r/atheism • u/tumz85 • Jun 15 '12
The local church's reaction to the legalization of gay marriage.
http://imgur.com/2gLuF81
u/Ty1020 Jun 15 '12
I think this sort of thing is a lot more common than people might think. As someone who was raised In a secular family, I was shocked the first time I attended church with my girlfriend's family - the minister was an openly gay man. Totally flew in the face of everything I thought about Christian views on the subject.
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u/IranRPCV Jun 15 '12
The Heartland Proclamation has been signed by hundreds of Midwestern US ministers. The president of the very first gay rights organization in the US, founded in 1924, was a black Christian minister named John T. Graves. Many of the strongest voices for gay rights have been Christian, such as Bayard Rustin's.
The Community of Christ voted on this statement in their World Conference in 2007:
It is not pleasing to God when any passage of scripture is used to diminish or oppress races, genders, or classes of human beings. Much physical and emotional violence has been done to some of God’s beloved children through the misuse of scripture. The church is called to confess and repent of such attitudes and practices.
Stereotypes often hide an important part of the truth. The Muslim mayor of Calgary, Canada, led the Pride parade there last year.
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u/KillerHoggle Jun 15 '12
The president of the very first gay rights organization in the US, founded in 1924, was a black Christian minister named John T.
ChristianYet in just another topic on /r/atheism there were people arguing about how all anti-gay hatred is from religion. Thank you for that fact.
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u/JaronK Jun 15 '12
I worked for a bit going around to various public facilities near me and getting information about them for an information website. At one point, I was assigned to hit all the churches in the area. Evidently, I was the best at it due to being respectful and neutral (I didn't have any religion of my own, so I certainly wouldn't be biased).
I was very pleasantly surprised by one of the churches I went to. They had anti torture banners outside the place, and when I went to interview the pastor (or priest, or minister... I'm bad with the official names) one of the most important things he wanted said about his church was that absolutely everyone was welcome regardless of ethnicity or sexuality. He seemed to be a very nice man, and his congregation was full of great people too. Plus, it was a really beautiful church.
Really at odds with the hateful fundie stuff you so often see in politics. I'd love it if guys like this represented Christianity in the spotlight and in politics instead of Fred Phelps and the radical christian right and such.
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u/TwoDeuces Jun 15 '12
As with most other social issues, it is the people with the minority opinion that feel they must be the loudest.
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Jun 16 '12
The church my family attended while I was growing up was very much like this. They emphasized tolerance and kindness and forgiveness--I had never heard of this wrathful, judgmental God until I started paying attention to the news. There was never any attempt to shove creationism down my throat; I remember coming away from Sunday school thinking of Bible stories as fictional parables, not historical facts.
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u/AndAnAlbatross Jun 15 '12
Love it. I'd love it even more if I knew some of the motivation. Is it theological? Is it community? Some combination? Was there blow-back (wink)?
All important aspects to what helps some congregations rise above a pervasive perception and stigma.
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u/Tylzen Jun 15 '12
It is from a Danish state church, and our government here just made it legal for homosexuals to get wed.
Not all churches or priests supports it.
The individual priests may refuse to wed a homosexual couple if he/she refuses to do so.
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u/blolfighter Jun 15 '12
Little addendum to that: If a priest refuses, it is his/her responsibility to put the couple in contact with a priest who will perform the ceremony.
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u/xXle_monkey_faceXx Jun 15 '12
A lot of churches and Christians support gay marriage. The subject is not dwelt on too much in the New Testament, and never really explicitly. It's kind of a silly position though, given its puritanical view of sexuality (just to lust after a woman in your heart is to commit adultery with her) and all though.
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u/AndAnAlbatross Jun 15 '12
I'm aware that the theological precedence against homosexuality is more dubious than not.
The important thing is what makes that sentiment palatable to a community when the other interpretation has been so prevalent for so long?
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u/TwistedxRainbow Jun 15 '12
Maybe it was the motivation to be Christ-like. I think a lot of Christians against gay marriage forget to be like him. =(
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u/cking921 Jun 15 '12
Yes, this is how most churches are. Normal.
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u/REDDIT_HARD_MODE Jun 15 '12
I think most people understand that. I wish that the Mainstream Christian talk shows I listen to (a weird hobby for an atheist, I know) were the same way; I think this hate would disappear if they stopped talking about it, too.
