Sir Elton John -- King of Tolerance

if I had to choose

So -- following ehbeth's line of reasoning -- if I had to choose whether I'd prefer more organized religion, or more gay people, I'd definitely go with more organized religion.

ehBeth wrote:

Organized religion hasn't brought anything positive into my life.

A number of gay people have been marvellous contributors to various aspects of my life.

Really?

Ticomaya wrote:

So -- following ehbeth's line of reasoning -- if I had to choose whether I'd prefer more organized religion, or more gay people, I'd definitely go with more organized religion.

I believe you.

Ticomaya wrote:

Really?

Really.

Well, Elton is sure to be a hero to many on this forum. I have heard similar sentiments from many of the 'tolerant' crowd here.

So let's have a show of hands -- how many of you are 'tolerant' folk believe like EJ and would support a legal ban on all organized religion?

Notice that he condemns religion for promoting 'hatred', but apparently doesn't see he call to criminalize organized religious practice as 'hateful'.

Where is the disconnect in this man's brain, and in the brain of those who agree with him?

How can they spout against 'hatred' and fail to see their own?

Now let's be clear. It's ORGANIZED religion that he thinks should be criminal, not PRIVATE belief. Participation in public, organized services is the issue here.[/u][/i]

So let's compare apples with apples:

I don't know of any Christians who are calling for criminal charges against any who DON'T participate in organized religion.

Do you?

from http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/6140710.stm

Quote:

Sir Elton: Ban organised religion

Sir Elton John has said he would like to see all organised religion banned and accused it of trying to "turn hatred towards gay people".

Organised religion lacked compassion and turned people into "hateful lemmings", he told the Observer.

But the musician said he loved the idea of the teachings of Jesus Christ and the beautiful stories about it which he had learned at Sunday school.

And he said there were many gays he knew who loved their religion.

'Doesn't work'

His comments were made in a special gay edition of the Observer Music Monthly Magazine, where he was interviewed by Scissor Sisters' Jake Shears.

"I think religion has always tried to turn hatred towards gay people," he said. "Religion promotes the hatred and spite against gays.

"But there are so many people I know who are gay and love their religion."

According to the singer-songwriter, 59, his solution would be to "ban religion completely, even though there are some wonderful things about it".

He added: "I love the idea of the teachings of Jesus Christ and the beautiful stories about it, which I loved in Sunday school and I collected all the little stickers and put them in my book.

"But the reality is that organised religion doesn't seem to work. It turns people into hateful lemmings and it's not really compassionate."

He also said that the problems experienced by many gays in former nations of the Soviet bloc, such as Poland, Latvia and Russia were caused by the church supporting anti-gay movements.

'God's people'

And he called on the leaders of major religions to hold a "conclave" to discuss the fate of the world - which he said was "near escalating to World War Three".

"I said this after 9/11 and people thought I was nuts," he said. "It's all got to be dialogue - that's the only way. Get everybody from each religion together and say 'Listen, this can't go on. Why do we have all this hatred?'

"We are all God's people; we have to get along and the [religious leaders] have to lead the way. If they don't do it, who else is going to do it? They're not going to do it and it's left to musicians or to someone else to deal with it."

He also said he would continue to campaign for gay rights.

"I'm going to fight for them, whether I do it silently behind the scenes or so vocally that I get locked up."

Elton and others speak almost as if organized religion did'nt exist....hatred, war, homophobia, etc..........would'nt exist.

Could it be the other way around?

It is my right to vote however I wish and, if I wish to vote to ban organized religion, who are you to tell me I can't exercise my right to vote that way?

Butrflynet wrote:

It is my right to vote however I wish and, if I wish to vote to ban organized religion, who are you to tell me I can't exercise my right to vote that way?

You can wish to vote to ban anything you like. Religion and the practice thereof is a protected right by the Constitution.

That does'nt prevent you from wishing for anything.

It is my right to vote however I wish and, if I wish to vote to ban organized religion, who are you to tell me I can't exercise my right to vote that way?

Well, Elton is sure to be a hero to many on this forum. I have heard similar sentiments from many of the 'tolerant' crowd here.

So let's have a show of hands -- how many of you are 'tolerant' folk believe like EJ and would support a legal ban on all organized religion?

real life wrote:

How can they spout against 'hatred' and fail to see their own?

To answer this question Real Life you need to look into a mirror.

Quote:

Whether he's right or wrong, Elton's making a bit of a generalization here-exactly what he bridles against when it's done to him, as a gay male. I'm surprised to hear him advocating banning anything that has to do with belief, choice, life-style, etc. That's a little like the pot calling the kettle black and cutting off your nose to spite your face because once you start banning one thing, it gets easier for people to advocate banning others. And I'd hazard a guess that there are a whole lot more people willing to ban homosexual activity, marriage, etc., than there are willing to ban organized religion.

Are people who practice an organized religion necessarily more homophobic? And are the religious
homophobes the ones who tend to follow up their homophobia with violence?

For whatever it may be worth,
I 've heard that the violent ones
r bordeline homosexuals who subconsciously fear that in themselves,
when thay strike out against other homosexuals.

Quote:

I think tolerance toward anything and the ability to mind your own business and live and let live has more to do with personality type than religious affiliation.

Agreed.
It seems unlikely
that when thay r pounding the homos,
thay do so out of fear that the poundee
will not make it to Heaven.

Quote:

Because in organized religion, as in life, those with a certain personality type
tend to focus on one aspect of an issue, while those with another tend to
focus on another. Religious homophobes would be homophobes whether
they were religious or not. They just wouldn't have a bible verse to attach to their hatred.

POP legend Sir Elton John wants the internet CLOSED DOWN.

Never one to keep his opinions to himself, the Rocket Man has waded into cyberspace with all guns blazing.

He claims it is destroying good music, saying: "The internet has stopped people from going out and being with each other, creating stuff.

"Instead they sit at home and make their own records, which is sometimes OK but it doesn't bode well for long-term artistic vision.

Just an update on this classic liberal:

EJ now wants to shut down the internet as well.

Quote:

POP legend Sir Elton John wants the internet CLOSED DOWN.

Never one to keep his opinions to himself, the Rocket Man has waded into cyberspace with all guns blazing.

He claims it is destroying good music, saying: "The internet has stopped people from going out and being with each other, creating stuff.

"Instead they sit at home and make their own records, which is sometimes OK but it doesn't bode well for long-term artistic vision.

http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2-2007350453,00.html

Instead of listening to the King of Tolerance, they are out there making their own records!

It's gotta be stopped!

Typical liberalism. Ban religion and shut down the internet. What's next?