Philosoft

Really? 98% of the population is strictly heterosexual? 98% of the population has never had a same-sex experience? Your absolutist labels do actual people no justice.
10% are strictly homosexual? Yadayada, you can guess the rest.

Fr.Andrew

Spurly, your whole argument (and, I suppose, Dobson's) is that homosexuals cannot be positive role models.
Do you really believe that?
Why?
What is there about homosexuality, or the homosexual lifestyle, that would "ruin" a child's "innocence" if it were explained to them?
Did it ever occur to you that Dobson and his nefarious Bible-thumping ilk, while paying lip service to their love for "sinners", may actually perpetuate an atmosphere conducive to the hatred of homosexuals? It should.
I've been involved in the gay community for over forty years, and have had the opportunity to question countless homphobic bigots regarding the source of their hatred. Without exception, when all else is stripped away, the answer has been a variation of "The Bible says so".

Godless Dave

I disagree. I was taught the bare facts about sex when I was 7 and suffered no adverse effects whatsoever. Ignorance is never, ever, ever, ever, in any situation, whatsoever preferable to knowledge.

Knowledge: good

Ignorance: bad

spurly

You don't know me too well, and because of that I may get lumped in with other people you do know well who you think hate homosexuals. I am not one of those people.

I love people of all stripes, colors, and orientations. If you ever met me, I hope that would be one of the things that you noticed fairly quickly. I try to destroy any hatred and bigotry in myself on a daily basis.

However my love for people leads me to seek the absolute best for them - for them to have a relationship with God. That involves speaking the truth at times, but always in love - never in hatred.

My main hatred is for any sin that separates people from God - be it greed, pride, fits of rage, or a sexual sin. I try to destroy these things in my life on a daily basis.

So believe me - I don't hate you. The exact opposite is actually the case.

Kevin

Fr.Andrew

Thank you for not answering my questions.

Loren Pechtel

Originally posted by spurly
He's a psychologist. He knows that children are extemely impressionable. Big Brothers and Big Sisters goal is to find good role models for children who do not have a father or mother actively involved in their life.

If the match the BB/BS sets up works, the child will look up to the person they have been matched with, and many children will think that their Big walks on water. They will want to be like him/her - to do what they do. That is the nature of role models.

Children are also very innocent. And it is important to protect that innocence. Thus why should a parent have to explain to a son/daughter what homosexuality is and ruin that innocence.

And if the big brother/big sister is heterosexual then the parent has to explain what heterosexuality is about. Same loss of so-called innocence..

I have been both a big brother and I have sat on the board of directors for BB/BS where I used to live in NC. They screen potential Bigs very carefully. They don't want anyone who is going to have a negative influence on the child they are matched with. Thus people who are actively living a homosexual lifestyle are not the only people who BB/BS can/should screen out.

While I agree negative influences should be screened out, I don't see a homosexual as a negative influence.

Loren Pechtel

Originally posted by spurly
You don't know me too well, and because of that I may get lumped in with other people you do know well who you think hate homosexuals. I am not one of those people.

You've already lumped yourself by listing homosexuality as a negative influence.

Talulah

Ditto the above post with regards to innocence.

Also, If you leave your opinions about 'gross' out of it, then all homosexuals do intimately is the same as married folks, (y'know, slot/tab, rub together) cept without a screwing license. So, the only time anyone has to mention 'what homosexuality is' (your definition) is the same time they explain heterosexual sex to their children. When they deem them ready.

spurly

Okay Loren, since when did saying something is a negative influence turn into hating homosexuals. That is a jump you are saying I am making, and I am not making that jump at all. I also think a murderer could be a negative influence on a child, but I don't hate murderers. I think greedy, materialistic people are a negative influence on children at impressionable ages, but I don't hate greedy, materialistic people. On the contrary - I love them, I just can't put a rubber stamp on some things that they practice. Do you think loving someone means that you have to unconditionally accept everything they do? That's not love, that's turning a blind eye.

However, this is something that one can not tell about me by reading posts - this is something that can only be known be becoming acquainted with someone face to face as you see them interact with those around them.

I don't hate anybody. Including people who think I hate other people. On the contrary I love people with the love of God.

Kevin

Gunnaheave

Okay, perhaps opposing homosexuality does not amount to hatred. On the other hand, deciding that someone else is in error, and taking it upon oneself to deny them rights until they are lead to a better way of life certainly qualifies for some sort of negative evaluation as far as I'm concerned. Perhaps "arrogant" or "condescending" is in order. In any event, the whole rhetoric of love as a component of oposition to homosexuality seems a bit of an exercise in double-speak.

As for Totalitarian's post; I say that 90% of all statistics …are made up on the spot. (Hint, an actual source always helps.)