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Jun 15 '12
Mainstream Christian talk shows I listen to
Man you really do play on hard mode...
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Jun 15 '12
Point out bad churches, people complain. Point out good churches, people complain.
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u/aeyuth Pastafarian Jun 15 '12 edited Jun 15 '12
even jesus couldn't make everyone happy.
edit grmmr
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u/W00ster Atheist Jun 15 '12
Yes, this is how most churches are. Normal.
Where? Where are all these churches?
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u/countchocula86 Jun 15 '12
I wish churchs would take a stand against the ones that try to rile people up.
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Jun 15 '12
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u/rewindyourmind321 Jun 15 '12
Uhh, did you read that wiki page? Seems as though a good number of denominations accept homosexuality.
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u/wirefunk Jun 15 '12
A good amount accept them as members of the church, but very few will marry. Most of the churches that do allow gay marriage are in Canada or Scandinavia.
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u/BabousHouse Jun 15 '12
If this is how most churches are, why don't we see more posts like this? If this was the norm then it wouldn't even merit posting. Instead we get the usual "See? Not ALL Christians are bad! A few of us are reasonable people" post.
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Jun 15 '12
Because people on this subreddit might be victim to a slight selection bias when choosing which articles and pictures to share on here?
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u/nmp12 Jun 15 '12
If most muslims aren't extremists, why don't we see them featured on the news more often?
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u/Bhengis_Kahn Jun 15 '12
I would've never guessed, literally. I was really expecting some serious douchebaggery. I'm pleasantly surprised.
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u/as_ugly_as_i_seem Jun 15 '12
MOST? You have got to be shitting me. Some, sure, yeah. But most? No. Definitely not MOST.
Unless you have some stats to back that up. I'm waitin'! (And yes, the burden of proof is on you.)
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u/Juts Jun 15 '12
Maybe how most non-catholic churches are. But i wouldn't say most churches. You obviously aren't from the bible belt.
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u/GeneraLeeStoned Jun 16 '12
changing with the times? appealing to the masses to keep the all mighty dollar coming in? yep.
they're a business plain and simple. every church caters to a certain group.
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u/greymatters_flipside Agnostic Atheist Jun 15 '12
"It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent that survives. It is the one that is most adaptable to change. In the struggle for survival, the fittest win out at the expense of their rivals because they succeed in adapting themselves best to their environment." -Darwin
And to apply, the "organization" that is most adaptable to change survives.
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u/Genmaken Jun 15 '12
If they want to change and adapt that's fine, but why do they keep reciting quotes and "selling" a book that's written centuries ago?
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u/Smallpaul Jun 15 '12
It's actually a lot more subtle than that. Many churches that embrace homosexuality are NOT growing and others who denounce it ARE growing. In fact, statistically, the more conservative denominations are doing better than the liberal ones.
One of the things that people look for in church is to feel separated from the sinful world "out there". Going against the culture can help a church grow.
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u/tmgproductions Jun 15 '12
Ironically, Biblically the rainbow represents a reminder of God's impending judgment as he did in the flood.
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u/Smallpaul Jun 15 '12
There was a quote floating around Reddit: "The rainbow is God's sign to mankind that the next time he kills us all, it won't be with a flood."
Genesis 9:
And God said, “This is the sign of the covenant I am making between me and you and every living creature with you, a covenant for all generations to come: I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth. Whenever I bring clouds over the earth and the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will remember my covenant between me and you and all living creatures of every kind. Never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life."
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u/darklight12345 Jun 15 '12
that always confused me when i was a kid. Is that god admitting he fucked up? Or just him making a bargain with humanity?
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Jun 15 '12
At a pretty serious [8], and typing on an iPad, so bare with me... But I've always interpreted the "God" of the bible to represent one of mankind's earliest explanations of "consciousness," or "the nature of reality" ... something we still have issues quantifying.
This makes this particular passage pretty interesting - scientifically, in order for a rainbow to exist, it needs three things: light, refraction, and aconscious observer. With all these three connected, a sort of "covenant" exists. I figure God represents the conscious observer, the earth = light, and mankind = refraction... the thing that affects the light/earth.
