Church Sign Has Amazing Message For Christian Homophobes

[theHandpuppet]

Video and interview at link below.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/08/29/church-sign-homphobes-message-christian_n_3838306.html?utm_hp_ref=mostpopular
Church Sign Has Amazing Message For Christian Homophobes
The Huffington Post | By Meredith Bennett-Smith
Posted: 08/29/2013 3:06 pm EDT | Updated: 08/30/2013 11:04 am EDT

Well, this is pretty amazing.

One church's hilarious -- and effective -- statement against Christians who believe homosexuality is a sin has gone viral after a local citizen put a photo of the church signboard online.

The sign for St. John's Anglican Church reads simply, "Jesus had two dads and he turned out just fine!"

Since it was posted to Reddit by user Reeb0k on Wednesday, the church sign has been viewed by more than 774,271 people....

[dipsydoodle]

1. Cute

[CurtEastPoint]

2. Photo here:

[JimboBillyBubbaBob]

3. Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm,

That's co-opting an idea to get one to believe in their brand. Clever, but not relevant.

[William769]

4. And what pray tell have you done to combat homophobia?

Inquiring minds would love to know!

[JimboBillyBubbaBob]

6. Well,

more than either of us have time for in this forum. I don't believe we aid our LGBT brothers and sisters by linking them to this theist nonsense. That was the idea I was attempting to convey. Please excuse my lack of clarity.

[TexasProgresive]

7. I suppose that we should write off our LGBT sisters and brothers

who happen to be theists as well.

It seems to me that prejudice against other humans can come out in just about any form.

[William769]

8. ...

Anyone helping to stamp out homophobia is alright in my book.

[JimboBillyBubbaBob]

12. On this,

in principle, we agree my friend.

[JimboBillyBubbaBob]

11. No,

not at all. They should be engaged on their respective theists ideas however. All theism is a human construct, relative to the natural world, a part of human evolution. If the idea of supernatural is allowed into the debate, how does one tell reality from extra-reality? Folks are of course free to arrive at their own answers to these questions. It seems to present as unanswerable when lumped together in such a nebulous fashion.

[William769]

13. I got news for you JimboBillyBubbaBob or whatever the hell that is.

There is to much homophobia in this world today. Yes there are Gay Christians I know I'm one of them. This is NOT the Group to spread whatever the hell it is your trying to spread, It's a Group for LGBT people and it's allies. I have no idea if your part of the LGBT community or not but take your crap to the Religion groups where it belongs & let us continue celebrating our allies & stomping out homophobia.

[JimboBillyBubbaBob]

16. My apologies Sir,

I agree with you that there is too much homophobia in the world today and it is disheartening, sickening, and all too often tragic. I have no doubt as to the existence of Gay Christians, as one of my two closest friends may be counted among those ranks. He and I have engaged this debate for a number of years. Yet, we engage it with a measure of civility. I do count myself as one of the allies, if I may employ your term. Yet to suggest that I may not be welcome to discuss the question at hand, while having my sobriquet disparaged leaves me somewhat befuddled and saddened. Good day to you Sir.

[theHandpuppet]

23. As the author of this thread

I must say that I find your inexplicable antagonism in this thread, as well as hijacking it for your own purposes, to be the height of rudeness. You and some of your pals here appear to be having your own private conversation/joke and decided to take a dump in the LGBT group. Do you find this amusing, because I find it simply arrogant and juvenile.
It is one thing for members familiar with this group to have disagreements and engage in cogent debate. It is quite another for a small group of new posters to descend on what is supposed to be a safe space for LGBT members for what appears the sole purpose of causing disruption.
Good day to you, too.

