Vorkosigan

For those of you who have not yet run across this apologist site, have fun! Greg Koukl writes lots of commentaries, some quite sick.

Stand to Reason attacks AIDS sufferers

• Not just about right and wrong, but about honor and dishonor. When do we give honor to people simply because of the disease that killed them, especially when, with regards to AIDS, in most cases they are diseased due to freely chosen conduct? At this point I need to say, as a disclaimer, that it is inconsequential for my analysis whether you think the conduct moral or immoral. The key here is that it was their choice.

He also compares AIDS to suicide, and in a highly insenstive way hacks on suicides, without realizing the terrible struggles that people go through and sometimes lose:

• All cut down in the prime of life because of AIDS. Do we give honor to that? Is that an honorable thing, or is that tragic? We mourn the loss of this tremendous talent. We mourn the loss of an Ernest Hemingway, too. But do we honor the man for the manner of his death? "We bow our heads as we read the names of our sainted fallen comrades who have blown their brains out. We honor you." That's silly.

Vorkosigan

fried beef sandwich

Aaah, yes, Greg Koukl of Stand to Reason Fame... a sometimes lecturer at Talbot Seminary in Biola University at La Mirada, CA...

Yes, that last entry was a bit over the top. OK, not a bit. It was completely uncalled for. I haven't read his stuff lately, but back in HS I thought he was a pretty articulate, educated guy. I'm a bit surprised by this latest AIDS attack. But my fond memories stretch back to around 6-8 years ago or so, so they may be blurry

However, I do have to give him credit for one thing: he has a lecture series about "Finding God's Will" but it's not what you'd think it is. He has a view of God's will that would run counter to many conservative Christians' beliefs. I.e., it's unbiblical to believe that God has a blueprint for your life. He just has preferences of one way or another how he'd like you to live/what you should do.

That lecture series was one of the things that helped me open my mind and break free of the fundie mindset. I can't tell you how much freer I felt (as a Christian, at the time) knowing that I was so much more responsible for the decisions in my life than I had previously believed.

Yeah, kind of like being an atheist now but still believing in God.

Doctor X

Nice to know I can remove my sympathy for victims of lung cancer, accidents, war, rectal itch, et cetera.

I feel so much lighter. . . .

--J.D.

winstonjen

QueenofSwords, your attention is required for a Nutwatch!

I am sick of all this 'blame the victim' shit. :banghead: :banghead: :banghead:

winstonjen

Don't you know that rectal itch is caused by 'stuck-up finger' syndrome? [Right - stop descending to their level - Ed]

But shouldn't we fight fire with fire?

[Good point - Ed]

Shouldn't the site be called 'Stand Against Reason'?

andy_d

Is he asserting they actually chose to be infected?

Homophobic Christians often claim to "love the sinner, but hate the sin". If so, it would seem that the author loves them, but doesn't want anybody to mention them

conkermaniac

These kinds of insensitive, irrational articles sometimes make me wish that the author contracted AIDS so that we could spit in his face and say, "It was your choice."

Gothic_J

come now. we all know its god's punishment of the heathens.

and to make sure your punished for your sin, stop using medicine, like all good christians.

what? you are still keeping your hospital? this proves your sin!

winstonjen

I have an idea - let's pray for Greg Koukl and Co. to NOT get AIDS. As nothing fails like prayer...