Bigotry is not an expression of Christian faith
True! It is a form of extremism.
Bigotry is not an expression of Christian faith
It would depend on the job, and on the degree of bad judgment. Normally, I would want to give people leeway for a couple of mistakes, as none of us are perfect. But in the case of a fire chief, good judgment is essential. The ability to reason, follow orders, and interact positively with the public would be crucial requirements. And in this case I'm afraid these virtues are not in evidence.If you realized that an employee of yours in an important management position lacked a sense of good judgment would you fire them?
Who?
Do you follow all the laws of the old testament?
traci said:Being a christian is defined by one's relationship to God not by which minorities one chooses to hate.
and yet, you're happy to discriminate against pedophiles :think:
Which is, in itself, a problem. The Gov't should not be able to censor the writing of a book simply because the current administration does not agree ideologically with the contents of the book. But Cochran testifies that he got the verbal ok to write the book, and the Mayor had a copy of the book for 10 months before it became an issue. The reality is clear to those who are not willing to do the mental gymnastics that are necessary to make it about "getting permission," Cochran's suspension was not because he didn't get permission to write a book, Cochran's suspension was about appeasing a political action group that didn't like what Cochran had to say about homosexuality in the book.Yes, the policy is clear. If you're going to do something (e.g., write a book) using your professional title, you must first check with your supervisor to make sure it's OK.
Remorse for what?Jose Fly said:Right. So not only did Cochran violate city policy, after he was informed of his error he didn't show any signs of regret for doing so.
Good for Cochran.Jose Fly said:According to reports, Cochran basically went on a mini-tour of local churches specifically to speak about the case.
Is that all you think the First Amendment was designed to protect?Jose Fly said:So this wasn't like he was only speaking privately to his pastor, where the conversation would be legally protected.
Jose Fly said:No, he saw an opportunity to make himself a martyr and ran with it.
It's also pretty common for cowards to hide behind accusations of "hate" rather than address the real issues.It's pretty common for those who hate to hide behind religion.
Calling something bigotry doesn't make it so.Tracer said:holding up a bible doesn't make the bigotry good or just or moral
Your argument couldn't be less valid.Tracer said:and likewise the Curse of Ham, parts of the Song of Solomon, verses in Deuteronomy and Numbers have all been used by racists to justify their hate.
Does that make God a racist?
Of course not! Have you even read the bible?Tracer said:so your answer is "no" you don't follow all the laws.
If you had a relationship with God, you would not disregard His word (see Mark 8:38).Tracer said:Being a christian is defined by one's relationship to God not by which minorities one chooses to hate.
You ignore what was actually posted and put up your own straw man. Dishonest AND pathetic.It's also pretty common for cowards to hide behind accusations of "hate" rather than address the real issues.
Your attempt to try and equate Cochran's writing a book about the power of forgiveness to the KKK just shows how far you have to reach.
Pathetic...
Justifying bigotry with the bible doesn't make it good or moral or justCalling something bigotry doesn't make it so.
by associating them with child abusers and promoting discrimination.The reality is that Cochran doesn't hate homosexuals, in fact, he is showing them a greater kindness than you are.
Cochran is telling them the truth.
and racists say the same thing about racial equality....so what?Its clear from both Old and New Testaments that homosexual behavior is abhorrent to God, and that no one who practices such things will enter into the kingdom of God, but you would rather curry their favor here and watch them march in their gay pride parades all the way to hell.
those who hate misuse the bible to justify racism and anti-Semitism and sexism and homophobia.Your argument couldn't be less valid.
The fact that some have misused the bible to justify racism does not prove that the bible supports homosexuality.
The facts are that the bible clearly does not support racism and it clearly condemns homosexuality.
I am more than willing to have that discussion.But I predict that you will run away, like a scared little mouse, from any discussion about the specifics of biblical verses because you know you don't have the facts back you up.
And if you had ever bothered to actually read the bible you would know that the new covenant replaced the OT law in it's entirety.Of course not! Have you even read the bible?
There are some things that the New Covenant made obsolete. Ergo, God is fine with us wearing poly-cotton blends while eating a ham sandwiches with a non-Jewish wife.
