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Originally posted by Darkslash
So, SpiritWolf, to recap what you're saying:
[list][*]I, because I for any reason oppose the agenda of the American gay community, am a bigot.[*]Because I refer to the trend as an "agenda" (since it is being forced through courts rather than legislated as it should be) am therefore a sheep who has fallen prey to propagandists.
For even assuming there is an "agenda" is an ignorant and intolerant acceptance of homophobic propaganda. Assuming you're referring to the famous "gay agenda" sites which make all these absurd claims about how gay people are responsible for AIDS, how they try to recruit children, etc.
There is no mysterious gay conspiracy. Quite simply, gay people want to be able to marry the people they love, and don't want to be treated poorly for their sexual orientation. There's no hidden insidious "agenda" there.
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[*]The pro-gay message is "unbiased" and "supported by research" while I am simply making homophobic religious arguments because I feel like being biased and bigoted.
I don't know why you're doing it, you'll have to tell me that yourself. I never assumed your motives, I simply said your comments were homophobic and bigoted.
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[*]While you can give emotionally-based arguments and clever interpretations of our civil rights laws, I cannot base my opinion on any religious principle (which, by the way, you've assumed I do... this is not the case)
The only case you can make for there being anything wrong with homosexuality is that "the Bible says it's a sin." Even this case is questionable, as I know many Christians who feel differently. There are no cases you can make in the realm of science or social stability against gay marriage or homosexuals. And when a law is to apply to everyone then that's what it should be based on, ultimately. It's unfair to enforce the rules of a single religion on the entire public when not everyone practices said religion. Again, do you feel atheists should not be allowed to marry as well?
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[*]You feel your intolerance of my opinions (and your very personal vitriol) are "justified."
Claiming I'm being intolerant by pointing out your own intolerance is a weak argument. I'd assume you're against racism. Would you consider that (being against racism) unfair intolerance as well?
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Really, you must realize it is difficult to have an honest debate about any subject when one goes about slinging such mud.
The mudslinging began when you started bringing false, biased propaganda into the debate. I'm simply pointing out that such views are incredibly close-minded and based on false pretenses.
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I don't need a "religious" or "moral" argument to oppose the extension of privileges to people whose behavior I don't approve of. It's really that simple. I don't believe we've somehow had it wrong for thousands of years.
Can you give me a non-religious argument for why you don't approve of their behavior though? I'm assuming that if you're a Christian, you also don't approve of the behavior of not believing in God. Do you think it should be illegal to be an atheist as well? Do you think everyone in this country should be forced to practice your religion regardless of their own beliefs?
And don't give me the "It's old so it must be right," argument about marriage. Marriage has changed a great deal throughout history. It is not at all the same as it was when the Bible was written, or even the same as it was 20 years ago. Rituals change in accordance with society. Additionally, you keep conveniently ignoring the fact that legal marriage and religious marriage are two seperate things. And lastly, if something being consistently the same for a long period of history makes it "right" then perhaps we should reinstate slavery and the possession of women as property? Those are very old and consistent practices which have only recently been abolished.