Why is it so important to refute Christianity?

CoastalRat wrote:

I don't think you are understanding the concept I am trying to point out, so let me try again. You are right. My right to swing my fist ends at your nose. But we are not talking about that. We are talking about my right to attempt to change laws (or maintain laws, as the case might be) which I believe are not in the best interest of society for one reason or another. You have every right to oppose those changes, but don't try to argue that I have no right to push to change laws just because the change I wish to make is based upon my moral beliefs. Because I could turn the equation around and begin to claim that the gay community has no right to attempt to change the laws to fit their beliefs of what is right and wrong. And they have every right to attempt to change the law, just as I have every right to oppose that attempt. For whatever reason.

That's fine, everyone has that right. That doesn't mean that while the laws are in force, you aren't bound by them. There are legitimate, legal methods in place to change laws that you don't like. It's the people who think that they have some misguided moral obligation to break the law because they don't like it that I have a problem with.

As I've said before, the laws tend to reflect the views of the community. Anyone who wishes to attempt to change the views of the community is welcome to do so. That said though, everyone has a responsibility to the community to be fair and open and honest about things. It's no more fair to be against homosexuals than it is to be against blacks or women.

Please don't confuse my desire to not see gay marriages legalized with any assumption that I am "against" homosexuals.

BTW, my sister is a christian, and she's also against "homosexual marriage." I told her that is bigotry and discrimination, but she answered with "she loves the homosexual, but not the homosexual act (a sin)."

It would seem that to accuse one of being against homosexuals and/or of being homophobic because that person does not agree with every point of a 'gay rights' agenda is rather skewed. How would that be different from accusing one of being against Christians because that person does not agree with every point of how many Christians would prefer society to be?

And just to be clear, I do believe that homosexuality is wrong and is an abnormal behavior

Jer, I also see the twist in logic of that statement, so you're not alone in the "above" not making sense.

CoastalRat- I think that it is telling that you apparently place liars and homosexuals in the same pot, in terms of behaviors of which you disapprove.

I am an athiest, and I despise liars. I think that there is a qualitative difference between people who choose to deceive, and people who live a gay lifestyle. Obviously, you don't!

In recent generations, there is a very strong trend among charismatic and millenarian groups to openly attack beliefs other than their own (evolutionary theory and the tolerance of homosexuality being the most high-profile examples);

We seem to be in agreement then Cephus. I fully believe that laws should be obeyed. As far as homosexuals go, I think most (emphasis on most) Christians are not "against" homosexuals. They have a right to live the lifestyle they choose. I am against that lifestyle, but would not want to deny them the right to that lifestyle. And just to cover all the bases here, I am not against blacks or women either. But I do choose to argue against gay marriages becoming legal. I know some here may disagree with my opinion on that, but that is just the way it is. Please don't confuse my desire to not see gay marriages legalized with any assumption that I am "against" homosexuals.

CoastalRat wrote:

We seem to be in agreement then Cephus. I fully believe that laws should be obeyed. As far as homosexuals go, I think most (emphasis on most) Christians are not "against" homosexuals. They have a right to live the lifestyle they choose. I am against that lifestyle, but would not want to deny them the right to that lifestyle. And just to cover all the bases here, I am not against blacks or women either. But I do choose to argue against gay marriages becoming legal. I know some here may disagree with my opinion on that, but that is just the way it is. Please don't confuse my desire to not see gay marriages legalized with any assumption that I am "against" homosexuals.

How can you justify the statement "They have a right to live the lifestyle they choose" with "But I do choose to argue against gay marriages becoming legal"? They have a right to live their lives, you just don't want it to be legal?

What does it matter? I don't require that people share my Christian beliefs in order for them to be worthy to share the planet with me.

So, in order to not be branded anti-gay or homophobic, why must he or anybody else be required to look at homosexuality in the same way that you or somebody else looks at it?

Phoenix, I place any sin in the same pot. Sin is simply rebellion against God. There are no degrees of sin. So if I believe, as I do, that sex outside of marriage, lying, stealing, cheating, etc is sin, then each is sin. Each is (again, my belief as a Christian is what I am stating here) rebellion against God. To make it simple, there is no small sin or big sin, just sin.

Foxfyre wrote:

What does it matter? I don't require that people share my Christian beliefs in order for them to be worthy to share the planet with me.

I think that Christian beliefs is rather nebulous terminology.

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So, in order to not be branded anti-gay or homophobic, why must he or anybody else be required to look at homosexuality in the same way that you or somebody else looks at it?

I don't know. You are the one that called me prejudiced for having a concern about Patrick Henry College. Why is is that you and CoastalRat seem to jump to the stronger terms such as hate and homophobic when discussing differences?

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Phoenix, I place any sin in the same pot. Sin is simply rebellion against God. There are no degrees of sin. So if I believe, as I do, that sex outside of marriage, lying, stealing, cheating, etc is sin, then each is sin. Each is (again, my belief as a Christian is what I am stating here) rebellion against God. To make it simple, there is no small sin or big sin, just sin.

To steal a phrase from my three year old grandaughter, "you are being silly".

I hope you have your list of sins in order. Last time I checked, your textbook had a lot of them listed that most people tend to ignore these days.