There are some things the New Covenant retained. Which is why God still condemns you slapping your mother, killing your brother, lying to your dad and sleeping with your best friend's wife on the night before you knock of a liquor store on the way to marrying your own sister.
:duh:
If you had a relationship with God you wouldn't be using him as an justification for your own personal prejudicesIf you had a relationship with God, you would not disregard His word (see Mark 8:38).
Your just begging your own question. If the bible condemns homosexual behavior then pointing to that fact is not bigotry anymore than saying that God disapproves of theft is bigotry.Justifying bigotry with the bible doesn't make it good or moral or just.
The bible associates homosexuality with bestiality, does that mean that God is a bigot (See Leviticus 20:10-17)?Tracer said:by associating them with child abusers and promoting discrimination.
:nono:Tracer said:just like these tell black people the truth
So...Tracer said:and racists say the same thing about racial equality....so what?
Just more intellectually lazy argumentation.Tracer said:those who hate misuse the bible to justify racism and anti-Semitism and sexism and homophobia.
Which means what?Tracer said:And if you had ever bothered to actually read the bible you would know that the new covenant replaced the OT law in it's entirety.
Tracer said:If you had a relationship with God you wouldn't be using him as an justification for your own personal prejudices
Hi, I'm Jose Fly the Chief of Police for New York City, and I'm here to tell you that all white people are spawns of Satan and are responsible for all the evils throughout history.Which is, in itself, a problem. The Gov't should not be able to censor the writing of a book simply because the current administration does not agree ideologically with the contents of the book.
From someone who wasn't authorized to give the OK. The City has a clear policy on how to get an OK (get approval from a board) and Cochran violated that policy.But Cochran testifies that he got the verbal ok to write the book
Maybe, but by violating a pretty clear city policy and then violating the terms of his suspension, he handed them an excuse on a sliver platter.Cochran's suspension was not because he didn't get permission to write a book, Cochran's suspension was about appeasing a political action group that didn't like what Cochran had to say about homosexuality in the book.
Probably not.Everyone knows that if Cochran had written a children's pop-up book about butterflies no one would have said peep.
For violating City policy.Remorse for what?
And he shouldn't be free from consequences either.Cochran shouldn't have to show remorse for offending others with his deeply held religious opinions on sexual sin.
Nope, you don't have the same free speech rights when you're at work. That's why you can be fired for things you say at work. We've been over this.This is precisely the kind of garbage the First Amendment was drafted to protect the citizenry from; gov't intrusion into the religious practices and opinions.
The City has every right to protect what sort of speech is promoted in its name too.He has every right to criticize the gov't for its violation of religious liberty.
I know what it's designed to protect; unfortunately you don't, which is why the courts have consistently agreed with me and disagreed with you.Is that all you think the First Amendment was designed to protect?
And he also has to expect that there will be consequences for violating the terms of his suspension.He doesn't have to restrict his speech to private conversations in quite corners of a pastors office, he has the right to speak publically, in church about social issues and concerns and religious liberty is certainly a social concern.
Sorry, it doesn't work that way. The churches are all open to the public and Cochran isn't a pastor, which means his little mini-martyr tour was public speech, in direct violation of his suspension.Instead of honoring the wall of separation between church and state, the city of Atlanta busted through that wall in order condemn Cochran for what was said in church.
I'm sure that's what you believe. But then as this thread testifies, you believe all sorts of bizarre things.Bottom line, if the city of Atlanta can terminate a city employee because they don't like the stance a city employee takes on a social issue in places of worship then the First Amendment means nothing anymore and nothing that anyone says in places of worship will be beyond the reach of the government's ability to censor and punish.
Right....because religious liberty is absolute.Societies that value religious liberty have no martyrs...
Not enough information.Hi, I'm Jose Fly the Chief of Police for New York City, and I'm here to tell you that all white people are spawns of Satan and are responsible for all the evils throughout history.
According to your thinking, the City of New York cannot do anything about that.
Jose Fly said:From someone who wasn't authorized to give the OK.
Which is a pretty poor excuse for violating someone's religious freedom, don't you think?Jose Fly said:Maybe, but by violating a pretty clear city policy and then violating the terms of his suspension, he handed them an excuse on a sliver platter.
Nope. And, in fact, idiots like Bill Maher say that kind of thing all the time and no one expects the network(s) he is on to censor him in the least, certainly no one is bullying HBO to fire him, are they?Jose Fly said:But by the same token, I'm pretty sure had Cochran written a book under his title saying Christianity is nonsense and anyone who believes it is a moron, you'd be on the opposite side of this argument.
Nice straw man.Jose Fly said:According to you I should be completely free from any consequences for what I said in the City's name, and the City cannot do anything at all to restrict what anyone says in its name.
No, I think that rules and laws that violate religious liberty are immoral and unconstitutional. The first amendment should not be overridden by lesser laws and rules.Jose Fly said:Again you apparently think religious liberty is absolute and as long as someone says "religion", they're free to break whatever laws and rules they want, with absolutely no consequences.
Which means what?Jose Fly said:Sorry, it doesn't work that way. The churches are all open to the public...
Cochran is a deacon in his church.Jose Fly said:...and Cochran isn't a pastor,
But Cochran testifies that he got the verbal ok to write the book,
From someone who wasn't authorized to give the OK.
I'm waiting for more information on this
I. Was Publication of the Book Authorized? The Standards of Conduct provide a clear directive to “commissioners, deputy commissioners [and] department heads” to seek approval of the Board of Ethics before the department head “may engage in private employment or render services for private interests.” No such approval was sought or rendered in the publication of the book that is available on Amazon.com for purchase. At the outset of the investigation, Chief Cochran admitted that he did not inform Mayor Reed that he was publishing the book and did not have the Mayor’s permission. The only indication there was any mention of the book to anyone in the Mayor’s Office is the Chief Operating Officer at the time of publication remembering that Chief Cochran had talked about writing a book on leadership. Chief Cochran insists Ethics Officer Hickson authorized both the publication of the book and the reference in the book to his position as AFRD Chief. His recollection is that he first contacted Ms. Hickson to determine if it was permissible to publish the book and that he later asked if it was appropriate to identify himself in the book as AFRD Chief. Ms. Hickson indicated that she did not approve publication of the book and had no authority to grant such approval. She said she told him that he would need to get the Mayor’s permission as well as a formal opinion from the Board of Ethics. Contemporaneous notes from Ms. Hickson’s log read as follows: 31 Oct 2012...T/C 10:34 a.m.....Advise regarding non-city-related book he is authoring...will check back w/ me in about 6 mos. 2:22 p.m.....9 July 2013...T/C Fire Chief Cochran...mentioning in book...advice-> Leadership Association...assoc...MLM...get a percentage of profit...told him to clear with Mayor...then get authority from Board of Ethics. |
Whose fault is that?
If you contact the HR dept. of your company and they give you permission to do something they don't have the authority to give, that's on them, not on you.
As noted racists believe the bible condemns racial equality as well. And most racists are very devout Christians but i don't think many would find it acceptable these days to use the bible as an excuse to spread their prejudiceYour just begging your own question. If the bible condemns homosexual behavior then pointing to that fact is not bigotry anymore than saying that God disapproves of theft is bigotry.
I am sure the "thief community" doesn't like it, but "let God be true though every man be a liar."
The bible associates homosexuality with bestiality, does that mean that God is a bigot (See Leviticus 20:10-17)?
Now, let me anticipate your non-answer?
We aren't under the Old Testament, right?
So what then is your explanation? That God was a bigot but now he isn't?
That the Creator of the Universe saw the light and came around to your better way of thinking about homosexuality?
:nono:
Ridiculous!
Your argument begins to unravel even more when one realizes that the NT condemns homosexuality just as vocally as the OT.
How do you explain this?
Oh, that's right. You don't, you just keep appealing to false analogies like equating sexual behavior to race like you did here.