[JimboBillyBubbaBob]

29. Dear Madam,

I assure you that it was not my intention to be antagonistic. Your original post drew my attention and I only commented in the form of opinion. I don't feel I hijacked anything, such is not within any power I may possess. To suggest that I am practicing the height of rudeness once more consigns to me abilities I don't possess nor do I wish to own. I do not find this topic in its narrowest or broadest terms amusing in the least. Quite the contrary, the struggle for civil rights has and remains perhaps the most serious of all the struggles humanity has engaged throughout its history. As to referencing pals, I don't know anybody else in my personal experience who is even a member on DU. I am not sure what qualifies one as a new poster. I have been a member since joining DU in September of 2007. I read this site on an ongoing basis, yet I do not feel compelled to post each time I read something. Frankly, I am amazed at the number of posts I see some folks racking up. I note the reference to safe space and must share with you that I have a sign posted on my classroom door declaring it a safe space for all regardless of sexual preference. I am one of the allies in this struggle, but I feel it is better served without the reference to the supernatural. I am distressed that you find an opinion arrogant and juvenile because it differs from your own. The one thing that I am taking from this experience is that the dialogue exchanged here has surely offered a new perspective. I do need to think on this a while. Peace..............

[theHandpuppet]

32. Who the hell are you to call me Madam

Cut the bullcrap and lose the thesaurus. I'm not impressed. I'm a gay atheist myself but find your snobbish affectations and conceit (really, JimboBillyBubbaBob?) embarrassing. You admittedly haven't felt compelled to contribute much at all to DU since 2007 but since you've deigned to grace the LGBT forum with your presence I'll assume the cause was a sudden attack of noblesse oblige. I'll tell you what -- come back in another 6 years when you've cultivated some genuine manners and a modicum of humility.

[JimboBillyBubbaBob]

36. Good Morning Handpuppet,

I am not attempting to impress, nor do I use a thesaurus. I am one of those people who actually speak and write that way. As to your point about being an atheist, I am not an atheist, I am a non-theist. As for the nickname, JimboBillyBubbaBob, please allow me to explain. I was born in the south, grew up in a military family, and have lived in the south for decades since. When I began school in the then West Germany in 1959 the military schools were integrated. Then we moved to Georgia in 1962. Imagine the culture shock? A host of duty assignments for my father took us to Hawaii and several points in between. Each place was a cultural microcosm of its own. This was the era of the civil rights movement as it blossomed and it planted in me the need to accept folks for who they were. I witnessed all manner of discrimination and just plain meanness. Actually, that meanness requires a lot of work. I don't know how people do it day-to-day. Anyway, about the name; some years ago it was given to me in jest, as my political and social views were not what one would describe as redneck and of the majority opinion in the area I lived. I took it as a badge and as time progressed it came to lose its meaning, until I posted here. Please allow me to clarify concerning the posting timeline. I joined in September 2007 and have posted only when something peeked my interest. I did not mean to suggest that I haven't posted in six years. Referencing the sudden attack of noblesse oblige, that's quite funny considering I am one of six children of parents who never finished school, both raised in families of poor farmers, and am the first of my family to graduate from college. There's nothing noble about me. I am as run-of-the-mill as they come. Peace.....

[Behind the Aegis]

33. If you are indeed an ally as you claim...

...then perhaps you should learn it is "orientation" not "preference." This is something an actually ally would already know. To help you, an orientation is a reference to a person's way of being. A preference is what s/he likes.

Sexual Orientation: Homosexual, bisexual, asexual, heterosexual Those are sexual orientations.

Sexual Preference: Blondes, tight butts, tall guys, short women, masculine men/women, swinging on a trapeze above a pool of Jell-o whilst a troupe of little people sing an acapella version of Missy Elliot's "Git yo freak on!" Those are but a small sampling of sexual preferences.

Hope that helps.

[JimboBillyBubbaBob]

35. Thank you very much,

I stand corrected, you are absolutely correct. My apologies please. Although, I am curious, who are these little people?

[hrmjustin]

25. I am gay and I am Christian. The Episcopal Church stands with LGBT people.

[Vanje]

24. Wrong DU group Dude

Here you go:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=forum&id=1230

[JimboBillyBubbaBob]

30. This was posted here,

not in an atheist forum. More to the point, I am a non-theist, not an atheist.

[LostOne4Ever]

41. What is the difference?

Atheism-without theism. Lacking theism or a belief in any gods.
Nontheism-Other than theism.

I am both a non-theist and an implicit atheist.

Same thing, different words.

[JimboBillyBubbaBob]

43. Please allow me to explain...........

My position as a non theist means that I can navigate this life as a product of the natural world. My arrival in, journey through, and eventual exit from this existence, as a sentient being, does not require the imposition of the supernatural. To that end, the conjuring up, initiation of , and perpetuation of violence on others for alleged and perceived differences from oneself is a human construct based on negativity and insecurity. Living this life refusing to participate, even in the discussion, merits, or lack thereof of theism, can be accomplished. There is a level of cognitive dissonance at play here.

[mitchtv]

15. Go CWA

fighting homophobia, and winning. Thank you fellow unionist

[TexasProgresive]

21. To paraphrase Franklin

Thanks, Mitch. You must be Mitch the union member and not Mitch the scab at my workplace.

Better to hang together than to hang separately.

I think DUers should live by these words. The people who signed the "Declaration of Independance" the "Articles of Confederation" and ratified the "Constitution of the United States" where not all of one mind, but they were one in spirit.

"E Pluribus Unum!"

[William769]

22. What a shitty thing to say!

[hrmjustin]

26. I am gay and a believer. So I don't thnk religion is nonsense.

[The Philosopher]

27. #6 Host Here

As others have pointed out, there are LGBT Christians and they deserve the respect and protection like any other member of the LGBT Group.

While we can have debates here, while we can talk tactics, techniques and goals; we, as members, cannot be disrespectful to each other, hatefully or otherwise.

The LGBT Group is a safe haven for LGBTers who post on DU. Please be respectful, even in disagreement.

Thanks,
The Philosopher, #6 Host of the LGBT Group

[JimboBillyBubbaBob]

31. Hello Philosopher,

Thank you for your note. I shall adhere to your request. This entire experience today has been quite educational. Even with my number of years and experience, I sit here and literally scratch my head and marvel at the power of words. Who could imagine that one phrase, "theist nonsense," could result in such a backlash? I assure you it was not my intention to be hateful, or otherwise, to anyone. As I replied to the original poster, I do need to sit and think on this for a while. Peace.....

[nomorenomore08]

40. Like it or not, most people (not me though) believe in some version of "God."

So I don't really see a problem with engaging them on their own terms.

[BlueMTexpat]

9. Sorry but I believe that you miss the point.

For those who proudly proclaim themselves "Christians," yet who are also homophobes, it should definitely provide food for thought.

It's hardly a marketing tool.

[theHandpuppet]

19. Yep, that's also how I read it

And I'm not a religious person at all.

[Plantaganet]

17. Very well put. n/t

[William769]

5. Kick & recommended.

[ismnotwasm]

10. Oh, excellent.

K&R

[blkmusclmachine]

14. .

.

[Bay Boy]

28. So God and Joseph were gay?

Probably not the point they were going for.

[Jamastiene]

34. Did the point go over your head or what?

What do you mean by your post?

[Bay Boy]

37. Explaining humor often takes away the whole point...

...generally when a person would say "Bobby has 2 Dads" it means he is being raised by two gay men.
So I took that to mean that Joseph and God were in a gay relationship.

[Old Union Guy]

38. An amazingly stupid message to pull in more suckers.

Homophobes will not be impressed by it.

Even "nice" religion is evil and should be destoyed.

[theHandpuppet]

39. Post #23 applies to you, too.

Have a nice day.

[JimboBillyBubbaBob]

44. Hey Old Union Guy.....

I'm an Old Guy also. I was the number one that drew the response in reply #39. Now you have drawn the response too (being two too). The original post here was featured on the main page of DU and resulted in my initial response. I have been asked more than once why I was responding in a forum labeled LGBT. Well, because I support civil rights for all humanity. It doesn't go deeper than that. It was on the main page, I didn't go digging for something. If it were in my nature to deliberately instigate something, I would get on some right wing site and goof with those folks. I have come to discover, while probably thinking about this way too much this week, that alternative viewpoints and expressions are not welcome. That is what saddens me. But to your point, homophobes will not be impressed. To that end, I sent this to a couple of strident homophobes I know this week and the response was predictable, such as, "So what the hell is that supposed to mean?" Hang in there man, like it says in the Pink Floyd song "Lost for Words," ".....you know you just can't win."

[LostOne4Ever]

42. Anyone who helps is an ally in my book

I support this amazing church even if I disagree on theology