| The Gay Bishop |
| Flagmarket | I wonder what your opinions are now that the US Anglican Church leaders have confirmed the election of their first openly gay, non-celibate bishop ?
Gene Robinson was confirmed in the post of Bishop of New Hampshire in an election that has divided Anglicans throughout the world.
Just where do we go from here ?
[:(]
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| noel | I'm not certain how many people follow a religion these days, certainly looking at church attendances not a lot.
In that context it probably doesn't mean a lot. At least the chap was honest and admitted he was gay. Maybe he should have kept quiet like the rest do.
I then ask myself does gay bother me anymore. At one time I could claim probably to be homophobic, now there's so much around it almost seems acceptable , but never in my opinion , normal. |
| Spitfire | Noel, I agree that being gay can never ever be described as being normal. However, there appears to be quite a large percentage of the population who admit to it, so perhaps they are sufficiently large in number to require represenation in all walks of life. I know for certain that ignoring it won`t make it go away. |
| noel | I've had numerous debates about this spitfire, and quite heated ones as well when I was in my anti-gay mode. I know however many parents maybe some on this forum, some of those who don't write maybe, will be parents of gays. Putting myself in their shoes I'm certain I wouldn't turn against my children if one were to tell me he was gay. I wouldn't /can't ever comprehend what makes a man want to jump into bed with another man when there are gorgeous femine creatures wandering around. ( in this hot weather in particular[:)]) but back to the point, I hear already this bishop is not welcome in Australia and the pope no less has expressed his dismay. Whatever happened to the "All things bright and beautiful" philosophy. The Lord God made them all.
As John said God bless atheism. |
| Martin | quote:
Originally posted by noel
The Lord God made them all.
That just about sums it all up. I'm not religious, in fact I have found too many contradictions in many beliefs to actually follow any.
Does admitting to being gay disqualify someone from being a bishop? If the person owns up and is a none practising gay, does that make a difference?
If the Lord made everything in the universe, then he must also have made gays in the process...
Personally I can't see what all the fuss is about, I know lots of people of different orientations. It doesn't stop me having a pint with them, or going to the theatre in their company, or having a laugh together. |
| Bill Rigby | Let's face it, the only antipathy toward homosexuality is religiously based. It seems to me we should applaud the branch of Anglicism that has finally entered the 21st Century!
I agree with Martin's perspective. The fuss is almost hysteria in the good ole USA, with all the dumbfundies shrieking fit to bust.
Not only are there more people with homosexual genes than has ever been thought, I wonder what 'normal' really means; Kinsey took great pains to demonstrate than normalcy in sexuality is a totally unknown.
If we examine the contribution to art, culture and plain humanity by homosexuals, we cannot but feel indebted. |
| noel | quote:
Originally posted by Bill Rigby
Let's face it, the only antipathy toward homosexuality is religiously based.
Whilst I agree with the rest of your post Bill, and also that the Church leaders promote homophobic views, mainly because of some obscure verse in the Bible saying it's wrong, they aren't the only opponents. Political parties such as the BNP and English yobs knwn as skinheads are also violently homophobic.
A friend of mine was badly beaten up by 2 youths in a local toilet late at night apparently because he visited a gents toilet known for being a gay pick-up point. He was off work for months with serious facial injuries. Lucky he had a caring wife to look after him.
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| rocketmanjohn | Yes we are indebted to a lot of homosexuals for all sorts of good things in life, right across the spectrum. But it is'nt 'normal' to me and never will be, just how did the term 'gay' come about? nothing could be further from the truth. Some parts of New Orleans have become so 'gay' that normal people just can't go any more without feeling intimidated.
A local news reader refers to the 'Angelican Church', which is good for a laugh.
John |
| noel | The word "Gay" always puzzled me too, John. I was born on a Sunday and Sunday's child is "merry and gay", gay I may be but certainly not in the modern meaning. What is happening to the world's sexuality? I suggested in one debate that maybe genes had become corrupted leading to abnormalities, and I was hounded out of the group by one person who objected to any "un-normal" badge being attached to homosexuals. |
| Spitfire | I was interested to see a by-product (or victim) of the the `gay` word. After seeing Gayline painted on the sides of a St.Anne`s coach firm for many years, I now note that the name has been changed to `G-Line`.
It would be interesting to know why they thought it was necessary to do this (if indeed that was the reason). |
| JohnH | quote:
Originally posted by noel
How about a vote on the Gay Bishop. For or against and why?
I say for - purely because of the way the elected bishop here in Reading was forced to stand-down. Whether it's one's nationality, skin colour, religious beliefs or sexuality being questioned it still amounts to discrimination!
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| Flagmarket | Yes, I too have often wondered where the word gay became associated with the homosexual community. My Collins English Dictionary quotes in part.. queer, adj. not normal, or usual, homosexual. Nuff said [}:)] |
| noel | I remember when I was in the belt making industry ( heavy duty conveyor belts) Dunlop had a brand name Gayply.
Seemed alright back in the sixties.
Fortunately some "gays" can laugh at themselves, Elton "Queen" John, Boy George etc. |
| JohnH | Interesting little piece here about "How did 'gay' come to mean "homosexual"?
http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a2_271b.html
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| Bill Rigby | Interesting about the word and the link, John H, was very useful.
Noel, I was unaware that the neo-Nazi and fascist elements in Britain are homophobic. After reflection, it seems to me that the BNP, skinhead, elements are intrinsically violent and one way, they must think, to be violent with 'reason' is to attack homosexuals. I have always thought the more vociferously homophobic elements were afraid of something in themselves rather than others. Of course, large segments of the Nazi party, as of the Prussian officer class, were homosexuals due to a kind of inverted sentiment that women were 'soft' and corrupting, whereas the company of men was virile, etc...
Enrnst Roehm, the brownshirt leader, was murdered in the night of the "Long Knives" in what amounted to an homosexual orgy. However, Hitler did not order the murder of Roehm and his crew for that; it was because Roehm was the revolutionary element in the now becoming respectable Nazi pary and Der Fuehrer was afraid his political radicalism would turn people off (Ian Kershaw: "Hitler 1936-1945: Hubris")
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| noel | Thanks for that URL JohnH. How about a vote on the Gay Bishop. For or against and why?
I say for, because to deny the existence of gays would be to deny history, it would discourage more gay clergy from coming out and it would send a message that the church has entered the 20th century. |
| LDunlop76 | quote:
Originally posted by JohnH
quote:
Originally posted by noel
How about a vote on the Gay Bishop. For or against and why?
I say for - purely because of the way the elected bishop here in Reading was forced to stand-down. Whether it's one's nationality, skin colour, religious beliefs or sexuality being questioned it still amounts to discrimination!
I agree with JohnH. Considering Christ said "love thy neighbour as thyself", there didn't seem to be a lot of that about for the chap who had to stand down as bishop elect for Reading. What happened to practising what you preach? |
| Caroline | There is no 'normal' . Better to change it to 'usual' sexuality , only because the majority is heterosexual. I made sure that , should either of my children grow up to be homosexual, they would feel that this was as much of a natural orientation as being attracted to the opposite sex. When he was 12 my son announced ' I've decided, Mum, I'm not going to be gay when I'm older' !!!! |
| dampslad | A quote for you:-
Heterosexuality isn't normal. It's just common!
Colin Damp
Plymouth |