Jesus loves you…

[compilerbitch]

But I don’t.

You see, I have my own moral compass. This is not an easy path, particularly if you really mean it.

Jesus would have forgiven you…

But I won’t.

Not for this. Not for selling out like that, not for forgetting the basic message of your own religion and giving in to the hatred of the people who would seek to control you.

But, what about Leviticus? What about Paul?

Well, what about them? Leviticus was an extreme homophobe with a bizarre dislike for seafood. Paul was a misogynist. I see no evidence that Jesus was any of those things. What, are you telling me that you don’t believe in Jesus? That you prefer the opinions of a couple of hangers-on (who, it should be said, never met the man Himself?)

Jesus would probably have forgiven you for that, too.

Oh right, it’s in the Good Book.

So who put it there? Was it Jesus?

No, it was the centuries of church leaders who sought to control you and your ancestors.

So why did you let them?

Oh, that’s right. They had a bit of a liking for burning people at the stake for disagreeing with them. Not being burned at the stake is a good plan, in my opinion.

But, this is 2009. No stakes around here. No public crucifixions.

You are allowed your own moral compass. No one is going to burn you at the stake for it. Jesus will still love you.

So, evolve yourself a spine. Do the right thing. Stop listening to the people who would control you through their hatred and your fear.

Do the right thing.

Then, I will forgive you.

Comments

[karen2205]

One of the things I find difficult about Christian belief is the concept that it's *ok* to sin if you repent and ask for forgiveness. In terms of things that constitute criminal offences (ie. not church defined sins) I don't think 'I'm really sorry I stole the expensive telly from the shop' is good enough by itself for forgiveness (or if it's good enough for forgiveness, it still doesn't mean the person shouldn't receive some sort of punishment for breaking the law/rehabilitation support).

Behaviour, even behaviour people regret, still affects other people and still merits a suitable punishment (and assistance with rehabilitation). It's not good enough to say 'Jesus forgives me, because I repented and he knows humans are incapable of avoiding sin' in my world. In my world, people must live with the consequences of their actions.

[compilerbitch]

Indeed. I reserve the right to my own moral compass, which means I get to decide who to forgive and who not. So, if someone does something that I regard as reprehensible, quite regardless of whether their deity (or, for that matter, society at large or their government) forgives them or not, I will make my own mind up on that.

[liv]

I keep reading this post and getting really angry, and then telling myself it's not addressed to me, because I'm neither Christian nor homophobic. And, well, you do have every right to respond harshly to the social evil that is homophobia. So this is my non-response.

[lnr]

*applause*

[fluffymormegil]

It amuses me, in a way, how that certain kind of loudly moralistic person so fond of citing Leviticus are so poor at honoring the command of Leviticus 19:18 that they should love their neighbor as themselves.