Julia said:

I have, for various reasons, largely stayed away from this thread other than to try and divert it into less contentious matters and to complain when someone claims to speak for me. But this has now reached *my* limit of tolerance. I see the hatred of homosexuals displayed by some members of this list to be not just immoral but *evil*. This is nothing to do with my sexual orientation - I'm straight. It comes directly out of my moral code formed by my upbringing as a Christian. I also am not impressed by the views of some of the Christians on this list that their religious sensibilities are to be protected, while they freely attack those of other members. In my opinion, the bigotry and hatred being preached in the name of religion is what children need to be protected from, if we are to run this list on the assumption that parents are devoid of all responsibility for their children's access to a communication medium designed for adult purposes.

Thank you, Julia! One of the things that bothered me very much as I slogged through the last two months of digests was the repeated claim-- by both sides-- that the idea that homosexuality is a sin is a Christian position. It is nothing of the sort. I was brought up as a very ordinary mainstream Protestant, probably typical of the majority of American Christians, and no one ever told me that any particular form of sex was a sin. In fact, very little was said about sin, but a great deal was said about God's love for everyone, and about treating other people nicely, as you would wish to be treated yourself.

Over the years I have largely lost the theology, but largely kept the ethics. I am horrified by the way the Gospel has been hijacked by hate groups disguised as churches. Anyone who has the slightest doubt about the evil that the religious right is capable of should have a look at the infamous hate site, http://www.godhatesfags.com

Now, that's an obsession with sexuality that has done far more harm than fannish lust for actors and/or characters, however explicitly expressed, is ever likely to do.

On a milder but still disturbing level, I was very surprised by Kathryn's statement that she considers homosexuality worse than adultery. Huh? Adultery is one of the really big no-nos specifically banned in the Ten Commandments (as is bearing false witness, i.e. malicious slander, something that many rightwingers are very fond of). Homosexuality, on the other hand, is in a class with eating pork and shellfish, wearing clothing made of mixed fibers, etc. However did it get promoted from a minor prohibition that many Christians feel does not apply to them anyway, to something worse than the activities prohibited in the Ten Commandments??? And do the people who believe that also keep the kosher dietary laws?

Just in case anyone on the list ever again wishes to say something like, "As a Christian, I consider homosexuality a sin," please rephrase your statement to something like, "As a member of the Westboro Baptist Church (or whatever), I consider homosexuality a sin." The more general statement is inaccurate and is insulting to the many Christians (probably the majority, I suspect) who do not in fact believe anything of the kind.

Sarah