jcp@osiris.UUCP (Jody Patilla) (03/23/85)
Now, to really open a can of worms (that's been haggled over before), we can ask the question, who is the person who is the better neighbor and most benefits his/her fellow creatures ? The gay atheist who gives money to charity, spends time doing volunteer work, and adopts stray animals (yes these are real people folks, and they are right here in Baltimore), or the person who endorses the sort of Christian fascism of which we have heard so much lately, who will pray until blue in the face but does not give of him or herself to the community ? Some readers will characterize this as that old argument, faith versus works. It seems to me that ethical people who love their fellows and reach out to help are of greater benefit to the Earth as a whole than those who preach and pray all day but who will not look beyond themselves and their own salvation. The argument that has ben on-going concerning gay Christians touches on this too. In Baltimore, the gay community is quite visible. Gay organisations have raised money for childrens' medical care, donated time in community service and revitalised our downtown. They have brought great benefit to lots of people outside their own group. (I guess this should point out as clearly as anything that gay people are just that, people. Not something that belongs in a ghetto or a zoo - they are our friends, our neighbors, and in this town, our politicians and civic leaders too). One could bring up the Good Samaritan here too......hmm, and also the Pharisee and the tax collector. All this public righteousness and prayer doesn't help starving Ethiopian children one bit. Sanctimoniously extolling morality (however you define it) doesn't do anything for pregnant 14 yr old inner city girls. Publicly upholding fundamental Christian virtues and then spending money for more bombs while people die without food is rank hypocracy. If this is Christianity, then I suspect Jesus bar Joseph would be shocked at the perversion of his teachings. -- jcpatilla "'Get stuffed !', the Harlequin replied ..."
larryg@teklds.UUCP (Larry Gardner) (04/03/85)
What about the Christian who is against homosexuality and gives money to feed the poor, who does help their neighbor, who does adopt animals, yes, they exist and they live right here in Oregon.... So all christians have faith but no works? Well, if we have the works, too then who is the better benefit to society (since you asked the question)? That has nothing to do with the christian (?) homosexual issue. If I have faults that doesn't alleviate anyone else's. karen