nov 3, 2014
    Messages:
    731
    Likes Received:
    37
    Location:
    Co Wicklow Ireland
    Gender:
    Male
    Gender Pronoun:
    He
    Sexual Orientation:
    Gay
    Out Status:
    Out to everyone
    Some of the warnings of doom in this article appear to be very far-fetched, after all Christianity started out as a peaceful religion. But Islam also started as peaceful religion and there is a lot of good to be said for the teachings of Mahomed. It was not until the teachings of an 18th century cleric that the extreme version of Islam became into being that is practised in the UAE.
    If we look at the utterances of some of the extreme religious right wingers we can see that there is very little difference between them and the ISIS zealots. Can you imagine the laws that that would be enacted if someone like Theodore Shoebat was looked on as a moral authority?
    Science would be banned from the classroom and blasphemy would be a capital crime.
    The more we allow people to use religion to justify hate and stupidity the closer we get to a “Christian Caliphate”.
    Don’t get me wrong I have nothing against religion or the belief in a God. In most cases religious people of all faiths are really good people. But I start to worry when religion denies reality and human rights. At that stage it changes from a belief in God to an imaginary friend telling them nonsense.
    :soapbox: :tantrum:
     
  8. KyleD

    Full Member

    Joined:
    Jul 4, 2013
    Messages:
    1,094
    Likes Received:
    25
    Location:
    Spain
    Gender:
    Male
    Gender Pronoun:
    He
    Sexual Orientation:
    Gay
    Out Status:
    Family only
    Exactly!
     
  9. Zen fix

    Regular Member

    Joined:
    Sep 13, 2015
    Messages:
    694
    Likes Received:
    26
    Location:
    California
    Gender:
    Male
    Sexual Orientation:
    Bisexual
    Out Status:
    A few people
    Lately I've been thinking about Maslow's Heirarchy of Needs. At the bottom are the physiological needs. Air, water, food, and sex. The lower needs must be met before people can ascend that Heirarchy to reach self-actualization. Or, unleash their potential.

    If you want to influence people's potential a sure way to do that is to gain control over the lower needs. Every religion I'm aware of does this to some extent. I believe that the intent has been to do good for the followers of the religion. Maintaining nutrition, preventing disease and providing a goal or vision for a populace to support.

    The problems come in with this one size fits all forever that comes along with the religion. There is no capacity for change. There is little tolerance built in for people who require something different for their life.

    Now we also have corrupt leadership that sees this control slipping away. They are steadily increasing their efforts to try and maintain this control. They can't admit that even a part of their belief structure is wrong or they think this undermines the whole thing. Which is kind of ridiculous.
     
  10. Hizaki

    Full Member

    Joined:
    Jan 16, 2015
    Messages:
    0
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Not Mongolia, as far as I know
     
  11. brainwashed

    Full Member

    Joined:
    Dec 29, 2014
    Messages:
    2,141
    Likes Received:
    494
    Location:
    Phoenix, AZ
    Gender:
    Male
    Gender Pronoun:
    He
    Sexual Orientation:
    Gay
    Out Status:
    Out to everyone
    I'll reply to this post again. I'v reflected for a day.

    I think (theory) the problem in mocking you stems from societies (in the West) innate desire to judge. Because people in the West do not know any better, they go around in life judging people. They crave to judge. The action of judging was initiated by religion and it's ingrained in Western society.

    Go to Thailand, a Buddhist country. Oh my god it is different. People do not go around trying to judge you all the time. It blew my mind when there.
     
  12. looking for me

    Full Member

    Joined:
    Apr 11, 2014
    Messages:
    3,791
    Likes Received:
    869
    Location:
    on the Rock, Newfoundland and Labrador
    Gender:
    Female (trans*)
    Gender Pronoun:
    She
    Sexual Orientation:
    Bisexual
    Out Status:
    Out to everyone
    This right here.:thumbsup:
     
  13. Gay1234

    Regular Member

    Joined:
    Sep 28, 2015
    Messages:
    280
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Ireland
    Religion believes it can control it's followers. That is why I am athiest in the first place. Sorry if I insulted people's religion but this is just my beliefs.
     
  14. Secrets5

    Full Member

    Joined:
    Oct 28, 2015
    Messages:
    1,964
    Likes Received:
    77
    Location:
    UK
    Gender:
    Female
    Gender Pronoun:
    She
    Sexual Orientation:
    Bisexual
    Out Status:
    A few people
     
  15. brainwashed

    Full Member

    Joined:
    Dec 29, 2014
    Messages:
    2,141
    Likes Received:
    494
    Location:
    Phoenix, AZ
    Gender:
    Male
    Gender Pronoun:
    He
    Sexual Orientation:
    Gay
    Out Status:
    Out to everyone
    I believe the motivator is control and insecurity. Control means power. It means wealth. Insecurity, isn't that why people turn to religion in the first place? Then if you do as your are told, bring others into the organization, doesn't that mean security? Control?

