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Baptists denies gay marriage is civil rights issue

EagleAye

EagleAye

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Civil rights are rights for the people. So when a Baptist church says that gay marriage is NOT an issue of civil rights, are they saying that gays are not people?

NEW ORLEANS — A day after electing their first African American president in a historic move that strives to erase its legacy of racism, Southern Baptists passed a resolution opposing the idea that same-sex marriage is a civil rights issue.

Thousands of delegates at the denomination's annual meeting in New Orleans were nearly unanimous Wednesday in supporting the resolution that affirms their belief that marriage is "the exclusive union of one man and one woman" and that "all sexual behavior outside of marriage is sinful."

The resolution acknowledges that gays and lesbians sometimes experience "unique struggles," but it says they lack the "distinguishing features of classes entitled to special protections." The resolution includes a statement that the Baptist group stands against "any form or gay-bashing, whether disrespectful attitudes, hateful rhetoric, or hate-incited actions."

"It is regrettable that homosexual rights activists and those who are promoting the recognition of ‘same-sex marriage' have misappropriated the rhetoric of the Civil Rights Movement," the resolution states.
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Southern Baptists: Gay rights aren't civil rights
 
I think the Convention explained their position quite adequately.
 
washunut said:
While we may not agree with their stance, it is probably better not to question other religions unless they are hurting others.
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Deny that a group's rights are civil rights sounds like injury to me.
 
These two statement are contradictory: "The resolution includes a statement that the Baptist group stands against "any form or gay-bashing, whether disrespectful attitudes, hateful rhetoric, or hate-incited actions." The Rev. Dwight McKissic, pastor of Cornerstone Baptist Church in Arlington said, "they're equating their sin with my skin". That statement runs counter to the prohibition against disrespectful attitudes toward gays....are gay people "less than" "people of color"?
 
washunut said:
While we may not agree with their stance, it is probably better not to question other religions unless they are hurting others.
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They ARE hurting others.... so..
 
washunut said:
They can't deny anyone's rights.
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Sorry but that is incorrect. They are part of the religious right, which is the GOP.. and they have been trying to deny rights of people for decades... including homosexuals.
 
washunut said:
They can't deny anyone's rights.
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They're advocating some people are less "equal" than themselves. Even if racism or sexism is relegated to just words, it's still an attack. This is commonly understood. Likewise, these mere "words" directed at gays are an attack.
 
:roll: how interesting. It looks like the Baptist Conference is more open and tolerant of those who express alternate viewpoints than their detractors.
 

Bull, They are saying that their god wouldn't make Gay Folk, so it is chosen sinfull behavour. They are effen morons, of course Gay rights are civil rights. Of course in this secutarian country, they have every right to be effen morons. :doh :peace
washunut said:
While we may not agree with their stance, it is probably better not to question other religions unless they are hurting others.
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They are completely free to make that determination for their own religion if they want.

Hell, if a religion wanted to say that interfaith marriages wasn't a civil rights issue, I say let them. And if they enforced this by not performing marriages or recognizing marriages between two people not of their religion, that is completely their right. In fact, there are at least a few religions that will not wed interfaith couples (both spouses must be of the church).

In a legal sense though, they would be incorrect, whether they like it or not. Baptists were definitely among those church groups that felt that interracial marriage was also not a civil rights issue and it came down to basically the same thing, "they are trying to equate their behaviors/attractions, which are wrong/sins in the eyes of God, to skin color, they just aren't the same thing". After all, a person is choosing who they want to marry, whether the characteristic that is considered wrong between them and their chosen mate is skin color, sex/gender, faith, or even economic class level or IQ level.

That is the issue most are missing when it comes to same sex marriage. Either you are saying the attraction is the issue, and therefore no one or everyone should be allowed to choose who they marry based on attraction, or the characteristic that sets the couple apart, relative races, sexes, faiths, etc, is the issue which makes it within the realm of a civil rights issue.
 
washunut said:
While we may not agree with their stance, it is probably better not to question other religions unless they are hurting others.
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Sorry, but ridiculous beliefs deserve to be ridiculed. If they keep the beliefs to themselves and don't try to convince others of them, then I'll keep my mouth shut. But if they decide to exercise their Constitutional right to free speech then I am going to exercise mine right back. I see no reason why religious beliefs should be treated differently than other types of beliefs, such as political ones.
 
I live in the heart of Baptist country. In most towns around here the largest non-governmental building is the Baptist Church. Day to day they are nice enough folks. They do have a series of rather quirky leaders that make interesting pronouncements.

A few years ago the leadership decided wives should submit to their husband's wishes. I had some fun with that, demanding my wife SUBMIT. Her responses ran the gambit of obscene to 'we are out of forms Duck Honey'. :doh

I look at most religious sects the same way I do the Muslims. Most Muslims are decent enough, it is a few so-called religious leaders who muck it up. Yeah some parishioners are as crazy as outhouse rats but most just shrug and ask where is the harm to me in something like gay marriage as they did interracial.

It doesn't show southern traditions in their best light but Baptists are no different than other groups across the nation. The Catholic Leadership, when not in court attempting to avoid jailtime/monetary judgments over pedophile priests, pushes a strong anti-gay agenda. Thankfully most parishioners ignore those missives as they do in regards to contraception.

Bless their leedle hearts, the anti-gay 'religious' leaders just can't help themselves. I just look to the hope that Americans will stop and think on this and any other topic the Preacherman feels the need to comment on.
 
PeteEU said:
Sorry but that is incorrect. They are part of the religious right, which is the GOP.. and they have been trying to deny rights of people for decades... including homosexuals.
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So you know for a fact there are no Dems who are Baptist? I'd like proof of that fact. Thanks.


IMO, if the church you're attending doesn't match your views, pick another. There are 450+ religions "out there" - pick one.
 
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Your Star said:
Not according to Citizens United :prof

**** the SCOTUS
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false. it is still the individuals that were recognized as having lost their rights in that decision.
 
EagleAye said:
Silly rebuttal. Groups are composed of individuals aren't they? So if you deny rights to a group you've denied rights to the individuals within the group.
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the right belongs to the individual though, not the group.
 
cpwill said:
:roll: how interesting. It looks like the Baptist Conference is more open and tolerant of those who express alternate viewpoints than their detractors.
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Not really. I don't condemn the belief that homosexuality is a sin against God as a sin. Nor do I contend that the right to believe that homosexuality is a sin isn't a civil right.
 
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