--- Paul Diamond <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> > ... All three classified homosexuality as a 'sin', > but were Biblical (if > crude), but with no incitement to violence or > 'fighting words'. > (snip) > ... It is simply an overt attempt to weaken Judeo > Christian morality for a > new social order. > ------------- OK... while I certainly do not support the "hate speech" prosecutions and find the laws very problematic indeed, I must comment on the above assertion. There is no one monolithic "Judeo-Christian" (sic) morality". There are literally dozens of different branches and sub-sects of both Judaism and Christianity, all with differing interpretations of the Bible and various Biblical passages, and differing takes on which passages are more important or more to be followed literally, etc. Case in point: many Xtians who rail against homosexuality as an "abomination" based on Leviticus 18, will eat pork, shellfish, and other foods considered "abominations" according to Leviticus 11. And more specifically, there is no one way in which all Jews and Christians view homosexuals and homosexuality. Several major branches of both religions (e.g. Unitarians and Reform Jews) are in fact quite accepting of homosexuality, welcome gay men and women as full participating members, and openly oppose anti-gay bigotry as a mandate of their faith (the Reform Jewish body, the Union of American Hebrew Congregations, stated publically that "In accordance with the teaching of Reform Judaism that all human beings are created 'Betselem elohim' (in the divine image), Reform Judaism has strongly condemned discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation"). It would be quite arrogant to classify entire branches of faith-belief as "immoral". Those religions which accept gays and condemn anti-gay bigotry, are doing so as an expression of THEIR understanding of "morality". And the mandate for members of these faiths would be to speak out against the views of the preachers who rail against gays as "abominable" or "sinners". Hate speech should not be outlawed, it should be countered by anti-hate speech. ~Rita __________________________________ Start your day with Yahoo! - Make it your home page! http://www.yahoo.com/r/hs _______________________________________________ To post, send message to Religionlaw@lists.ucla.edu To subscribe, unsubscribe, change options, or get password, see http://lists.ucla.edu/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/religionlaw Please note that messages sent to this large list cannot be viewed as private. Anyone can subscribe to the list and read messages that are posted; people can read the Web archives; and list members can (rightly or wrongly) forward the messages to others.