Is Christianity homophobic?

[AgnosticBoy]

Christians are often accused of being homophobic. So then I question why do people call themselves Christians in this day and age. I've searched the internet for a response. Of course, there are those Christians that try to make a case that homosexuality is not condemned by the Bible. But in this thread, I want to focus on those Christians that believe that being homosexual or engaging in same-sex behavior is wrong.

Here's one perspective I've found:

By Oxford Languages’ definition, homophobia can be as simple as a dislike for or as strong as a prejudice toward LGBT+ community members. While the word “phobia” implies a fear, homophobia has been used to describe everything from refusing to make a cake for a homosexual wedding to death penalties for homosexuals.

Christians are often accused of homophobia, often specifically because we stand for God’s holy design of sexual relations: one man and one woman united in marriage. It is never wrong for Christians to make a stand for biblical principle

However, true homophobia––prejudice against or hatred of homosexuals––is also sin. Prejudice is never biblical. We are never called to hatred but to love others as Christ loved us. Christians should not condone the homosexual lifestyle, but they should also not hate, degrade or condescend to those who identify as homosexual.

Source: https://www.collegianonline.com/2021/03 ... omophobic/

If I'm understanding correctly, it seems the author is trying to make a distinction between disagreeing with homosexuality and "prejudice and hatred of homosexuals". In another place, the author also refers to homophobia as a "fear".

For debate:
1. Is the author's distinction correct? Does 'homophobia' involve any type of belief or action (e.g. simply saying that it is wrong) that goes against homosexuality? Or does it just involve "hatred and prejudice"?

2. Is it even possible to believe that homosexuality is wrong but not to hate it or be prejudiced towards it?

[Adonai Yahweh]

1. Is the author's distinction correct? Does 'homophobia' involve any type of belief or action (e.g. simply saying that it is wrong) that goes against homosexuality? Or does it just involve "hatred and prejudice"?

The authors distinction is correct because disagreeing with someone does not mean that you hate them . It just that you are not favour of their lifestyle

2. Is it even possible to believe that homosexuality is wrong but not to hate it or be prejudiced towards it?

Yes it is possible , for an example some may disagree with your fashion sense but it doesn't mean they hate it just means that wont do it . The same applies with homosexuality

[boatsnguitars]

You lost me. Why wouldn't you join in an orgy? Sounds fun.

If I thought homosexuality was wrong I wouldn't.

So I have to at least notice that what they are doing is wrong. I can't be 100% nonjudgmental. If the Bible wants me to say no to that gay orgy, I have to judge the people inviting me to it, at least a little.

That's why I say the teaching to be totally nonjudgmental and love everybody is a little bit... impossible. Yet it is the teaching and if they somehow achieve it, they're not hating anybody, so they squeak by as not being homophobic.

But they'd be saying it's fine. Why trust the Bible?

But, i still disagree and feel I covered it. We may simply disagree. I firmly believe the Bible is homophobic. It is the source of most homophobia in the world, especially the OT, but the NT is equally bad. The Koran follows suit, as does the BoM. All because of Abraham and his homophobia which was allegedly a dictate from God which kind of sets it in stone.

Being homophobic is elevating ones distaste for a sexual situation to the level of digust and disapproval such that you feel the act and the actor are detrimantal to society, their own salvation (whatever that is), and damages your children if they know about it. It's like if you considered lesbianism appalling, or oral sex to be grotesque - but you pick out a specific group to focus your rage.

In reality, gay people are experiencing sex like everyone else: It's really interesting, then really, really interesting, then super interesting, then absolutely mind blowing, then they want a cigarette and it's not so interesting.

How we all get our rocks off among consenting adults is of no concern to anyone, yet, Christianity has codified the disgust of a sexual act (or, even just love between two members of the same gender). It's homophobic.

[boatsnguitars]

1. Is the author's distinction correct? Does 'homophobia' involve any type of belief or action (e.g. simply saying that it is wrong) that goes against homosexuality? Or does it just involve "hatred and prejudice"?

The authors distinction is correct because disagreeing with someone does not mean that you hate them . It just that you are not favour of their lifestyle

2. Is it even possible to believe that homosexuality is wrong but not to hate it or be prejudiced towards it?

Yes it is possible , for an example some may disagree with your fashion sense but it doesn't mean they hate it just means that wont do it . The same applies with homosexuality

Is fashion offensive to God? Will wearing white after labor day keep you from an eternal life with God? Because if you are claiming the Bible teaches that homosexuality is like fashion, you are simply wrong.