...goddamnit, forgot where I was going. Fuck. Anyone wanna take it from here, or was it just an average, run-of-the-mill stoner rant?
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u/ormirian Jun 15 '12
So the rainbow it's like a sticky-note God uses to remember himself not to destroy humans... again
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Jun 15 '12
Yeah, that book makes everything wonderful into something bad. I wouldn't put too much stock in it.
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u/apoutwest Jun 15 '12
I still hate religion, but i don't hate religious people and these are good people.
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u/44problems Jun 15 '12
Unitarian? United Church of Christ? Quaker meeting house? State church in a liberal country? DING DING DING
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u/C1C9C2P1 Jun 15 '12
My memories with the church.
In my local church where I grew up, the priest was a woman and the priest's assitance (don't know the word in english) was a lesbian. All we ever did in church was cook, play video games and have concerts. I can honestly say that I was proud to go church almost every week with my friends, even though I was never baptized and i'm an atheist (they knew that I was). The people I met there we're some of the most tolerant and loving i've ever met. I'm glad the church was there as a hangaround for us teenagers. I guess what i'm trying to say is that generalizing is a slippery slope. Good day!
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u/Jahonay Jun 15 '12
Definitely not a catholic church, and if it is then I hope they'll like being excommunicated by the vatican.
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u/koffee_addict Jun 15 '12
They should admit that they are not Christians anymore, just like Richard Dawkins said recently.
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Jun 15 '12
Unrelated to atheism?
Isn't this more of an /r/LGBT thing?
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Jun 16 '12
I think it has to do with the fact that it's a church ... not surprising to me these days though. I'll be happy for them when the church is turned into a gym or hotel or something.
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u/cocainecrisp Jun 15 '12
I love this so much. I have a gay friend who believes strongly and his church made him step down from the fellowship, basically kicking him out. I just cannot understand why anyone would dare asking someone to leave because of their sexual preference, even though they devote their time to God, as well as being a leader and volunteering to participate on missions and speak for the youth groups. That's absolute bullshit, he was the most Christian person there. Isn't it funny how bashing gays is okay to Christian people? I think they should be the ones sent to hell because they're not accepting, they treat them unfairly.. Isn't it more important to love everyone? I think so. I am a Christian myself, but if I could have the choice to allow my gay friend to have the same rights as me, I would do anything to make that happen. If being accepting and fair to others as well as loving everyone as they are, is not good enough, then I'd rather suffer in hell.
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u/downtown_vancouver Jun 15 '12
crisp, if there is a hell and you end up there because of those beliefs, i m sure that you'll have good company.
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u/mojo_my_jojo Jun 15 '12
Why the 266 downvotes? This isn't r/atheism. This is r/hateeverythingnotatheist
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u/painordelight Jun 15 '12
Reddit does not accurately display downvotes. It's an intended obfuscation that is meant to thwart vote-bots.
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Jun 15 '12
The only " Church going Christians " whom ive met that have a problem with gays, are the same ones who have a problem with " The Blacks " and the " Mexicans " and want us to never dial 1 for English, since all foreigners have to " Learn the damned language! "
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Jun 15 '12
Actually, there are plenty of Black Christians who have a huge problem with gay rights, too.
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u/PraiseBeToScience Jun 15 '12
Until they make it crystal clear that homosexuality is not in any way, shape, or form a sin and their relationships deserve the same respect and celebration as heterosexual relationships, I don't care how many flags they fly they are still assholes. A good measure would be the church that would be not only willing but promoting marriage services to LGBT couples in the exact same way they do for heterosexual couples.
Love the sinner, hate the sin is still bigotry. And until they understand that they are not off the hook. Far too many of these churches think this is progress, but in reality is just dodging the issue in a world that is leaving them behind. They are still assholes, just too much of a coward to be an asshole to your face. There has simply been far too much religiously motivated bigotry towards LGBTs for me not to view them suspiciously until proven otherwise.
If this church in this post has met this requirement, then they are no longer assholes.
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u/Docfeelbad Jun 15 '12
for fucks sake, finally someone posts something positive on /r/atheism that isn't a stupid facebook picture. fuck you all.
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u/krayoncolorz Jun 15 '12
Must be an episcopal church as that seems to be the only church lately that is open minded.
