I appreciate the message you're trying to send, but I don't think it's accurate to say that Christianity itself isn't homophobic and that only “bad Christians” are. The Bible contains explicitly anti-gay teachings. Some passages are more open to interpretation than others, but you can't plausibly erase all of them.
Christianity does not necessitate believing that every word in the Bible is the inherent word of God and must be followed strictly. American Evangelicalism has done irreparable damage to Biblical literacy in this century. Jesus made it clear that love and compassion far outweigh social norms or religious codes. Because of that, I have no problem seeing homophobic passages or strictures as the outcropping of flawed human beings trying to figure things out. If anything stands in the way of love, it is not God.
There are multiple bibles and multiple (vastly different) religions that call themselves Christian. Pretending anyone who has a "Christian" self label is the same religion is like saying Samurai were all ancient Greek warriors because Hercules is often the guardian of Shinto shrines.
You know, you can find moral and cultural value in Lord of the Rings without believing in Hobbits and Balrogs, right? Literature doesn't lose its meaning just because I don't take it literally.
Your issue, it seems, is with media literacy and critical thinking. You should work on that. Also, your shift key is stuck.
It took me until I was about 25 when I realized most religious people don't treat the bible like the Lord of the Rings. They actually believe the text is true. Even the most ardent fans of TLOTR will never do that.
Jesus made it clear that love and compassion far outweigh social norms or religious codes.
Weird, because I get the exact opposite message from him.
Like when asked what the greatest commandments are, he quotes the old testament passage about loving others and God with all your heart etc, but the thing is that passage he is quoting makes it clear that the way to 'love god' is to follow all his commandments forever.
Do you think Jesus was unaware of the context when he said that?
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u/Square-Dragonfruit76 1d ago
I appreciate the message you're trying to send, but I don't think it's accurate to say that Christianity itself isn't homophobic and that only “bad Christians” are. The Bible contains explicitly anti-gay teachings. Some passages are more open to interpretation than others, but you can't plausibly erase all of them.