Homos, Wedding Bells, and Superstition Apr 24 '05    Write an essay on this topic. Tweet Popular Products in Gifts and Collectibles Pioneer X Pando Magnetic Album From $12 Pioneer Photo Albums Pioneer Photo Albums Magnetic Page 3-Ring Photo Album, 100 Pgs. From $8 The Bottom Line A serious and touchy subject. This is my entry into Lemon-Lime's Homosexuality, Marriage, and Religion write off. 1. What are your spiritual beliefs or religious affiliations? I was never raised with any religion, so that is probably the main factor that I'm not part of any religion right now. When I was younger and I asked my dad why we weren't Christian or Catholic, he simply told me that some people believe in a God, and some other people believe in a different God, and that it shouldn't be up to him to decide for me. I had many friends who went to church regularly, and oftentimes I accompanied them to participate and listen to what religion is all about. It was BORING. I've gone through to read passages of the bible, and that too was BORING. It ended up that the best source of information about religion came from those who just liked to talk.. or maybe even convert me to their beliefs or something. In the end I felt sad, disgusted, and a little bit lost as to how much religion went against what I learned in science and history classes, pertaining to evolution. Up to the present day, scientists keep finding more and more positive links in the chain of evolution to the point where it's 99% complete, yet religion denounces it since it's not 100%. I call that ignorance. It's scary that there are so many ignorant, brainwashed people throughout this country who are blinded by their beliefs and make God the reason for anything that happens that is out of human hands (God helped my sports team win, God helped my win the lottery, God invented the tsunami to kill the heathens, God helps me defeat my enemies, my God is better than your God, etc). I like the spiritual side of most religions, but there is way too much NONSENSICAL, JUNK BAGGAGE that goes along with it. I think that it's really curious that in today's time of science and disbelief there are no miracles like there were back in the days of the ignorance of man, where a simple sleight of hand could FOOL EVERYONE and make them think that you had a connection to a deity or something. If there was any better time for miracles to happen to cause belief and fill the spirits of people, it would be now. As it is, I prefer to be a realist and put my faith in SCIENCE, since there is proven material fact that goes into it. I don't see any great strides of religion, except to blame everything on the hands of God. So in a nutshell, if I had to define the small portion of my spirituality.. it would be closest to Buddhism, though I'm pretty much agnostic. I like the idea that there is a greater meaning and a purpose to life.. though I could care less either way. -- "My God can beat up your God!!!" 2. What is your sexual orientation? I loves the womens. 3. How do you see your own religious/spiritual views as influencing your opinion of sexuality? None. I chose Buddhism as my closest religious affiliation since I appreciate the idea of a spiritual purpose for mankind, unlike all the other garbage, non-standardized, white-people religions that have to get so involved. Otherwise, since I'm moreso agnostic.. I guess anything would go if I wanted it to. 4. How do you define marriage? The joining of two people to become one through a contract, though not necessarily in the eyes of God (since the state, or the Church of Elvis can do it too. LOL, Church of Elvis.. seriously). I've never really been excited at the prospect of marriage either. I don't see any real benefit past health protections, tax reductions, and succession of real property. Marriage isn't needed to have a happy family. 5. What thoughts or reactions do you have to these two pictures? (all completely safe for work, home, etc.) http://www.sfgate.com/c/pictures/2004/03/10/ba_knight01.jpg http://www.sfgate.com/c/pictures/2004/02/13/ba_gaywed_01_lm.jpg Good for them. I sense relief, happiness.. I give them two Fonzis. 6. How does one of Christian faith reconcile these two pictures? Is one “right” and one “wrong”? What reactions do you have to seeing these signs? http://www.sushiesque.com/photos/boston_common_031104/dscn1373.jpg http://www.sushiesque.com/photos/boston_common_031104/dscn1419.JPG My best guess is that the majority of them agree. What I really want to know is where do all these protestors find time to protest? Don't people have jobs? God can't be paying their bills, else everyone would be in church instead of the welfare office. It's a shame that people follow a hypocritical religion that will preach kindness and tolerance to some, yet hatred and animosity to others. I support their right to protest, but I do not support the hatred that fuels it. 7. Why do you think the topic of homosexuality is so polarizing in religious communities? One, the books of faith aren't all written the same. Two, the interpretations of the books are subject to the ones doing so, and like a crooked lawyer these people will twist the words to an angle that supports their argument. I think it all depends on the way that people were raised and how open their mind is. There are many religions people who support gays because they understand that the happiness of these people is much more important than the persecution because they don't follow someone else's rules. One religion but two opposite sides. If religion was truly correct, there wouldn't be a split. 8. Should the government be in the business of defining marriage? Why or why not? Hard to say. I think that there will be unhappy people, regardless, if the government had one way or the other. I think that the right choice is to give people their own choice and to not let it be dictated by others. 