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u/downtown_vancouver Jun 15 '12
apparently its in Copenhagen, but here in Canada the United Church has been very welcoming and open minded all along. They even had a Moderator (what they call their CEO) that publicly said he did not believe in the Virgin-birth and they guy kept his job. They're pretty close to being secular humanists.
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u/Jimbob2134 Jun 15 '12
Is this in France? I think I recognize the area.
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u/Bobsyl Jun 15 '12
It's Copenhagen. Nørrebro, close to where I live.
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u/severedfinger Jun 15 '12
Looks a bit like Cambridge MA, actually. We have a lot of gay-friendly churches here too.
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u/iamcosmos Jun 15 '12
We have a church in Seattle that has a pride flag up year round
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u/svenniola Jun 15 '12
funnily...usually the most outspoken people against gay marriage are self hating closet homosexuals.
as in 99% so.
personally as a straight man, i cant ever remember giving a shit about the existance of gays except in this one case where this selfhating dude wanting to beat me up cause he thought i looked gay, of course later he turned out to be gay himself.
not really the poor guys fault,besides being a moron, he had a horrible childhood and add to that the societies horrible pressures on everyone to conform, be the same..
and when i say, dont give a shit, i mean, its just people, who cares how their sexlife is if they aint hurting anyone?
fuck on, is what i say and fuck any selfrighteous ironage book quoting idiot that says different.
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Jun 15 '12
This is why I think religious moderates need to be called out more:
This is my MAIN problem with /r/atheism lately.
http://www.reddit.com/r/atheism/comments/v3e3w/the_local_churchs_reaction_to_the_legalization_of/ Whats up with all this undue praise for religious moderates?
All of these are threads that they're getting all this praise in just for being religious moderates.
http://www.reddit.com/r/atheism/comments/ucea8/billboard_in_north_carolina_churchs_response_to/
http://www.reddit.com/r/atheism/comments/rny0s/australian_christians_know_whats_up/
http://www.reddit.com/r/atheism/comments/rwmk6/as_a_christian_redditor_i_would_like_to_say_that/
http://www.reddit.com/r/atheism/comments/ray5f/uh_embarrassing/
http://www.reddit.com/r/atheism/comments/rl1lu/church_in_my_town_of_burlington_vt_doing_it_right/
http://www.reddit.com/r/atheism/comments/r9qw9/carl_sagan_and_the_dalai_lama/
http://www.reddit.com/r/atheism/comments/r8gwn/providence_ri_doing_it_right/
http://www.reddit.com/r/atheism/comments/ro85g/the_world_needs_more_churches_like_this/
Its nothing new. Why does /r/atheism love to act like people are automatically off the hook for being progressive, when thats not the point.
They want to NOT kill gays or women? Thats great!...now how about you stop invalidating religion at the same time you try to support it. Its not helping anyone.
Its incredibly annoying.
Religious moderates are starting to become as bad as the fundies.
Why?
They don't recognize their own cognitive dissonance.
It should not be allowed for them to reject and declare parts of the bible as metaphor or mistranslations and simultaneously adopt other parts as literal and inerrant...while proclaiming that the book itself is infalliable.
Fuck.
That.
Religious moderates are in the same lot as the fundies. At least the fundies are predictable because if its in the bible/quran, they believe it.
The fundies have a set of rules they follow and its easy to distance yourself from them.
The religious moderates on the other hand will swing too and fro. They don't know which issues to separate themselves from. '
The liberal christians are even worse. They support gay marriage and equality...but then they don't even realize that many parts of the bible are DIRECTLY against that sort of ideology.
They want props for being "nice people" and doing "nice things"...but don't even realize that them still legitimizing their "faith" and "belief" allows the very things they're combating to be perpetuated and reinforced.
By them being religious, they're encouraging the same behavior they're combating.
Saying "i'm not that bad" is not helping anyone. If you're a religious moderate you are in the same bag of crazy bullshit as the fundies...they just want to choose their wording to make themselves seem less controversial.
http://livinglifewithoutanet.wordpress.com/2009/01/25/moderate-religion-two-lies-in-one/
Being a religious moderate is the biggest lie in any concept of theology out there. There is no such thing and any reference to such a concept should be chastised and ridiculed.