[Wootah]

[Replying to boatsnguitars in post #62]

Technically I don't think gay people are having sex. I think it is closer to mutual masturbation.

Before any minds explode, all I am saying is that we have words for 'walking' and 'running' or 'dancing' and 'wrestling'. When a word gets overloaded we usually make new categories of words. Rolling more ideas into a word is the opposite of what we should be doing.

[Wootah]

1. Homophobia is the hatred or fear of Homosexuality. If a book, person, religion, organization, etc. expresses hatred for Homosexuality, it is by definition Homophobic.

Christians squeak by then, because if they're doing what the book tells them, they don't hate anybody. They don't even hate homosexuality; they just think it's a sin (the act, not the inclination).

If the question is whether the Bible teaches not to do a heck of a lot of things people in modern day think they should be allowed to do, yeah, of course it does.

Noting that there are still Jews after thousands of years while every time a society becomes extremely free, it crumbles, seemingly in response. It might actually be that the notion that you're not hurting somebody unless you're hitting him is a childish and incomplete one, and freedom shouldn't go as far as we take it.

Case in point, it may be that male-male pairs outcompete inferior male-female pairs, not only because they have two stronger males which expands the work they can compete successfully at, but because most times the male-male pair does not have to support a child. If this is the case, society can either 1) accept population collapse for the sake of morality 2) ban homosexuality or 3) find some other way to address the issue.

I think a Christian should hate what God hates.

Here are examples of Christians arguing for that. I can't find a direct verse telling Christians to 'love what God loves and hate what God hates' but I have a belief that we should do so.

https://realfaith.com/daily-devotions/l ... god-hates/
https://decisionmagazine.com/hate-what-god-hates/

I think we can say that, rightly considered, a Christian hates homosexuality but as always that does not reflect hating the person (I know we hate to hear that).

[Wootah]

[Replying to Purple Knight in post #58]

Should Christians judge?

Let's find out: viewtopic.php?p=1119048#p1119048

[brunumb]

The real question is why haven't you responded to my posts about your atheism because this is a two way argument you have to defend why atheism is right .

In what way is 'having sex' different from what you call mutual masturbation?

[brunumb]

I think a Christian should hate what God hates.

I think that no god should hate. If God hates, then he is not worthy of his status.

[boatsnguitars]

1. Homophobia is the hatred or fear of Homosexuality. If a book, person, religion, organization, etc. expresses hatred for Homosexuality, it is by definition Homophobic.

Christians squeak by then, because if they're doing what the book tells them, they don't hate anybody. They don't even hate homosexuality; they just think it's a sin (the act, not the inclination).

If the question is whether the Bible teaches not to do a heck of a lot of things people in modern day think they should be allowed to do, yeah, of course it does.

Noting that there are still Jews after thousands of years while every time a society becomes extremely free, it crumbles, seemingly in response. It might actually be that the notion that you're not hurting somebody unless you're hitting him is a childish and incomplete one, and freedom shouldn't go as far as we take it.

Case in point, it may be that male-male pairs outcompete inferior male-female pairs, not only because they have two stronger males which expands the work they can compete successfully at, but because most times the male-male pair does not have to support a child. If this is the case, society can either 1) accept population collapse for the sake of morality 2) ban homosexuality or 3) find some other way to address the issue.

I think a Christian should hate what God hates.

Here are examples of Christians arguing for that. I can't find a direct verse telling Christians to 'love what God loves and hate what God hates' but I have a belief that we should do so.

https://realfaith.com/daily-devotions/l ... god-hates/
https://decisionmagazine.com/hate-what-god-hates/

I think we can say that, rightly considered, a Christian hates homosexuality but as always that does not reflect hating the person (I know we hate to hear that).

So God is not All-Loving? Can we have you confirm this on record?

[boatsnguitars]

[Replying to boatsnguitars in post #62]

Technically I don't think gay people are having sex. I think it is closer to mutual masturbation.

Before any minds explode, all I am saying is that we have words for 'walking' and 'running' or 'dancing' and 'wrestling'. When a word gets overloaded we usually make new categories of words. Rolling more ideas into a word is the opposite of what we should be doing.

No - and don't let your mind explode - but what they are having is sex. Hooking up, Smashing, Getting laid, Banging, Boning, Screwing, Shagging, Doing the deed, Hitting it off, Getting it on, Making love, Gettin' busy, Bumping uglies, Rolling in the hay, Knocking boots, Dipping their wick(s), Riding the wild pony, Playing hide the sausage, Making the Beast with Two Backs, Humping, Having relations.

Or, "Knowing" each other - as the Bible puts it.