9. Would you support the legalization of gay marriage? Absolutely, if it's done right and fair. 10. If you answered no, what are your fears behind its legalization? If you answered yes, what are your fears behind it remaining illegal? If it stays illegal, that means the religious concentration of our country has reached a dangerous point. I've always felt the pressures of religion everywhere, since they're always trying to dictate what they consider right onto everyone else. I want my right to be left alone from whatever they believe and whatever they believe I should do because of what their God says.. and if they can keep gay marriage illegal, it's hard to say where they will stop. If it does no harm to anyone, why should I not have it? 11. Would you support government-sanctioned civil unions between homosexual couples? Absolutely, if it's done right and fair. 12. Do you see any way of bridging this current divide in our country over "wedge issues" like gay marriage or abortion? Or should we even be trying? It's a wishful, radical idea.. but I would suggest to eliminate churches in favor of schools and educational institutions. Not all of them, mind you, but just enough to keep the bases of religions covered while bringing up the level of education. That would help some. Though in the end, I think that only time will settle the issues. Just like with SLAVERY and WOMENS RIGHTS, it took some time before the people adjusted to the equal freedoms of these peoples. I really frown upon african americans and women (and especially african american women) who are against the freedoms and rights of gays. They really need to be drop-kicked back into the 1800's so their brains can be rattled with the reality of what's happening today. Freedoms are taken for granted. 13. What do you see America's view of homosexuality and gay marriage being in 100 years from today? What will those future Americans think of us in 2005, as they look back? It's going to be sad when the time happens that the children of america look up to their parents and ask, "how come everyone hated all those gays when you guys were little? That was unfair and very mean". I know that I asked my parents the same thing about slavery, when I was little. In the grand scheme of things, the slaves eventually became equal citizens and the women got their equal rights as well. It's inevitable that gays too will earn their rights. Why fight it? Why not be fair and have justifiable happiness now (and I mean happiness of the ones being persecuted. I could REALLY CARE LESS about the unhappiness of religious people anywhere, because they know that there is gay'ing going on in the world). Final thoughts or ideas: Religion is the mental crutch for the weak to help them explain what their mind can't understand or comprehend. If the hard questions of life were multiple-choice, I think that the popular answer of the religious would be "E: God". Sheep. What I really want to know is why are all the sick, pedophile priests not getting the same kind of heat that the gays are. H Y P O C R I T E S. These are dangerous times when the majority of america would rather prayers instead of science and medicine. I think that it's funny how there are portions of the religious communities that have so much hatred for these gays, that there would be harassment, vandalism, threats, urban terrorism, and even murder. And for some reason it's all justified because "God" supports it. If that's true, then God must have coined the words "n!gger" and "burn the Jews" too, because I don't see much difference between what's happening now, compared to that of how blacks were treated over 60 years ago and how Jews have been treated for the majority of history. Persecution is persecution. I also think that religion is one of the foundations of much good that is spread throughout the world when it's followers are focused on the teachings toward humanitarianism. Those who are religious and base themselves on equality, understanding, kindness, and the golden rule, are the wonderful exceptions to the rest that would undo such deeds. We need more of these good people. I don't think that religion is necessary to tell us to be good and kind and to do the same things either. Religion wants to take away my right to choose, right to be gay, right to watch things on cable TV, right to look at pornography, right to go to a Nine Inch Nails concert without being harassed, right to smoke a cigarette (yes, I have been accosted for such a reason before), right to what I listen to on the radio (HOWARD STERN RULES), and many other of my rights just because they (and their religion) don't like it and they don't think I should have them. How is my right to any of this harming anyone? To all those who believe in taking away my rights in such a fashion: F-CK you, leave other people alone, and go to whatever hell your "God" has devised. The religious people that I target with my frustration and anger are not the same people whom I would cherish for their good deeds and faith, even though all these people might go to the same churches. You will find good or bad people in any type of grouping that you can imagine, though it's much more poignant when you point out the bad people that are labeled in the "good" and "just" group. I'm not meaning to stereotype religion, since I know perfectly well that not all are like that; I'm just highlighting whom I consider the "bad seeds". It only so happens that the ones that I dislike are the most vocal of the two types, and are obnoxious towards others who don't share their same alignment. Each person has his or her own moral banner by which they march under. Doing a bad deed toward someone else while shouldering a flag that says "We're the Good Guys" doesn't justify it as the right course. I also don't feel that I need to participate in a faith, or have to go to church to be able to judge those people, when I can walk out to the sidewalk in front of my work (or any busy corner on weekends) and encounter the very same protesting gays, war, and abortion. I don't need to have a complete understanding of a religion to be able to see the whole picture and what the results are. Heck, we can even eliminate the whole "religion" part behind many of these people and judge their actions instead. We can see that what they do against gays and minorities is not humane or right, though for some reason it's still widely accepted because it's backed by a major religion. I also listen to what these fanatics say and how they say it. I don't judge how they feel about it, but rather their actions and how they would be so driven by hatred and the desire to strip the rights of others, even when it doesn't affect them in any harmful way whatsoever. I find it very sad times that there is so much action going on with the bad side of religion that deeds done by those with truly good intents are forgotten or overlooked.

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