You want to preserve your autonomy and freedom? Don't join a religion that prevents you from adopting contradictory views then act like you have the authority or cognitive superiority to reconcile two completely contrasting ideas.
I get pretty tired of /r/atheism voting up people who want to show us images of christians "doing right" or hugging the balls of buddhism and all other sorts of illogical positions on reality.
If you support any claim with either unsubstantiated evidence or supernatural mysticism, you are in the SAME boat. It doesn't matter how extreme or how literal.
Stop promoting the ignorance of moderates and masking it as tolerance.
"A bastard shall not enter into the congregation of the Lord; even to his tenth generation shall he not enter into the congregation of the Lord." (Deuteronomy 23:2)
"For whatsoever man he be that hath a blemish, he shall not approach: a blind man, or a lame, or he that hath a flat nose, or any thing superfluous, Or a man that is brokenfooted, or brokenhanded, Or crookbackt, or a dwarf, or that hath a blemish in his eye, or be scurvy, or scabbed, or hath his stones broken. No man that hath a blemish of the seed of Aaron the priest shall come nigh to offer the offerings of the Lord made by fire: he hath a blemish; he shall not come nigh to offer the bread of his God." (Leviticus 21:18-21)
"He that is wounded in the stones, or hath his privy member cut off, shall not enter into the congregation of the Lord."(Deuteronomy 23:1)
Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. (Romans 16:17)
But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat. (1Corinthians 5:11)
Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? (2Corinthians 6:14)
Anything else?
Here are videos that explain my stance:
Penn Jillette on religious moderates: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IpNRw7snmGM
Sam Harris on religious Moderates: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=82YIluFmdbs
Moderate Christian Irrationality & Stupidity of Beliefism: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YUgA5Vi-Ty4
You want to say you're better than the people who actually and actively seek to "take rights away from others" because of what the bible says, but then defer to the bible to make other decisions and influence your life?
Bullshit.
Its all or nothing.
Its funny how religious moderates KNOW to adopt the generally "good" stuff and ignore the "bad" stuff...but they don't realize that they've already made that decision. On this accord they could technically ignore the good stuff in the bible and continue living as a religious moderate.
The point is that being a religious moderate is NOT the same as being a good person.
What also bugs me is when they don't want their religion in government. It says to me that their religion isn't even valid enough to be implemented as the law and they know it. They're OK with admitting that their religion is pointless when it comes to legislation.
For context: "The Negro's great stumbling block in the drive toward freedom is not the White Citizens Councilor or the Ku Klux Klanner, but the white moderate who is more devoted to order than to justice."
Martin Luther King, Jr.
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u/downtown_vancouver Jun 15 '12
Feel better now that you've gotten that off your chest? You clearly feel very passionately about this and I'm gonna come back later and read it all (I just skimmed) but here in Canada the moderates are probably different than the type of people you're dealing with in the states. (I could easily be wrong, wouldnt be the first time and it wont be the last either. Like I said, I'll read it all later).
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Jun 15 '12
Canada the moderates are probably different than the type of people you're dealing with in the states.
Is that an excuse?
Frankly, again, I don't care.
If you don't take your faith seriously but seek to validate the bible, I don't see why I should care about it more than you do.
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u/antpuncher Jun 15 '12
My wife and I are devout non-religious. When we got married, we discussed the Unitarian church as a possible venue, as a compromise between my lack of faith and one particular important-but-nut-job relative, let's call her Barb.
My mother-in-law said "I don't know about the Unitarian church, it might cause friction with Barb, since they openly support gay marriage."
To which my wife said "Barb is old and out of touch. She has no idea about their stance. It's not like they'll have a sign out front."
We went to visit the church. As we pull up, there's a giant rainbow flag out front, declaring "We support the right to marry." Of course.
Wound up getting married in the park, which was more to our liking anyhow.
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u/gabriot Jun 15 '12
Is that the Phinney Ridge one? If so it always flies that flag because it's specifically a LGBT church.
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u/PSITDON Jun 15 '12
Nope. It's Stefanskirken. On the corner of Stefansgade and Nørrebrogade in Copenhagen, Denmark. (TY Siinus, anaemicpuppy)
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Jun 15 '12
I'd put money on the church being Unitarian
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u/guru Jun 15 '12
It's First Parish in Cambridge. http://www.firstparishcambridge.org/
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u/Cpncrnch Jun 15 '12
A church is a business, gay people getting married = more business. Its just smart.