    Thanks for you reply.
     
  16. Benway

    Regular Member

    Joined:
    Mar 27, 2015
    Messages:
    952
    Likes Received:
    66
    Location:
    Interzone
    Gender:
    Male
    Gender Pronoun:
    He
    Sexual Orientation:
    Other
    Out Status:
    A few people
    Atheism is very much a religion in itself, being an "ism," you could call the deity of Atheism science, or as it would seem appropriate in this context proper, Science. I do not like hardcore atheists, because they're just as closed-minded as firebrand Christians (who I don't like either), saying there is absolutely nothing out there is restricting your mind. Scientism (the religious-like reverence of Science) is a very real problem in the atheist community. When atheists are put in serious positions of power, we get countries like North Korea-- corrupted, without any sort of alternative other than a complete overhaul. It's why the United States prides itself on 'religious freedom,' as little as that may mean in a country run primarily by hayseed Christians.

    Because everyone here seems to like labels and labeling everything on a spectrum, I'd have to call myself a Deist. I believe there is some higher power out there, but I don't believe it really gets all too involved in human (or any other, maybe alien) life. I generally subscribe to Eastern religions, local gypsy folk faiths and I am superstitious to a degree, but I never close my mind with the totalitarian idea that there is nothing else besides human consciousness, which makes life utterly meaningless when the sun goes supernova in five billion years and engulfs what's left of the Earth.

    TLDR: I think a god or gods exist, but they're not really concerned with us and certainly not out sexualities.
     
  17. HuskyPup

    Regular Member

    Joined:
    Jun 7, 2013
    Messages:
    18
    Likes Received:
    2
    Location:
    An Igloo in Baltimore, Maryland
    Gender:
    Male
    Gender Pronoun:
    He
    Sexual Orientation:
    Gay
    Out Status:
    Out to everyone
    Why does Christianity in America feel it needs to impose beliefs on others?

    Because it's uncertain of itself, and thus, seeks reassurance though coercive means.
     
  18. BobObob

    Full Member

    Joined:
    Jun 26, 2012
    Messages:
    577
    Likes Received:
    9
    Location:
    California
    Gender:
    Male
    Gender Pronoun:
    He
    Sexual Orientation:
    Gay
    Out Status:
    Out to everyone
    Having an “-ism” at the end of a word doesn't make it a religion, and given that atheism is defined by the lack of beliefs in a deity, it doesn't make sense to say that the deity of atheist is science.

    All atheism is is the lack of belief that a deity exists (in contrast with theism, the belief that at least one deity exists). Neither theism nor atheism, in and of themselves indicates what one's position is on science or religion (some religions don't involve god beliefs), although atheists tend to be pro-science and to not have any religious or supernatural beliefs.

    Atheism, in itself, cannot make someone do anything good or bad because people are motivated to action by what they do believe, not by what they don't believe. So an atheist who becomes a corrupt person with power isn't corrupt because s/he is an atheist, but for other reasons.

    On the other hand, because people are motivated to act based on what they do believe, someone's religious beliefs can motivate them atrocities. In fact, Hitler publicly professed to being a Christian, and 'credited' Christianity for making him the man he was. Certainly not all religious beliefs can motivate atrocities, but holding up a book that endorses genocide and slavery as an infallible book from a deity certainly has the potential to cause harm.
     
  19. Benway

    Regular Member

    Joined:
    Mar 27, 2015
    Messages:
    952
    Likes Received:
    66
    Location:
    Interzone
    Gender:
    Male
    Gender Pronoun:
    He
    Sexual Orientation:
    Other
    Out Status:
    A few people
    Look, all I'm saying is that if there's some sort of god out there, it's way too busy with the universe to care about whether or not you're gay or straight or whatever.
     
  20. Indianna

    Regular Member

    Joined:
    Jan 15, 2016
    Messages:
    8
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Sydney
    Gender:
    Female
    Every predominately white country has over the top Christians. I think that they impose their beliefs strongly on others because 1. They think they're the best religion. Similar to how racist/sexist/homophobic people think they are inferior, they're idiotic. And 2. They're scared because Christianity is dying. But that's only my opinion :slight_smile: :slight_smile: