By definition, you can respect my personal beliefs in anything whatever you may want to call it. Respect doesn't mean you have to agree. Though, rereading back on it, I think tolerant is a more fitting word and I apologize for not using it.
Most are tiptoeing around a debate not because we can't or refuse to argue, but to avoid this sort of discussion getting out of control (which was already beginning to). You want a debate for the sake of proving someone wrong not for the sake of discussion. Confirmation bias won't allow this to become a respectable discussion but rather back and forth rants on why one is right and one is wrong (and there's nothing you can do about it... eh heh)
That's the 'beauty' of faith. It doesn't matter what is said, because if one has faith they are willing to ignore evidence and therefore neither side can win an argument in terms of the others pov (as one side says look at all this evidence and the other says I have faith and thus funnily enough means the person of faith was never discussing anything). Once again though, i'm not trying to change anyone's opinion and have not said anything that would suggest I am.
In response to the italics, I understand your sentiment and will not argue. "I will respect members and their beliefs in that religion" is very different from "I respect a members right to hold a belief in any religion", I stated what I did because of this. Hope you understand where I was coming from.
--x--x--x--x--x--x--x--x--x--x--
- one doesn't have to respect another persons sexuality
- one doesn't have to respect the reasons for that sexuality
- one does have to respect ones right to have that sexuality
I changed what you previously wrote (obviously) and I apologize. Just wanted thoughts on this. Most would argue that when you deem something wrong, that you hold a bias against anyone who commits those wrongs. So can what is stated in the italics exist when it comes to something as one sexuality, what most believe to be "human nature"; something you can't help? Or can it exist when one truly believes that it is choice? Meh, just thoughts.
One is allowed to hold bias, in fact I would go as far as to say everyone does. One is allowed to hold any opinion they so wish (and it would be very amusing for a religious person to suggest otherwise, although they often do).
Another example is those who do not believe evolution is real are ignoring the overwhelming evidence supporting it and thus cannot respect the work countless have done in discovering how we have evolved. Therefore they cannot respect evolution or the reasons (evidence) that supports it. One has the right to that belief no matter how absurd it may sound.
To actually further the discussion, for those who are religious what made you become religious and more importantly why did you 'decide' on the religion you have? Also to make answers interesting please do not use the words faith or belief (or similar) for your reasoning. This may sound unfair, but in anything else you can't just say "I like it because I like it" and expect to be taken seriously (plus it is a given that your faith is what causes you to be religious).
I would also ask the reverse but the answer is obvious, either one wasn't truly religious to begin with or they no longer had faith (usually as a result of actually paying attention to what evidence there is). If you have another reason for no longer being religious please do share.
We were all made in the image of God. Sinners, believers, nonbelievers were all made in his image (Gen 1:27). And that image is love (John 4:08). This was always the same constant no matter what the book. So that being said, no, I do not think your religion prevents you from being gay. If that is what you truly believe to be your sexuality, then let it be. Just remember to pray and stay devote to God, above all else.. ask for forgiveness for any sin you may have committed knowingly and unknowingly.
Give me one reason that is not based around belief as to why one should take this anymore seriously then what is in any other religious book or beliefs about the spaghetti monster.
Edited by PedanticGamer, 14 December 2012 - 12:11 AM.
