eQualityThinking Panel: God and Gays

From Morality Versus Equality [67.102.229.193] - Mar. 23, 2011 6:36 PM

Often times, when people argue for the inclusion of LGBT people in the church, they do so in terms of "freedom," "rights," and "equality."

However, people who argue against inclusion do so in terms of morality.

Wouldn't it benefit LGBT faithful more to make the moral case for LGBT inclusion instead of the equality based case?

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From Kevin Jones [69.170.28.82] - Mar. 23, 2011 6:19 PM

[To any panelist]

It is encouraging to see movement in the recognition of same gender relationships - now accepted by a majority in the US.   To what extent do you think this a question of more people looking at equal rights (and separating church from state) -- and to what extent are LGBT identities and relationships now being viewed by more people as morally acceptable?

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From J Todd - Mar. 23, 2011 6:18 PM

There's a lot of focus on marriage, understandably.  But what position would these various religious groups have on equal inclusion of "sexual orientation and gender identity" under the Civil Rights Act and the various non-discrimination laws which already protect against discrimination based on "race, color, sex, national origin, and religion" in most aspects of society and government.  (i.e., employment, housing, fed programs, credit, etc., everything but marriage).

 

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From J Todd - Mar. 22, 2011 12:17 AM

I think the "separation of church and state" argument is used beyond the Constitutional provision, which is more precisely about the state not establishing a religion.   This doesn't foreclose religious institutions from participating in the public policy debate, nor should it.

But, preemptive of individual religious ideologies in America, is the notion of a shared civic duty to create space for all beliefs and people to live free from abuse from the other.  This is a mutual obligation we hold towards one-another in America in particular.

In this light, shouldn't we be simply saying to any religious view point in favor of discrimination:  

"You are violating the fundamental social compact by insisting on a point of view that harms someone else.    Your advocacy in this regard thus, violates your civic duty, and is inappropriate, period -- just as it would be a violation of our civic duty to advocate against your freedom of religion."

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From Sean M - Mar. 18, 2011 6:35 PM

For Rev. Gaddy:

Many translations of the Bible, if not all, say homosexuals must be put to death. Is this the word of the Lord? If not, why these faulty translations of the Bible are being sold?

(For a sample of different versions of the Bible that say that homosexuals must be put to death, check this article.)

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