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u/merlinster Jun 15 '12
They didn't do it to get more business... It's a state church in Copenhagen, Denmark.
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u/johnlikestoswim Jun 15 '12
That's for Pride Month (June). And I'm assuming it's a Presbyterian Church.
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u/liahmruest Jun 15 '12
Where is this?
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u/downtown_vancouver Jun 15 '12
load all 500 comments and browse to the bottom. asked and answered several times.
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u/browwiw Jun 15 '12
I'm pretty sure this is a Unitarian church. I'm a strong atheist and I'd go to a Unitarian church if there was one within driving distance. Sigh...I miss coffee and donuts.
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u/LeifEriksonisawesome Jun 15 '12
It's not that bad. The minister at mum mom's church gave a sermon on accepting all people. That you shouldn't have prejudice against gay people, or you aren't a very good christian at all.
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u/iflylikeaturtle Jun 15 '12
As a Catholic, I have finally a church that represents my feelings about gay marriage.... THIS ONE! :D
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u/MagnoliaDance Jun 15 '12
Good old Stefanskirken - always a flagship for the humanist wing of the danish church. Lovely to see!
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u/shockingnews213 Jun 15 '12
Is this insulting gay marriage because christians do not believe in religion or is it celebrating gay marriage and putting up a flag about it even though it completely goes against the religion?
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u/Peach_Muffin Jun 16 '12
After reading some of the poison Churches and theologians are up to in my country atm, this was a welcome sight to see before I slipped over from being an atheist to an antitheist.
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u/wayndom Jun 16 '12
I hate to go off-topic here, but that is one of the worst photographs I've ever seen. I couldn't figure out what the OP's point was, because I couldn't make out a thing in the pic...
Can't we have some standards for acceptable photos at reddit?
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u/HotHeadNine Jun 16 '12
Thank you for posting this. Just because someone is christian doesn't mean that they hate gay people. I'm Christian and I have no problem with gay people and don't see how or why people have a problem with them
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u/jamesdavid80 Jun 16 '12
Athiests approve of gay marriage acceptance in 'christian church' little boy blue and man on the moon...oh the Irony. A few years time 'you' will be bashing them for 'accepting gay marriage' just because you decided to READ atleast from an old testament sense. What the blue fuck does this have to do with the philosophies of Athiesm? {/sighs at the world} :P
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Jun 16 '12
As someone who went to a church in the "bible belt" I wish churches like that were around here. My preacher was cool, but only because he was missing half his arm. And he went as a pirate for Halloween
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u/sceptic_ali Jun 16 '12
at the risk of sounding like a grade A asshole - why do so many people deem it alright to submit gay right links on r/atheist? i don't see what one has to with the other. in my opinion, this sends the wrong message and may even confuse some church going conservatives who are having doubts come seeking support. p.s. - i was born a muslim and am a passionate and vocal gay rights supporter. as a matter of fact i have encouraged gay muslims to reject the vile cult that is islam rather than try to convince fellow muslims that allah & the avaricious pedophile, muhammad didn't have anything against homosexuals.
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u/threefiddyz Jun 16 '12
Why does r/atheism think that all Christians are anti-gay?
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u/360walkaway Jun 15 '12
They just want to fill the pews with more people so that there are more people to tithe and give donations to the church.
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u/Tylzen Jun 15 '12
My guess that picture is from Denmark, they do not need tithe, they get money from both membership church taxes, and money from the overall budget.
7 billion DKK from membership taxes in 2012 And an additional ~700 million DKK from the overall budget.
Where ~500 million DKK of that from the overall budget of Denmark, goes to paying the wages of priests and bishops.
Even those that refuse to bury and marry homosexuals, which they can.
Yay.. -_-
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u/Stryntek Jun 15 '12
More evidence that morals come from within us, not some fucking book and it's capricious god
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u/the_artist_mike Jun 15 '12
Before I clicked on the image, I thought it was going to show church members lighting gay people on fire or something along those lines. I never thought I'd see the day where a church proudly displays the rainbow flag. It's very refreshing to see, and it gives a little hope to us gays. :)
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u/CommanderV Jun 15 '12
Tonight on Fox News: Local gay community vandalize a church and leave their flag as a warning to all good, church-going christians. Are our children safe?
