Quote:
Originally Posted by Shasown
In answer to some of your points
1)You say "The Church", which church do you refer to?
2) So why is it so important for gay people to have their union blessed by some geezer in a frock
3) They arent, they do not enforce anything on anyone, people arent kept tethered to a particular religion, if you dont like one particualr religion go and find another one that suits you, if you need a religion.
4) Thats a traditional role in the Upper House, they dont actually carry a lot of power and have to abstain in certain debates and votes.
5) I hope as a humanist you hold the same values for everyone, does that include someone who believes in a particular religion and lives his life by those rules but hasnt forced his beliefs on anyone, nor criticised others for their lifestyles or beliefs?
|
1) In the past 2000 or so years, the Rome Based church has been most effective at eliminating all other alternative views, even within it's own sphere. Where are the Cathars and the Gnostics now?
2) Link this to 5 also. There are some Gay Christians who would want their union to be blessed by their Church.
3) Spiritual organisations do indeed weild a considerable amount of influence within society. They also receive many benefits not due to other secular organisations. The British culture is essentially a christian one, even though very few people nowadays are active christians; most cultural and societal norms have christiani values as their source, Christian leaders exert an undue influence over how we should think and act. Whether one likes or dislikes any particular belief is irrelevant. We are still expected to behave in a manner that is intrisincly christian in nature.
4) Here's one example, the Assisted Dying for the Terminally Ill Bill, all Anglican Bishops voted against it. I'd call that unrepresentative and undue influence.
5) As a Humanist, my views are my own. I'm willing to discuss those with anyone. I do not have the right to insist others should accept them, no more than any folower of superstition has the right to force their views on others. Sadly, most established superstitious organisations do not subscribe to this excellent approach. if a christian, for instance wants to discuss with me about any matter, I shall give appropriate respect to their views but this also means I don't have to buy into any specious nonsense about so called spiritual or established beliefs that offend and insult others.