Christian discrimination

[nobspeople]

There are currently several cases in the wings in the USA against certain establishments for sexual discrimination - some have already been dismissed with at least one claiming religious groups have the legal right to discriminate against someone for their sexual orientation.

For discussion:
Aside from the legal aspects, is it moral for a christian organization be able to discriminate against someone that's gay or bi?
Why or why not?
Also, how does one's sexuality prohibit one from doing their job well (assuming, of course, it's not straight porn or the like)?
Or is this simply a way for religious to hide behind laws that benefit them to promote hate?

[Jose Fly]

There are currently several cases in the wings in the USA against certain establishments for sexual discrimination - some have already been dismissed with at least one claiming religious groups have the legal right to discriminate against someone for their sexual orientation.

For discussion:
Aside from the legal aspects, is it moral for a christian organization be able to discriminate against someone that's gay or bi?
Why or why not?
Also, how does one's sexuality prohibit one from doing their job well (assuming, of course, it's not straight porn or the like)?
Or is this simply a way for religious to hide behind laws that benefit them to promote hate?

US history is rife with examples of white evangelical (conservative Protestant) Christians persecuting, discriminating against, and hating various groups of "others". In some of the early colonies, Catholics, Jews, and Quakers were often banned outright, subject to strict regulation, or at times hanged by white evangelicals. Southern white evangelicals were the main advocates for slavery of Africans and after the civil war were behind the KKK and their campaigns of terror across the south, including tens of thousands of lynchings. They were also the people who imposed Jim Crow and segregation in the south, and opposed civil rights legislation. Of course white evangelicals were also behind the genocides of Native Americans as well.

More recently, white evangelicals spent countless dollars and hours to try and keep gay couples from being able to marry, and to deny LGBTQs basic civil rights (e.g., protections against discrimination in employment, housing, medical care, finances, etc.). Fortunately for the most part, public opinion has turned on them, but the result has been that the same white evangelicals are now aggressively going after transgenders on multiple fronts.

So when I see that, it doesn't really surprise me. White evangelicals have always hated on one group or another, and LGBTQs are just their latest target.

[bjs1]

[Replying to nobspeople in post #1]

These cases are about discrimination where the person is being hired to teach Christian doctrine and ethics. As far as I am aware they all involve groups that teach that sex is for one man and one woman in marriage. To be a practicing homosexual means that the person rejects that belief. It seems entirely appropriate that the Christian group reject that person from employment, and that it should be legal for them to do so.

Think of it this way: Imagine that you are in charge of the science department at a secular university. You are looking for a new biology professor. During an interview you ask, “How will you teach evolution?” The candidate responds, “I will teach that God created the world in six days and that evolution is false.” Would you consider it an illegal form of discrimination not to hire that person? Or is it valid to not hire someone because that person believes something that contradicts one of the things he would be hired to teach?

[brunumb]

[Replying to nobspeople in post #1]

These cases are about discrimination where the person is being hired to teach Christian doctrine and ethics. As far as I am aware they all involve groups that teach that sex is for one man and one woman in marriage. To be a practicing homosexual means that the person rejects that belief. It seems entirely appropriate that the Christian group reject that person from employment, and that it should be legal for them to do so.

But what if the person is being hired to teach mathematics or geography etc? There really is no place for teaching sex or religious doctrine in those subjects. How does the sexual orientation of a person affect their ability to teach mathematics for example?

Think of it this way: Imagine that you are in charge of the science department at a secular university. You are looking for a new biology professor. During an interview you ask, “How will you teach evolution?” The candidate responds, “I will teach that God created the world in six days and that evolution is false.” Would you consider it an illegal form of discrimination not to hire that person? Or is it valid to not hire someone because that person believes something that contradicts one of the things he would be hired to teach?

If the applicant responded in that way they are clearly demonstrating that they are not qualified for the position. Different issue.

[bjs1]

[Replying to nobspeople in post #1]

These cases are about discrimination where the person is being hired to teach Christian doctrine and ethics. As far as I am aware they all involve groups that teach that sex is for one man and one woman in marriage. To be a practicing homosexual means that the person rejects that belief. It seems entirely appropriate that the Christian group reject that person from employment, and that it should be legal for them to do so.

But what if the person is being hired to teach mathematics or geography etc? There really is no place for teaching sex or religious doctrine in those subjects. How does the sexual orientation of a person affect their ability to teach mathematics for example?

Is there currently such a case in the US?

Think of it this way: Imagine that you are in charge of the science department at a secular university. You are looking for a new biology professor. During an interview you ask, “How will you teach evolution?” The candidate responds, “I will teach that God created the world in six days and that evolution is false.” Would you consider it an illegal form of discrimination not to hire that person? Or is it valid to not hire someone because that person believes something that contradicts one of the things he would be hired to teach?

If the applicant responded in that way they are clearly demonstrating that they are not qualified for the position. Different issue.

If an applicant denied a certain aspect of a groups ethic (Christian or otherwise) then that person is not qualified to teach people to obey that ethic. Same issue.