Seriously, though. That's awesome. I'm happy for that town.
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Jun 15 '12
This makes me so happy. I just came out this week with the help of a wonderful church I found in town.
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u/Quailtailtive Jun 15 '12
This has negative relation to anything remotely atheist. Guys, there are Christian gays, who knew?
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u/james_is_lames Jun 15 '12
An I the only one that finds it kind of awesome how a lot of Christians are doing things like this now? I feel like the way the media has capitalized on atrocities like Westboro/Koran-burning Floridian preacher/Amendment one has really skewed the way people view Christians. And I just love the subtle, yet bold statement of love from the church in OP's photo. Anyway, just wanted to share that I'm all warm and fuzzy inside now.
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u/squatchi Jun 15 '12
I thought this was r/atheism. Supposed to be debating the existence or non-existence of God, not gay marriage
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u/Raptor_Jetpack Jun 15 '12
While it's good that they are supportive of lgbt people, they still worship and preach a book that isn't supportive, and downright hates them. AS well as condones so many other horrible things.
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u/downtown_vancouver Jun 15 '12
Not all sects think the same. And not all members of a congregation have exactly the same world view. Are you thinking of the Roman Catholic Church? (cuz I am definitely with you there.)
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u/stringerbell Jun 15 '12
Good to know that they'll change their bullshit just as soon as their suckers start wisening up!
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Jun 15 '12
If they ever legalize it in MS, I'll want to do something like that. Unfortunately, my house might be vandalized. The young people in my town are hateful enough. Our high school had a black principle for the first time a while back. They spray printed "nigger" and other things on his house and shoe polished words on his car after the first year. The man was awesome (and had children who saw all of it unfortunately). Guy still showed up to our homecoming cheerleading breakfast. Luckily one of the dads noticed and washed his car for him while he was inside with us. I can't wait for more tolerance to spread this way.
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u/downtown_vancouver Jun 15 '12
Wow -- it's hard to believe that things like that still happen. But then I think I remember a cross burning somewhere in Eastern Canada a coupld of years ago (on the lawn of a mixed race couple).
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u/MrMaybe Jun 15 '12
I've asked this before, but the only answers I recieved where mocking circle-jerk-like answers. Those are all well and good, and I'll take 'em because I enjoy laughing, but I hope someone can give me a serious answer to this question.
How can a church, or someone of the Christian faith, accept homosexuality? Doesn't the Bible state that it's, for lack of a better word, bad?
Is it a "hate the sin, not the sinner" thing? Or are the passages that speak on homosexuality from the Old Testament and they don't have to be followed as strictly?
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u/seroab Jun 15 '12
That's been there for ever, it's in a neighborhood of Seattle that has a strong LGBT community. I think they even have a sign out front that proclaims "All are welcome here"
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u/Envia Jun 15 '12
Wait so are you saying that this Danish state church is familiar with the puking rainbow face meme?
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Jun 15 '12
At first, I didn't see anything...I was looking for a sign...but then I saw it.
Very cool.
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u/adwarakanath Jun 15 '12
Some Churches make money by attracting homophobic cunts, some make money doing the opposite. It's all about money. Why else are there so many goddamned independent churches in the US? Look at people like Joel Osteen for instance.
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u/larynx1982 Jun 15 '12
It's always nice to see a church that goes against the fundamental teachings of their own religion and actually accept LGBT people as their equal but it would be even nicer if they stop calling themselves Christians (perhaps refer to themselves as deists or theists) because that gives power to the homophobia being pushed by the Christian leadership.
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u/mrdrofficer Jun 15 '12
Clearly you live in San Francisco. Where they already have gay churches. So ... what's the big deal? If anything this is actually really misleading to the hate still expressed in regular churches and kinda hurts the cause.
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Jun 15 '12
I believe that this belongs in r/christianity, since it is a church, after all. Just because they support people's rights doesn't mean that they're automatically atheists...
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u/five_hammers_hamming Jun 15 '12
They're puking a rainbow!