Received 5.8.2001

Actually, God does regard homosexuality as an abomination (a strong word); however, he does love the sinner (gay person). God is not done with me, however; so, I wish the perverted gay community would quit trying to pawn their perversion off as normal, acceptable behavior. They are one of the most closed-minded, intolerant groups I've ever encountered. They ought to be ashamed of themselves!

My Reply:

It is fine for you to think that homosexuality is an abomination.  In fact you can think that fruit salad is an abomination, I really don't care.  But when someone sponsors legislation to limit the rights of people who eat fruit salad or publicly slanders them or launches programs to try and cure them because they don't like fruit salad, I become concerned.

Why is homosexuality a perversion?  Is it because you find it distasteful?  I find it distasteful that millions of people pretend to eat the flesh and blood of a man every Sunday, but I recognize their right to do so and would not want to limit that right in any way.

Is homosexuality an abomination because the Bible says so?  For an atheist, the Bible is as an arbitrary source of morality as any other work of fiction.  I would no more consult the Bible to determine the difference between right and wrong than I would consult Homer's Iliad.  Actions need to have reasons they are moral or immoral other than a declaration by an ancient people.  For an action to be wrong, some type of harm must result from it.  Who is being harmed in a consenting homosexual relationship?

Your comment that gays are intolerant and close-minded causes me to wonder if you really know any gay people, because I have found the opposite to be true.  But then why would gays be open-minded to someone who tells them they are abomination practicing perverts?

Reply received 5.29.2001

Dear Atheist,

Thanks for posting my opinion. Actually, I've known quite a few gay people, and I liked them; it is their lifestyle that I find reprehensible. You may consider the Bible to be fiction, but I'll bet you've never read it from cover to cover. Who wrote it? When? Under what social conditions? How much is documented history, and how much must be taken on faith?

I am always amused at the ignorance of most atheists regarding the Bible. I'm certainly no fundamentalist (I dislike their bullet-headed approach to their faith, and disagree with them on MANY issues), but I've found that most people who discount the Bible know very little about it. Perhaps you fall into that category, perhaps you don't. And, like it or lump it, God does regard homosexuality as a perversion.

I hope that some day you will look into the Bible, and the wonderful Savior it talks about. Like most cry-baby attitude atheists, if someone challenges your belief (or lack thereof), aspersions are immediately cast upon them. Parenthetically, friend, God is not hard up for friends; so, if you choose not to believe, He will still survive.

Most people know that homosexuality is wrong just by instinct. They don't even need God to tell them that.

God bless you and thanks for having the spine to print my opinion.

A closed-minded believer.

p.s. Don't think I'm some bone-headed fundamentalist, with little education and life-experience. I have a Masters in Education, have taught school for twenty years, and am a published writer. And, SURPRISE!, unless God's Word teaches me otherwise, I am currently pro-choice. :)

My Reply:

Why do atheists need to know the Bible?  Should they also be experts in the Koran, the Book of Mormon, and Greek mythology?  Regardless, since you are a woman teacher and pro-choice, I thought this Bible passage would be appropriate (my emphasis):

1st Timothy 2:11-15

"A woman should learn in quietness and full submission.  I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man; she must be silent.  For Adam was formed first, then Eve.  And Adam was not the one deceived; it was the woman who was deceived and became a sinner.  But women will be saved through childbearing--if they continue in faith, love and holiness with propriety."

Atheists, of course, don't believe any of this.  Thanks for writing.

A pervert-accepting, cry-baby atheist.

Reply from another reader.  Received 6.7.2001

I'd like to comment on that teacher-woman's reply dated 5.29.2001.

"Most people know that homosexuality is wrong just by instinct. They don't even need God to tell them that."

Why is loving another person wrong by instinct? Love of any sort should be cherished and encouraged, don't we have enough hate in the world? I wonder what this woman teaches in her classroom.. "love thy neighbor, but not too much"?

She is right about at least one thing.. we don't need god to tell us that.. or anything really. ;)

My Reply:

I agree.  The argument that people instinctively know homosexuality is wrong is circular. The people that know it is wrong instinctively are heterosexuals and those that instinctively know it is right are gay.

For me the issue is that the condemnation of homosexuality is Biblically based, and for an atheist, is therefore completely arbitrary.  Consenting homosexuals do not harm anyone.  This condemnation, however, is reflected in legislation and people's interpersonal relationships. The godhatesfags.com people are an extreme manifestation of this, even though Christians will say they have misinterpreted the message and that God hates the act but not the person.  But for an atheist this distinction is trivial and the end result is still more hate in the world.

Reply from another reader.  Received 6.28.2001

Greetings in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord! My name is Emily, and I would like to comment on some of the things discussed on your website.

First of all, I would like to commend you for your courage in creating this website even though I disagree with your views.

I read a few of the e-mails sent to you. I read the one about homosexuality in which the person referred to homosexuals as close minded and perverts, and of course this person claimed to be a Christian. I do agree that homosexuality is a sin (Gen. 19, Rom. 1:24,26,27), but the spirit in which this person wrote was hateful not loving. Jesus commands us to love one another as He loved us (John 15:12). Christians should come to homosexuals or any other who is overcome by sin in love yet telling them the truth
instead of beating them over the head with the Bible. I don't understand how people can call themselves Christians and act like that. Yet, I understand that sometimes we loose our temper, but that is no excuse.

I know this is probably going to sound strange, but I can understand in some ways why you do not believe in God. Look how Christianity is portrayed on television. It is disgusting! For example, Benny Hinn, he claims to perform miracles. Miracles do not occur anymore (1 Cor. 13:14). I have also noticed these churches no TV that claim to be worshiping God,
but it looks like a circus. I hate to say that, but it really does. For example, I saw a particular congregation where one man got up and ran around in the church building. They claim that they are filled with the Holy Spirit which is not true. It's so disheartening to see these things. So many people are being mislead. People worship God the way they want to worship Him when they should be worshiping Him the way He wants to be worshiped (John 4:24). There are also the numerous bombings of abortion clinics and murdering of homosexuals. Some who commit these horrible crimes claim that God told them to do so. 
That is nonsense! 

I really hope and pray that I haven't come across unloving or harsh. I really am concerned about lost souls. My job is to teach the Gospel (Matt. 28:18-20). I pray that I will do so in a loving spirit.

I thank you for your time.

In Christ,
Emily