On Homos, Religion Could Lose Credibility

The USA Today blog this week features an article by Baptist minister Oliver "Buzz" Thomas called "When religion loses its credibility." Thomas looks at the debate over homosexuality in the Christian faith and compares it to the controversy caused when Galileo had the nerve to suggest that the sun was the center of the Universe, not the Earth (We know now that neither the sun nor the Earth is the center of the Universe). Thomas attempts to highlight that the rigidity of the Christian faith, particularly on issues that are merely details, causes the Christian faith to lose its credibility. Homosexuality, he argues, is one of those instances where science will win out, and fundamentalist Christianity will further be marginalized for a lack of credibility.

His post generated an enormous conversation in the comments, and the usual fundamentalist arguments make an appearance.

In spite of what you try to "prove" and your smear tactics against good Christian people, Bible-believing Christians will NEVER accept your lies and propaganda for a sinful lifstyle which God Himself in the Bible condemns. Homosexulality is sin and no one is born with it. Your hatred of the church only reflects your own bias. I you want to promote this perversion you have a right to do so, but don't condemn others who choose to believe the Bible instead of your lies and distortion!

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Churches have had to learn to be civil and neighborly in order to exist in a world where others believe differently. If gay activists want to change THEIR image as angry, petulant, self-focused martyrs, they ... and Oliver Thomas ... will need to do the same. The truth is that most people believe as most churches on the matter of homosexuality: They can be civil and kind to those who practice it, but they are under no obligation to support, endorse or condone it. Such is the way in a society where everyone can hold their own opinion on anything, and one can oppose another's actions (as Christ did) and still be a good person.

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Just another liberal screed trying to downplay religion and lift up their homosexual agenda. There is a reason that homosexuality has been looked down upon by almost every civilization and religion. It's is against god's will and nature. Homosexuals can't reproduce so they have to coopt your children to advance their agenda and the bible is a major stumbling block in their way, so that is why the attacks on religion and the bible.

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Three comments (and reiterates what others have said earlier): first, (and this applies to everyone, not just homosexuals), to deliberately separate the procreative aspects of sexual activity from the pleasure giving aspects of sexual activity can only be considered evil and irrational. People who take this position are denying the fact that the pleasure giving aspect exists to encourage procreation. People who seek to enjoy the pleasure giving aspect while denying the life giving aspect are necessarily turning inward and engaging in a deliberately selfish action. Whatever good may be surmised from the pleasure giving aspect does justify, nor eliminate, the selfishness and irrationality of such activity. Only extraordinary ignorance, stupidity or evil would allow a person to believe that the penis is designed for entry into the anus. Power (the ability to do something) does not make an action righteous.

Second, what possible good does society derive from homosexual sexual activity? None. So, why should society encourage such activity by ignorantly saying (whether through ignorance, stupidity or inclination to evil) it is an intrinisically ordered activity as opposed to an intrinisically disordered activity.

More often than not, the comments were from gay and lesbian people of faith, supporting Thomas. Others were just plain funny:

God is sending us ever more homosexuals because they seldom reproduce and in the long run this will help curb our horrendous traffic problems.

Thank you, God.

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I hope the rapture comes soon... like tomorrow. The sooner you religious nuts are gone the sooner we can live in peace.

It probably would be an easier and happier life if the Rapture came and sent the bad Christians away. I would miss the good ones though, and tend to think there are more of the good ones than the fundamentalist ones.