Racists also have a long history of trying to associate African Americans with sexual crimes as a means of somehow making bigotry OK.:nono:
You can't even see that your argument is based on fallacious thinking can you?
Anyone can argue from analogy.
The "pederast community" could also argue from analogy.
Yes, people misusing the bible to justify their hate and petty prejudices."The bible has been used to promote racism and condemn equal rights for African Americans therefore using the bible to promote hate and prejudice against men who prefer sex with underage boys is wrong."
See the problem yet?
What you are saying is that racists are wrong to misuse the bible to promote hated but when i do the same thing it's perfectly fine.This kind of non-sequitur is lazy and stupid and it runs all the way through your argument.
Just because the bible has been errantly used to promote racism doesn't mean that the bible doesn't actually condemn homosexuality.
Racists certainly say the bible does support them. And they has been a long history of preachers, theologians and biblical scholars supporting that view.So...
The bible actually doesn't support racism and it actually does condemn homosexual behavior.
And if you had read the bible you would know that.
Speaking of intellectually lazy arguments.Just more intellectually lazy argumentation.
1. Telling the truth isn't hate. I don't hate or fear the "thief community." My pointing out that the bible commands against stealing is not an act of hate, it is a proclamation of truth.
Big straw man there. Try focusing on what was said rather than what you want to have been said.2. It does not logically follow that the misuse of the bible in justifying racism means that homosexual behavior is biblically permissible.
Apparently you've never read the bible.Its actually pretty easy to show that the bible doesn't promote sexism, racism or anti-semitism. Its equally easy to show that the bible considers homosexuality a sinful, detestable rebellion against God's standards of sexual morality.
And apparently you don't have a clue what the new covenant is.Which means what?
That we are all now free to have sex with our mothers, sisters, brothers, and pets?
Or are there still standards of sexual morality in the New Covenant?
:duh:
nonsense, your prejudices are what you are working to defend and even glorify here.My own personal prejudices have nothing to do with it.
Like you racists often try to dehumanize the people they are prejudiced against by attaching sick and hateful labels to them like "perverts"Selfishly, I don't give a hoot what two perverts do behind closed doors. If they want to have perverted sex until Christ comes and throws them into hell for it then its no skin off of my back.
But folks like Cochran and others actually care about people and want them to come to repentance so that they will escape judgment.
another racist tactic. accuse others of being the ones who hate. You should really be ashamed of yourselfYou're the one who really hates the homosexuals. You are the enemy that multiplies kisses and you lie to them saying "peace, peace, when there is no peace."
What does it matter? According to you, the City has no authority to control what is said in its name, correct?Second, in what context is the Chief saying this? During a school assembly that is supposed to be about highway safety?
In a private meeting in his own home?
In church?
In a book he has written on his own private time?
As you saw from the report, the HR person says she never gave any authorization.I'm waiting for more information on this but lets assume that you are right.
Whose fault is that?
If you contact the HR dept. of your company and they give you permission to do something they don't have the authority to give, that's on them, not on you.
No, because his religious freedom wasn't violated.Which is a pretty poor excuse for violating someone's religious freedom, don't you think?
Nope. As soon as he introduces himself in the book as the City of Atlanta Fire Chief, he is representing the City of Atlanta. Legal precedent is extremely clear on this. That you refuse to accept it is irrelevant.Cochran wasn't speaking on behalf of the city, he was speaking on behalf of himself.
The fact that you cannot differentiate between "I graduated from X college" and "I am the current City of Atlanta Fire Chief" is further indication of your inability to think rationally.Cochran isn't speaking in the name of the city by putting his title in the "about the author" section of his book anymore than Dan Brown is speaking on behalf of Amherst College by identifying himself as a graduate and English prof. at Amherst College in the "about the author" sections of his books.
So when do you think it is acceptable to restrict someone's religious liberties?No, I think that rules and laws that violate religious liberty are immoral and unconstitutional. The first amendment should not be overridden by lesser laws and rules.
It means Cochran violated the terms of his suspension by speaking publicly about the case while the investigation was ongoing. So they fired him....perfectly legal.Which means what?
