Is Being Christian a Choice?
Whenever equal rights for gays comes up, many liberals invoke the "Gays are the new Blacks" approach, and point to the Civil Rights Movement as a template for what's happening now. For many reasons, the two are not the same, unless one wishes to take the argument to a very simple form (and lose I might add).
But a far dumber argument is the Conservative Christian credo that being gay is a choice. As a result, we have seen a spike in progressive research to prove that being Gay is genetic. This research is pointless to the current conversation in America, because Conservatives will not believe any scientific finding (on any subject) unless it agrees with them. To anyone who can fairly weigh the supposed choice of being gay or being straight in America, no science is necessary to understand that the origins of "gayness" are not in the realm of free will.
Many people on both sides feel that if their particular view on this "Choice" vs. "Genetics" argument were vindicated with research, then the other side would crumble. But I have to tell you, this is the most absurd train of thought, for either a Conservative fundamentalist, or for the secular liberal.
Let's take the concept that being gay is hardwired into the brain at birth as fact for the moment. In this case, you could replace the word gay with the word "black" and then use this as a meter for polite behavior and law. But I offer a better argument than this, and one I want you all to use the next time you discuss this issue with your Fundie friends and family.
Let's GIVE THEM that being gay is a choice. Let's just assume, when discussing this issue, that a person reaches a certain age and decides that the gay lifestyle will somehow be more advantageous than the straight lifestyle. Shut your brain down when it tries to leap out of your skull at the absurdity of this view. Just offer this question...."Is Being Christian A CHOICE?"
The answer to this question is obvious. And since partaking in any organized religion is a matter of choice, then we can follow with these questions: Should Christians have the same protection as non-Christians in hiring and firing practices? Should Christians have equal protection under US Contract Laws (i.e. marriage laws)? Should Christians have equal rights in all national laws, and be protected under the US Constitution from discrimination????????
And being Christian is a choice, correct??? And being gay is a choice, correct??? And you can be Christian and an American, correct???? And you can be gay and an American, correct?????
Oophless wonders........
But a far dumber argument is the Conservative Christian credo that being gay is a choice. As a result, we have seen a spike in progressive research to prove that being Gay is genetic. This research is pointless to the current conversation in America, because Conservatives will not believe any scientific finding (on any subject) unless it agrees with them. To anyone who can fairly weigh the supposed choice of being gay or being straight in America, no science is necessary to understand that the origins of "gayness" are not in the realm of free will.
Many people on both sides feel that if their particular view on this "Choice" vs. "Genetics" argument were vindicated with research, then the other side would crumble. But I have to tell you, this is the most absurd train of thought, for either a Conservative fundamentalist, or for the secular liberal.
Let's take the concept that being gay is hardwired into the brain at birth as fact for the moment. In this case, you could replace the word gay with the word "black" and then use this as a meter for polite behavior and law. But I offer a better argument than this, and one I want you all to use the next time you discuss this issue with your Fundie friends and family.
Let's GIVE THEM that being gay is a choice. Let's just assume, when discussing this issue, that a person reaches a certain age and decides that the gay lifestyle will somehow be more advantageous than the straight lifestyle. Shut your brain down when it tries to leap out of your skull at the absurdity of this view. Just offer this question...."Is Being Christian A CHOICE?"
The answer to this question is obvious. And since partaking in any organized religion is a matter of choice, then we can follow with these questions: Should Christians have the same protection as non-Christians in hiring and firing practices? Should Christians have equal protection under US Contract Laws (i.e. marriage laws)? Should Christians have equal rights in all national laws, and be protected under the US Constitution from discrimination????????
And being Christian is a choice, correct??? And being gay is a choice, correct??? And you can be Christian and an American, correct???? And you can be gay and an American, correct?????
Oophless wonders........
posted by Oophless Wonder at 12:06 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home