"Here's what I see as a big issue:”
Of all things that you could be concerned about, war, famine, disease, genocide, rape, racism, addiction, drug-wars, domestic violence, the big issue to you is what two consenting adults are doing with their genitals. Kudos on your magnificent priorities.
”A minority of people (Sodemites, and yes, that's what they are according to the Bible, hate crime law or not!)
”
Actually no. A “Sodomite” is someone who lived in the (likely mythical) city of Sodom. Just as a “Gamorite” lived in the (equally likely mythical) city of Gamorah, a “Clevelander” lives in the (possibly mythical, as well) city of Cleveland, and a “Glaswegian” lives in the (not mythical, but we can hope) city of Glasgow. The Bible makes no claim that the word “Sodomite” is synonymous with “homosexual,” it was thousands of years later than Western cultures made that linguistic connection; you claiming the Bible establishes this definition reveals how little you truly know about the book you claim to follow.
Besides, even today, “Sodomite” does not really refer to a homosexual. It refers to one who practices anal sex. You would be surprised how many heterosexual people meet that criteria
”
are trying to slowly take away the freedoms we've had for several hundred years.”
What freedoms are “they” trying to take away? Are they trying to take away your freedom to get married? No. To practice your religion? No. To live where you like? No.
The “freedom” you claim is being “taken away” is your “freedom” to spread hatred and to incite violence against a group of people who have never done anything to you. You have the freedom to live your life how you please as long as it does not hurt others. So do homosexuals. They do not “hurt” you merely by existing; you are not damaged by being required to allow them the same basic rights and freedoms that you enjoy.
”Whether people want to admitt it or not, these people have an agenda, and unfortunatly they find people willing to help them in our government it seems.”
“These people?” You seem to be under some strange impression that homosexuals are organized better than the Republican Party. Hate to break it to you, but that just isn’t so. Their “agenda” consists of them wanting the same civil and legal rights that heterosexuals enjoy, rights that are theirs by the Constitution. They are American citizens; we shouldn’t even be having this conversation.
You do realize that once you allow one group to be marginalized and persecuted, it’s only a matter of time before you are marginalized and persecuted. Christians should be fighting for equal rights for all, not attempting to deny them.
”I haven't looked into this bill too deeply,”
Then you are not qualified to speak on it.
”
but my pastor did read it from the pulpit and had a petition available for us to sign
”
Ah, I see. If you pastor says it’s so, then it must be so. You sure he isn’t a false prophet? You willing to stake you eternal soul on that? Apparently you see no need to actually check into these things for yourself. May I direct you to 2 Thessalonians 5:21, “Test everything. Hold on to the good.” Are you certain that what your pastor says is good? Have you tested it? It sure doesn’t sound like you have. Ironic that the T4C and IFB churches denounce the Catholic church in part because the Catholic church submits to the total authority of a human being, the Pope, yet you yourself are submitting totally to the authority and wisdom of a human being: your pastor.
I sure hope your pastor is right, for your sake, because your church teaches that if you are following a faulty teacher, you will burn in hell for all eternity.
”
(and I signed it buddy, you better believe it!)”
So you do everything your pastor tells you to. Why don’t you just call him “Il Papa” and get it over with?
”
and what he read gave me cause to worry.”
You only read what he gives you. You know the Catholic church did the exact same thing, controlling the information given to the congregants, for 1200 years. You claim this was the result of the Satanic origin of the Catholic church. Why are you doing the exact same thing?
”Even if, as you say, this bill doesn't prohibit us from condeming homosexuality, or preaching against it, That time is pressing ever closer, and that means we need to be on guard.”
Preventing you legally from condemning something you disagree with would require massive revisions of the US Constitution, and that’s just not going to happen. You are safe from being forced to wear Gay Pride T-shirts, fear not. The Hate Crimes bill merely attempts to prevent you from denying homosexuals their civil rights by inciting hatred or violence against them. You want to incite hatred and violence? Awww, you made Baby Jesus cry.
(The Bible warns us to be vigilent against the devil because he's constantly looking to devour us...and the devil is DEFINATLY behind the Sodomite's agenda!)”
That would be a bit hard, as the “Sodomites” (if you can spell it right that time, why couldn’t you spell it right the first time in your post? Putz) have all been dead for thousands of years. If, that is, they ever existed at all. (And no, archaeologists have never “discovered” the ruins of Sodom, as fundies love to report. That’s an urban legend.)
And the only “agenda” homosexuals have is that they want the same basic civil and legal rights that they should already have according to the Constitution! Rights people like you are trying to take away! The founding fathers would be horrified to discover that, not only are a group of influential people attempting to systematically strip away the rights of an innocent group of Americans, but that they are making the claim that those same founding fathers would be in favor of this travesty!
”This wicked sin NEEDS to be preached on with fervor in our day because it is running rampant.”
Really? Since when? Sociological surveys of the US population reveal that there has been no appreciable increase in the homosexual population going back decades. There are no more gays now then there were in those sainted 1950’s you fundies seem so obsessed with. It only looks like there are more because they are less terrified of admitting who they are then they used to be. There aren’t any more homosexuals, it’s just that your fear tactics are losing effectiveness.
”We must do what we can to protect our right to have preachers preach the Word without fear of imprisonment.”
No need. The US Constitution already protects the rights of preachers to preach whatever they please and think is right. They just can’t incite hatred and violence.
”Our forefathers fought for that, and we need to have enough guts to stand up for our freedom before it gets taken away from us."
See? I told you this smeghead would eventually claim that the founding fathers would support their efforts to deny civil rights to a innocent segment of American citizens. Predictable.
Look, IFBaptistgirl is it? Look, fool, you are not harmed by homosexuals existing! You are not damaged by what other consenting adults choose to do! You do not have the “right” to control how other American citizens exercise their sovereign rights as citizens! You are not being persecuted when you are prevented from persecuting others.
