Homosexuality

[Joseph27]

dunnoleh:

Your belief in acts of personal indiscretion being a lesser crime than not allowing the chance to free thought is a misguided one. Today’s world provides sufficient evidence to learn that free thoughts are largely misguided, somewhat similar to a young girl breaking her daddy's wallet.

In contrast to your belief, to deny my children of the chance to inculcate good moral values would be a terrible crime on my part; to condone acts of personal indiscretion committed out of free will is unthinkable, notwithstanding my forgiveness.

Let me just clarify this in the context in which it was written - I attempt to inculcate to my daughters a strong sense of moral values albeit without any religious providence, a love of the environment, respect for other people, respect for yourself and a thirst for knowledge. That, I believe, is a great foundation from which to pursue all other interests and activities. My wife and I are a happily functional monogamous couple and we interact in a social group of similarly minded people, some religious some not. The statement that I could tolerate an indiscretion more than I could, my wife demanding that our daughters follow a strict version of Islam is based on the overall world view we currently share and having that attacked by religious fundamentalism. In the end my wife isn’t about to ask for that. I am sure my wife would have a similar repulsion if I came home and started to teach our daughters that evolution is false and that the world is only 6000 years old – that would be an attack on our family as much as anything. In time I could forgive an indiscretion through counseling and dialogue – I could not however forgive anyone asking me to change the way I teach my children and getting me to teach them something I hold as false.

[Joseph27]

insider:

Joseph27:

I attempt to inculcate to my daughters a strong sense of moral values albeit without any religious providence, a love of the environment, respect for other people, respect for yourself and a thirst for knowledge. That, I believe, is a great foundation from which to pursue all other interests and activities.

I can see clearly where you are coming from though I am a devoted Buddhist myself.

Much as it seems like you are 'anti-religion', I don't take offence of it at all coz I know exactly who I am and you can have your point of view too.

Though I see the beauty of Buddhism and ever experienced the light of mercy, I cannot expect my kids to feel the same and impose on them that coz I believe, you have to believe to.

I can only share with them and live my life as kind and as compassionate as I can, then it's up to my three kids to go explore for themselves what they want or they can be an atheist if they so decide. I do not think a lack of religion will lead someone without any moral compass coz I have faith in them as a human, with or without religion.

Buddha said it long ago that his followers are not to take very word written literally coz he had already foreseen some of his words might be twisted by men. He taught us to keep observing and keep thinking (with our hearts) and we are free to discard / dispute anything written if some things do not make sense to us (of course, best to only discard after we have counseling sessions with the learned monks).

For real Buddhist monks and nuns, they have daily 'debate' sessions to question/challenge the teachings of Buddha. Through such debates, they can think and see more thoroughly the actual meanings of those teachings and from there, perhaps can internalise better instead of just practise in a superficial way coz one can never attain enlightenment without deep reflections...

That was a nice reply, thanks for taking the time to write it.

[blurkotoko]

Being a Christian, I think it is more of the ACT of the homosexuality that is a sin, being a homesexual isn't. It is just like we are angry with the act of our children but not angry at the child.


It is the orientation of a person, but if he choose to act according to it, that is a sin. IMHO. :celebrate:

[Joseph27]

blurkotoko:

Being a Christian, I think it is more of the ACT of the homosexuality that is a sin, being a homesexual isn't. It is just like we are angry with the act of our children but not angry at the child.


It is the orientation of a person, but if he choose to act according to it, that is a sin. IMHO. :celebrate:

Are any sexual acts within the confines of a marriage also a sin? How about between boyfriend and girlfriend? How about the girl is of greek decent and is partial to enjoying activities attributed by racial stereotyping... is that a sin?

[blurkotoko]

An act that is wrong is still wrong, whether it is done inside marriage or outside marriage, whether it is homosexuals or heterosexual. Like I have mentioned previously, I feel that the act of it, in the context of my religion, that is a sin, to others it is merely something wrong. Peace out.

[Nebbermind]

Joseph27:

Are any sexual acts within the confines of a marriage also a sin? How about between boyfriend and girlfriend? How about the girl is of greek decent and is partial to enjoying activities attributed by racial stereotyping... is that a sin?

If there's no faith or religion, then what is sin? :?
GOODNESS is only a figment of your imagination, ya?

[Joseph27]

Nebbermind:

Joseph27:

Are any sexual acts within the confines of a marriage also a sin? How about between boyfriend and girlfriend? How about the girl is of greek decent and is partial to enjoying activities attributed by racial stereotyping... is that a sin?

If there's no faith or religion, then what is sin? :?
GOODNESS is only a figment of your imagination, ya?

I was more so mocking a concept rather than espousing belief in faith and the concept of sin... the very notion that a god created all of this some 10 billion or so years ago, that that god then started the process of making earth and slowly populating it despite having to eradicate 99.9% of all species that at some point lived on the planet, that that god gave a set of rules based on a very dicey set of principals that demonstrated its jealous streak. A god that sent his only begotten son via a virgin to be a blood sacrifice, that he then spoke to a guy in a mountain and that led us all to this time - so you had better not stick your penis where it doesnt belong or that god will be angry.

The very concept of a personal god caring about your sex life is beyond my comprehension.

[blurkotoko]

Joseph27, I supposed you have had some bad experience with Christianity? Why not all of us focus on the topic instead?

[Joseph27]

blurkotoko:

Joseph27, I supposed you have had some bad experience with Christianity? Why not all of us focus on the topic instead?

I was focusing on it and lashing out against attacks on homosexual behaviour based on very dubious religious text. Lets face the new testament doesnt even mention homsexuality; if we disregard the complete lack of evidence and actually take Jesus as god - then the lack of condemnation of homosexuality should be noted and a christian background shouldnt be cited. People should be honest and simply say 'I hate gay people because they put their penises in the wrong place and it makes me feel uncomfortable\". I can appreciate that more than I can - I hate gays because Jesus said its wrong. :celebrate:

[grandevou]

Dear parents.


We can argue religion all day long to no conclusion - everyone has their own opinion. I personally have no problem with religion. I mean, believing in God, whether if he (or she?) exists or not, if it helps you, there is nothing wrong with it. If it helps you live life more meaningfully and more fruitfully, good for you.

However, when people use religion to demean, to cheapen and to degrade people, that is WRONG. How do you have it in your heart to insult sons and daughters of other parents, who are gay, and who are struggling with finding out who they are. I shudder to think the many teens who struggle with this very important part of them being told "no" and that living who they are is "wrong" in places which they should feel most comfortable in - in their homes, places of worships and congregations. Remember, a child is listening.

I couldn’t care less if someone was gay personally. As long as their nice, honest and kind people who contribute to society, they’re a million times better than that straight alcoholic gambler who stumbles home each night.

No child is born a bigot. However, as children are impressionable, they learn from the people around them. Perhaps instead of criticizing our generation, parents like yourself need to remember who raised our generation.

As a Singaporean teenager, I have been very thankful to have loving parents, who though are divorced, love me so much and have thought me how to live as an individual.

Let me break it down for you - the three things any parent needs to provide to their children.

1. Unconditional love
2. Respect for them which will develop into mutual respect
3. Teach them to be kind, honest and loving individuals.

Good grades are nothing. Seriously, if you raise a kid without garnering respect and kindness, to put it crudely, just dump you as they go on living their glamorous lives. As long as you have these three, they’ll be with you through the course of your life.