Is homosexuality an important religious issue?

[crash]

I have experienced spiritual activity personally.

Jesus wept...

Train crash. I want to look away, but I want to hear all about it too...

Look away, crash, look away!

[Duchess]

[Duchess]

I don't view Westboro Baptist as a godly congregation, I view them as fucked up individuals.

[crash]

Yeah...but they think they are. They think their religion, their spirituality is righteous and perfect and far superior to everybody else's. There's just less of them compared to the big organisations..

[aussiefriend]

Wouldn't it be nice if a bus or a white van turned up and men in white jackets turned up and walked each one of them off? One by one whilst they are holding their placard mouthing off yelling out, and the men in their white jackets are just saying "yes, yes" and appeasing them, as they are taken back to an institution and a controlled environment, and appropriately sedated of course.

[Duchess]

Yeah...but they think they are.

Yeah. Sometimes I'm surprised no one has tried to take out their leader.

They were hanging outside a college over the weekend protesting that college kid who just came out but the kids put up a "wall of love".

[crash]

If you're going to start institutionalising on religious grounds, this could get interesting...and you're gonna need more institutions.

[aussiefriend]

I believe that they are undiagnosed and require sedation and a strong antipsychotic, a course of electroconvulsive therapy may prove beneficial too of course. If all else fails bring back the lobotomy.

[crash]

I'm sure they too could stand there all day, and truthfully (I say truthfully on the basis that they are solemnly convinced that they are not telling lies, just like Loosey Loo) and tell you how they have experienced spiritual activity, personally..

[aussiefriend]

That is a very weak attempt to link me with them. They are highly self righteous/hysterical/dangerous and how on earth could they be in touch with their spiritual side? Don't take my word for it, take someone like Deepak Chopra, would someone like him, who is quite an advanced soul and respected teacher, would he assess them as 'spiritual', based on evidence of their actions? I think not.

I am always searching for truth and open to learning and growing. I always listen to everyone's point of view, I think everyone can contribute to that discussion even the atheists.

[Duchess]

Awhile ago I watched something about Westboro Baptist, it might have been 60 Minutes, and their bullshit is ingrained in their children at a very young age. I viewed it as brainwashing.

[crash]

That is a very weak attempt to link me with them. They are highly self righteous/hysterical/dangerous and how on earth could they be in touch with their spiritual side? Don't take my word for it, take someone like Deepak Chopra, would someone like him, who is quite an advanced soul and respected teacher, would he assess them as 'spiritual', based on evidence of their actions? I think not.

I am always searching for truth and open to learning and growing. I always listen to everyone's point of view, I think everyone can contribute to that discussion even the atheists.

No. I didn't make any attempt to link you to the Westboro Baptists at all. I was using them as an extreme example of spiritual belief. And the fact is, that is something you have in common, though in my book, that doesn't mean you're linked.

Spiritual belief is all about perspective; you think your spirituality is righteous and they are crazy and full of shit. They think the same of people of your disposition..

I think you're both full of shit and spirituality is a useless, manipulative tool...

ETA: I also want to say that I'm sure the Westboroans don't have a very high opinion of Deepak either. See how this works?

[aussiefriend]

No, from an academic perspective, the way you presented it was a direct link. Maybe you didn't realise it. I would argue that their behaviour is not indicative of spiritual expression but rather uniformed fear. Their perspective is limited. I actually would be open to listening to them, however 'if you want people money for people with minds that hate, all I can tell you brother is that you'll have to wait' (Lennon).

[crash]

Why do you always have to quote somebody who you think is important or impressive (dalai llama, ghandi, Lennon, Chopra blah blah..) what's wrong with Loosey Loo's words?

Sorry to disappoint you, but I am an academic. I hold a PhD. I have, and continue to lecture (there you go fuckers, some PI for you to tear to bits) and I see it as an example, a commonality. A fucking weak link at a stretch. You are doing more to build a direct link to support your opposing argument..

[HairOfTheDog]

If you're going to start institutionalising on religious grounds, this could get interesting...and you're gonna need more institutions.

Exactly.

Institutionalizing people and assuming they're mentally ill because what they believe is offensive to most and they wanna spread their beliefs is an archaic intolerant ideal.

There would be no need for rights guaranteeing freedom of religion and speech if everyone agreed.

The Westboro members are narrowed-minded, hateful, weird, attention-seekers, IMO. But, they don't even come close to ranking with the worst of the religious extremists - they use words and pickets to target individuals and groups whom they view as sinners - not violence and murder.

I don't abide by any religious doctrine telling me to love all of my fellow men, or turn the other cheek, or anything like that. I don't need one. I think rational people (religious and otherwise) handle the Westboro group just fine. Speak out against them if you disagree with their beliefs, words and actions. Build a rainbow house right across the street from their gay-bashing base if you oppose their lack of tolerance towards homosexuals. Join together and form a wall of unity or "love" if they target a group to which you belong - deprive them of the power to divide and incite reciprocal hate.

Medicate and put them away because their beliefs are offensive to most? Nah. People don't have to be mentally ill to be narrow-minded, hateful and weird. You're right, you'd need a hell of a lot of beds to put everyone who exhibited those characteristics away (especially if it was the most rigidly judgmental among us - many of whom make those judgments based on religious or "spiritual" interpretation - determining who deserved to be denied their rights and held against their will).

We don't have enough room to accommodate those who ask for help because they know they're having mental health issues and pose a physical danger to themselves and others. Save or add the beds for them.

[aussiefriend]

Sorry to disappoint you, but I am an academic. I hold a PhD. I have, and continue to lecture (there you go fuckers, some PI for you to tear to bits) and I see it as an example, a commonality. A fucking weak link at a stretch. You are doing more to build a direct link to support your opposing argument..

Got to admit, I did raise my eyebrows to that. I hope it's not one of the PhDs you get online. I agree a fucking weak link indeed. You were trying to link it. You know it, own it Dr Crash.

[crash]

I agree a fucking weak link indeed. You were trying to link it. You know it, own it Dr Crash.

Oh come on, Loosey, you can do better than semantics and plays on words..

I have no problem owning my shit when I need to. As a matter of fact, I just had a massive, almost tear jerking shit.

I was thinking what all the religious and spiritual beacons of the world would make of it..

I think the pope would marvel at gods ability to create a digestive system that could produce such a shit..

Ghandi would have no problem with it as long as I didn't wipe my ass with my right hand and there was no cow in it..

Buddha wouldn't care what was in it as long as I didn't lay it where my fellow man could step in it, unless I was prepared to step in his too..

The dalai llama would think that if my neighbour did step in it, I should be there to clean his feet..

Mohammed has no problem at all if anyone steps in it and slips and breaks their neck. 25 Virgin for that man for his sacrifice..

The Flying Spaghetti Monster would be impressed at his contribution to such a beautiful, big shit

The Westboroans would think it was my body purging me of all the shit you've served up to me tonight..

And me, well I just think it's my body getting rid of more useless shit I don't need.

[Duchess]

Poop is better left unsaid...just sayin'.

[aussiefriend]

Ahhh the male of the species and the fascination with spending extended-longer-than-needed-vast-amounts-of-time on the dunny. So that's what you do.

[crash]

I forgot the boss lady..

The boss lady, well she thinks that no matter which God you now to, it still all comes down to the shit..