Timminz wrote:Looking at the poll, I'm honestly SHOCKED by the majority view here. I couldn't take the time to read the entire 77 pages, but could someone summarize for me? Is this bigoted view due to religious fear of not having members procreate, thus increasing the number of believers, or is it just closeted gays being afraid of themselves and not being able to accept homosexuality on the grounds of "It might tempt me"?
All of the above, ranging from those who honestly believe that the Bible considers this to be a sin above most others and a true threat to the just plain bigoted idiots who need no more reason than it makes them feel "yucky". In general, these people make it quite clear they have never met any real homsexuals (that they know of) .. and are perfectly willing to believe the most outrageous stereotypes.
You also have a large number of more "middle of the roaders" who sincerely believe homosexuality is sin by the Bible or otherwise not an appropriate lifestyle (whether they believe it is learned or biological), who would not necessarily be outwardly cruel to a homosexual person, but who just feel that legalizing the unions would somehow give an endorsement they don't want. Many of these know or suspect they know at least one homosexual.
On the other ("pro") side, you have generally the opinion that allowing it won't harm us, that whether we "like"/agree with homosexuality or not, not allowing marriage or civil union causes more harm that good. And generally, that the reason for supporting it are similar to the reasons for supporting marriage in general (better families, legal easments of inheritances, etc.).
Personally, I fit in that last groupt. I believe the Old Testament Bible does consider homosexuality sin, but also that we are to be non-judgemental and that overall, homosexuality is no more harmful (spiritually, perhaps less) than other religions and so forth. In my case, I am not 100% convinced but what this might be a rule that Christ made irrelevant ... but overall, my feeling is that there is enough question to leave this issue to God and not people to judge.
There are a lot of variations, but that is a basic BRIEF summary.
