SO THIS IS LOVE: THE MYSTIFICATION OF HOMOPHOBIA

[Hazumu]

A CHRISTIAN VOICE FOR GAY, LESBIAN, BISEXUAL, AND TRANSGENDER RIGHTS

"He thought the message would be a loving way to remind teenagers that the Bible denounces homosexuality."

[For the full article, see here.]

So, this is love! Thank God many other people (and the article doesn't mention any of them were Christians), took offense, and the sign has been removed, but this Pastor, and all too many like him, spew this type of prejudicial and hateful rhetoric that causes untold damage to young people, both Gay and Straight, and helps further coarsen and poison the society. And these smug, self-righteous haters have the temerity to do so in the name of God; actually believe that they are in God's will by so doing.

[Nero]

that is just disgusting. 

[Sephirah]

I actually quite like that Katy Perry song.

*sigh* The hate-monger who thought it was acceptable to display a sign like that only succeeded in putting the 'past' in 'pastor'.

[Skymning]

I don't see how homosexuality is any worse from a Christian standpoint than divorce, or premarital sex.

How can a church advocate such hate, when some of their most important lessons are about love and understanding?

[Hazumu]

George Lakoff explained the thought patterns that lead to "tough love"...

The Strict Father Family

The father's job is to protect and support the family. Children are to respect and obey him. The father's moral duty is to teach his children right from wrong, with punishment that is typically physical and can be painful when they do wrong. It is assumed that parental discipline in childhood is required to develop the internal discipline that adults will need in order to be moral and to succeed. Morality and success are linked through discipline. This focus on discipline is seen as a form of love—"tough love."

To acquire this moral essence, you have to take Jesus into your heart. The heart is the metaphorical locus of moral essence. You have to take the essence of Jesus into you and make it your essence. That is not as easy as it may sound.

It requires building up moral strength through self-discipline and self-denial. It requires obeying moral authority, the moral authority of God, as revealed through the Bible and his church. It requires staying within moral boundaries and not deviating from the path of righteousness. And it requires remaining pure and upright. Jesus' offer was one of love-not unconditional love, but tough love.

Mr. Lakoff also describes an oppositional worldview where Jesus does offer unconditional love.  The above merely describes the common conservative worldview.

Karen