In 50 years, Most Conservative Christian Churches will Disown their Unethical Stance of 2015

Time and time again throughout American history, conservative churches have stood on the side of barbaric biblical practices. These examples span a broad range of time and geography:

  • Witch burnings in Salem, MA (Exodus 22:18 "thou shalt not suffer a witch to live")

  • an extensive and well reasoned (biblically) defense of slavery http://docsouth.unc.edu/church/string/string.html 

  • Opposition to civil rights

  • Opposition to interracial marriage.

And most recently,

  • Opposition to Same Sex marriage.

For all but the most recent, support from churches in modern day America is unthinkable.  There may be a few, but they are seen as more radical and fringe than Westborough Baptist. 

I take great pleasure in the knowledge that like all these past immoral acts on behalf of a "God", in about 50 years, nearly all these churches will disown their former positions and claim they always supported equality. 

I derive a certain amount of glee from the knowledge that some day in the near future, their own religions will turn their back on conservative Christian leaders of today and pretend they didn't exist. 

Congratulations, America. 

Thought Experiment On Marriage

I'd like to engage you in a thought experiment, dear reader. Suppose for a moment that two people care deeply about each other and want to spend their lives together. Set aside your assumptions about the nature of their sexual relationship just for a moment (we'll come back to it); Let's assume they're not having sex.

These two people share common interests and views on the important things in their lives. It just so happens that they're the same gender, but that's hardly relevant because this isn't about sex, remember? They care for eachother like brothers or sisters. Such love and commitment is something we should all encourage and celebrate, right?

Now, I promised we'd come back to sex and I know some of you may be harboring a significant doubt or concern about the physical nature of this same-sex relationship.  Let's address the part about sex. I'm happily married to my wife for 14 years.    We have three young children. You might reasonably assume we've had sex, but you wouldn't dare to ask us about our sex life, right?  Because you understand that what consenting adults do in private of our bedroom is none of your goddamn business.

Same goes for homosexual couples. Mind your own fucking business.

Musings on LGBTQ Discrimination with the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA)

It's not the same as slavery. It's the same as  Jim Crow laws.  

Dear Christians: it's not a fucking "war." Nobody is trying to make churches illegal. The "war on Christianity" is an emotionally manipulative distortion of the truth meant to fire up your anger. Don't be played like a puppet. It's a lie. Lots of LGBTQ people are religious! (Sadly, IMO) 

Even the "scary evil" American Atheists and Freedom From Religion Foundation don't want churches to be illegal. They just want to defend our secular government so that the majority religion doesn't get preferential treatment. Just like it says in the first amendment and centuries of jurisprudence thereafter.  

 And frankly that's something even the most fervent religious zealot should agree with. Because the odds of our government picking THEIR particular sect of Christianity is vanishingly small. So the one government we all share must be fair and impartial.

Discrimination doesn't get a free pass for "minor" things like what events they'll cater or who gets to sit at the lunch counter. It doesn't matter if business owner is a bigot or a racist. That's the deal. If you want to run a for-profit business in this country, you follow the laws. And those include not acting on personal desires to discriminate. If you can't handle our country's antidiscrimination laws, Don't open a business!

The "Religious Freedom Restoration Act" is unconstitutional. Plain and simple. It's Jim Crow for LGBTQ community. And before you say, "But blacks can't hide their black identity and people can't tell who is LGBTQ!"   Remember that LGBTQ people shouldn't have to hide their identity.  Don't Ask Don't Tell is gone for a reason. It was discriminatory. When a gay or lesbian couple is out together, their identity is obvious. And they shouldn't have to hide it to avoid religions discrimination.