Homosexuality, Descrimination and Religion

I got this e-mail from my nephew a couple of days ago. It was so well written, on both sides of the discussion, I thought I would pass it on.

Dr. Dobson;
Why are the rest of us out here, the non evangelicals, supposed to be tolerant of your group, when it is obvious that you have no tolerance for others? We are tolerant because of a little thing called "religious freedom", guaranteed in the Bill of Rights....oh, I forgot, you don't believe in that particular document.There is a second half of the bible....it's called the New Testament. That is where Jesus can be found...you know, the Son of God, the one who loved all people, regardless of what they were or represented. Gay is not a "lifestyle choice". Who would choose life as a pariah? Fundamentally, a gay person is born that way, just as a child with Mental Retardation is born with that developmental disability. Perhaps, people are just born without tolerance, as well. Jesus would have accepted them, too. While it is clear that this is a letter of complaint, I am testing your wisdom. I would like an answer as to why we should collectively be tolerant of intolerant people, especially those who sell themselves as Christians to make a buck when there is nothing Christ-like in their attitudes.I'll close with a suggestion. If you want the government out of your churches (i.e.: gay marriage or abortion), perhaps the churches should get out of government. Is your need to tell everyone else how to live dictated from the Bible, or just your own inner fear that Heaven won't have enough white Americans within it's gates? I wouldn't mind a well-reasoned answer to that question, as well.
Eagerly awaiting your reply,
Matthew A. Scott

Thank you for your e-mail to Dr. Dobson, Matthew. Being unable at present to reply personally, he has asked me to respond. I'm pleased to have this opportunity to answer your message on his behalf.It was good of you to take the time to share your belief that "a gay person is born that way." While we value your feedback, your correspondence leads us to conclude that you have significantly misunderstood Dr. Dobson’s criticism of the We Are Family Foundation’s promotion of homosexuality under the guise of “tolerance.” It’s our pleasure to have the opportunity to respond to the accusation that Dr. Dobson and Focus on the Family are “intolerant” toward homosexuals or any other group of fellow human beings.In our society, there is a great deal of confusion over the definition of the word “tolerance.” Some argue that to be tolerant means that we must not only be respectful and compassionate to all people, but we also must unreservedly sanction and embrace any behavior or lifestyle. In contrast, we maintain that it is possible to live out the first part of this definition, reject the second part, and still be “tolerant.” Allow us to explain our reasoning on this point.We believe that tolerance is properly understood as the manner in which we interact with others; namely, it is shown by demonstrating an attitude of respect. Tolerant people do not engage in name-calling or express falsehoods designed to undermine another’s dignity. Rather, they manifest civility and do not harbor personal animosity toward those with whom they disagree.We believe, however, that people are not intolerant for holding that certain ideas are wrong while others are right and that some acts are immoral while others are moral. Many point to Christ’s interaction with the woman caught in adultery as evidence of His tolerance. Indeed, this passage does show Him exhibiting great compassion and love for this woman. And yet, His final words to her were “Go now and leave your life of sin” (John 8:11). Was Jesus displaying intolerance because he told the woman to stop living a “life of sin”? No, He illustrated true love, caring enough for the woman’s welfare to call her to leave her destructive lifestyle.We at Focus on the Family must do the same if we are to follow Christ’s example. There can be no doubt that the Scriptures prohibit homosexuality as a viable option for the expression of human sexuality (1 Corinthians 6:9-10, Romans 1:26-27). Jesus Himself adequately addressed this subject when He said, “Have you not read that He who made them at the beginning ‘made them male and female,’ and said, ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’?” (Matthew 19:4-5; quoting from Genesis 1:27, 2:24) This is the Bible’s most complete and definitive statement of God’s design for marriage and human sexuality. To suggest that conveying these truths to others is synonymous with hating homosexuals is ludicrous, particularly given the fact that, whether one accepts the Bible’s authority on the matter or not, it is irrefutable that the gay lifestyle is filled with psychological, emotional, and medical risks.Having said all of this, it should now be apparent that Dr. Dobson’s issue with the We Are Family Foundation’s efforts to promote “tolerance and diversity” is NOT that their materials might lead children to treat homosexuals with courtesy and respect. We suggest you read his February 2005 newsletter to understand the real reasons for his concern over the We Are Family Foundation’s agenda. It can be accessed at http://www.family.org/docstudy/newsletters/a0035339.cfm; Finally, because it is difficult to adequately convey the breadth of our perspective on homosexuality by e-mail, we’d be pleased to send you a complimentary set of booklets that explain our views in greater detail. If you’d be interested in receiving them, simply send a return e-mail with your name and mailing address and ask for item code XY289.Additional online articles may be found at the following link:http://www.family.org/cforum/fosi/homosexuality/ We hope this response has clarified our point of view on this matter. Please don’t hesitate to get in touch if we can be of further assistance, Matthew. Grace and peace to you!
Tessa Camp
Focus on the Family

Dear Folks,Although I was not swayed by your arguments on the subject, I am pleased with the thoroughness of your reply. I still firmly believe that tolerance as you define is incorrect. When people request tolerance, they are not asking for a person to "sanction or embrace any behavior or lifestyle". They are asking only that they be accepted as equal and valid humans, and not be discriminated against.Certain behaviors are intolerable in society. Murder or pedophilia are perfect examples. There is no proof that "the gay lifestyle is filled with psychological, emotional and medical risks". "Psychological and emotional" risks within homosexuals could be defined more practically within the context of sociology, in terms of how gays are unaccepted sociologically. As for medical risks, AIDS only seems to take a pass on heterosexual males, and homosexual women. Heterosexual females and homosexual males face approximately the same risk, medically, from AIDS.I do understand that love can be shown by asking of someone else to show respect for themselves. Your reply indicates that you equate a homosexual person to a woman "caught in adultery". Adultery as a sin connotes an action taking place, and a choice that can be made, not an unchangeable state of existence. Homosexuals have no choice. They are gay, just as I am straight, because of how God made them. It is not a question of telling someone to, "stop living a life of sin". It is not "sin" to live in the state of being that God creates for each of us individually. Finally, it is not enough just to treat someone with "courtesy and respect". My ex-stepmother told me once to call a black person "Sir, because that's what they like". Considering the words that she used to describe African Americans, the "courtesy and respect" she intended me to show was very hollow indeed. Most people who are in disadvantaged states of existence, sociologically, such as blacks, quadriplegics, the developmentally disabled, and homosexuals are not asking for that kind of courtesy and respect. They just want the simple human dignity of being accepted as equals.
Sincerely,
Matthew A. Scott

Thanks for writing again, Matthew, and for explaining your position in greater detail. In response, we'd like to direct you to a selection of articles that further clarify our perspective on homosexuality and why we do not believe it's something over which individuals have no choice:http://www.family.org/cforum/fosi/homosexuality/ Thanks, again, for taking the time to write. Although specific disagreement remains, know that the effort you’ve invested in opening a dialogue with us is much appreciated. God’s grace and peace to you in the days ahead.
Tessa Camp
Focus on the Family