Posted: May 15, 2012 2:24 am
Lion IRC wrote:Q & A ROUND
Q. 5
My last question of the round is about bigotry. And it’s a question arising from my despair at how people, who take the position I do in debates like these, are so quickly and so frequently dismissed as nothing but homophobes and in the case of same sex marriage proponents who are atheists, the additional charge labeled against me is that my opposition to same sex marriage (and adoption) is solely based on religion.
Now I don’t regard myself as homophobic. And although the Moderators, thankfully, have allowed my posts to proceed (presumably in compliance with this forum’s strict policy and rigorous Moderation to preventing homophobic content,) I would like to ask if you could give a personal opinion about the degree to which my posts thus far have been or otherwise NOT been overtly “homophobic” in nature.
Perhaps you could let me know if you thought I was camouflaging some hidden hatred too well for you to identify any specific examples or maybe you think I was accidentally saying stuff you think reflects homophobia or maybe you actually wish to come out and make a formal accusation with an example.
That’s my invitation and my question.
Well that depends on what you mean by homophobia. Usually when I see it thrown around this discussion board it is used to mean a hatred of gay people or homosexuality. I don't think you hate gay people. And I'm none too pleased that you apparently assume that I do.
What I think your posts in this debate have made very clear is that you feel threatened by gay people. That you feel threatened by gay marriage. Frankly, I think it scares the shit out of you.
What does two blokes or two chicks getting married seem to mean to you? It apparently means that folks will also be marrying 12 year olds. It means that disease and dysfunction will be rampant. It means that Glee will be flamboyant. It means that your lawyers friends will be run off their feet. It means that everyone will stop having children and the human species will cease to exist!
These are all your words, Lion (not your exact words; settle down). And I think the thing that must really scare you, the thing that must keep you awake at night, is that it is going to be legal in Australia in your lifetime. And you're going to have to deal with it. So perhaps a couple of dudes getting hitched will affect you. But it won't be their fault. It will be entirely yours.
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For my final question, I would like to draw your attention to something that you said to another member in a PM.
Lion, you once said...
Lion IRC wrote:Hi CookieJon,
Scripture affords me the understanding that some people are born gay - made that way by God.
It does not however afford me - as far as I can prayerfully discern - the ability to see gay marriage as something God approves of. I'm sorry we dont agree on that. Maybe thats because I dont as yet understand His Word as well as I ought to and for that reason I wont ever stop asking Him.
Peace be with you.
Lion (IRC)
(my underline)
So my question is this...
Q. If He was to answer you and say that gay marriage is ok, would you support same-sex marriage in spite of all of the arguments that you have presented? Yes or no please.
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Edit: Lion has asked that I reproduce the entirety of his PM. In case you can't spot the additions, I have added the salutation "Hi Cookiejon," and the farewell "Peace be with you. Lion (IRC)".