The City of Atlanta is free to tell its employees not to speak publicly about a case while the investigation is ongoing. Do you dispute that?That because churches are open to the public the government can tell us what can and cannot be said in church and who can and cannot say it?
Oh geez....you fundamentalists really look for every opportunity to make martyrs of yourselves. Can you be any more of a drama queen?This is exactly the kind of government control over the church that the First Amendment was designed to protect american citizens from!
Churches in this country have always been to the public!
Why now is that a justification for censorship?
It makes his mini-church-tour public speech, in direct violation of the terms of his suspension.Cochran is a deacon in his church.
How does that make a difference?
So according to you, I could go on a speaking tour of all the local churches and give out my company's trade secrets, and my company is 100% powerless to do anything about it? I can tell everyone in those churches every company secret, and the company can't do anything to me?Here's your answer:
:sozo: None of your stinkin' business! You and the city of Atlanta should keep your fat noses the heck out of what is said in church and who gets to say it!
Hi, I'm Jose Fly the Chief of Police for New York City, and I'm here to tell you that all white people are spawns of Satan and are responsible for all the evils throughout history.
Cochran said he got permission, the city (ya know, the nonobjective source who fired Cochran) said that he didn't.Oh, I see what you're waiting for... You want a report that doesn't contradict you, like the actual report does.
As noted racists believe the bible condemns racial equality as well.
How do you know this, do you know most racists?Tracer said:And most racists are very devout Christians
Non-responsive. This is just restating your position.Tracer said:God isn't the one here using the bible to justify hate.
Irrelevant.Tracer said:Racists also have a long history of trying to associate African Americans with sexual crimes as a means of somehow making bigotry OK.
Irrelevant and a failed attempt at whit.Tracer said:Recycling is a good thing but not when what's being recycled is hate
Uh huh.Tracer said:Yes, people misusing the bible to justify their hate and petty prejudices.
Pathetic....Tracer said:What you are saying is that racists are wrong to misuse the bible to promote hated but when i do the same thing it's perfectly fine.
Yup. And the JW's say that the bible supports them, and the Mormons say the bible supports them and...Tracer said:Racists certainly say the bible does support them.
As noted racists believe the bible condemns racial equality as well.
And most racists are very devout Christians
Racists certainly say the bible does support them.
And they has been a long history of preachers, theologians and biblical scholars supporting that view.
and you seem intellectually ill equipped to get the simple notion that there is no difference between the position of racists and your position.The fact that there are people who can misuse the bible doesn't actually prove anything and the fact that you keep pointing out what racists believe, as if that has any relevance to this discussion, only shows just how intellectually ill equipped you are to discuss this in any serious way.
How do you know this, do you know most racists?
completely responsive the fact remains that God isn't the one using the bible to justify hate.Non-responsive. This is just restating your position.
the fact that you use the same methods and tactics as racists do to justify prejudice is incredibly relevant.Irrelevant.
Just like how racists honestly expose what the bible has to say about the the inferiority of black peopleI'm not promoting hate. I'm honestly exposing what the bible says about homosexual behavior to which you have had nothing to say.
It's typical of you to engage in personal attacks when you are confronted with responses you cannot counter.You're like a sad little cultural parakeet. You can parrot the cultural rhetoric back to us all but you clearly have no idea what you are talking about.
You are the one making that particular claim along with racists and anti-Semites and the people you mentionYup. And the JW's say that the bible supports them, and the Mormons say the bible supports them and...
And I'll bet you think the bible supports you.
Are you capable of having a substantive discussion? I ask because you sure aren't demonstrating that here.The only way we get to bottom of who is right and who isn't is to engage in a substantive discussion about relevant passages.
So you have anything at all to say about the texts I provided, you know the ones you continue to ignore, then post your comments.
Being a Christian doesn't make anyone hateful or prejudiced. The problem begins when those who hate try to use the bible to justify their bigotries.Otherwise, you'll understand why I ignore your tired repetition of empty cultural platitudes that brand bible believers as hateful and prejudiced.
I can't tell if you are being inflammatory, stupid or disingenuousname one
name one
name one
name one from each of the past 14 decades