Author Topic: "Are Christians Guilty of Hate Speech?"  (Read 3531 times)

Butterbean

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"Are Christians Guilty of Hate Speech?"
« on: July 18, 2008, 11:24:14 AM »
Thought this was interesting (from the site gotquestions.org)

Question: "Are Christians guilty of hate speech?"

Answer: A working definition of hate speech is "speech that is intended to insult, intimidate, or cause prejudice against a person or people based on their race, gender, age, sexual orientation, political affiliation, occupation, disability, or physical appearance." If that is the accepted definition, a Christian should never participate in "hate speech." However, the problem is that the definition of hate speech is broadening over time. Proclaiming that a certain belief is wrong, or that a certain activity is sinful, is increasingly being included in the definition of hate speech.

Ephesians 4:15 refers to "speaking the truth in love." First Peter 3:15 instructs Christians to defend their faith, but to do so "with gentleness and respect." Colossians 4:6 proclaims, "let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt..." Sadly, some Christians fail to follow these biblical instructions. Some Christians (or at least people who claim to be Christians) speak the truth, but speak it in such a way that it is very hateful. One prominent example would be "Westboro Baptist Church." Westboro Baptist Church is correct in declaring the Bible's teaching that homosexuality is sinful, but they are declaring this truth in such a way that it is intended to be incendiary, offensive, and hurtful. Needless to say, the Bible does not support such methods.

It is likely that in the near future, governments will begin declaring more speech as hate speech, thereby making it illegal. In some parts of the world, it is illegal to say that homosexuality is a sin. In some countries, it is illegal to declare one religion right and other religions wrong. This steady broadening of what qualifies as hate speech could eventually lead to any effort to evangelize being declared hate speech, since it would be "hateful" to tell a person that what he/she currently believes is incorrect.

What the perpetrators of this expanded hate speech definition fail to realize (or admit) is that to tell someone the truth is an act of love, not hate. Is it hateful for a teacher to tell a student that his/her answer is wrong? Is it hateful for a building inspector to tell a construction company that they are building on a faulty foundation? Of course the answer to these questions is a resounding no. However, that is precisely the illogic that is being applied to current "hate speech" legislation. Telling someone that his/her religious views are wrong is somehow hateful. Telling someone that his/her lifestyle is immoral is somehow hateful. The logic is not, in any sense, consistent with how truth is determined in other areas of society.

At GotQuestions.org, our goal is to speak the truth in love. We do not hate Muslim, Hindus, Buddhists, Catholics, Mormons, or Jehovah's Witnesses. Rather, we simply believe that these groups are making some serious theological and biblical mistakes. We do not hate homosexuals, adulterers, pornographers, transsexuals, or fornicators. Rather, we simply believe that those who commit such acts are making immoral and ungodly decisions. Telling someone that he/she is in the wrong is not hateful. In reality, refusing to tell someone the truth is what is truly hateful. Declaring the speaking of truth, presented respectfully, to be "hate speech," is in fact the ultimate demonstration
R

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Re: "Are Christians Guilty of Hate Speech?"
« Reply #1 on: July 19, 2008, 01:34:50 AM »
Thought this was interesting (from the site gotquestions.org)

Question: "Are Christians guilty of hate speech?"

Answer: A working definition of hate speech is "speech that is intended to insult, intimidate, or cause prejudice against a person or people based on their race, gender, age, sexual orientation, political affiliation, occupation, disability, or physical appearance." If that is the accepted definition, a Christian should never participate in "hate speech." However, the problem is that the definition of hate speech is broadening over time. Proclaiming that a certain belief is wrong, or that a certain activity is sinful, is increasingly being included in the definition of hate speech.

Ephesians 4:15 refers to "speaking the truth in love." First Peter 3:15 instructs Christians to defend their faith, but to do so "with gentleness and respect." Colossians 4:6 proclaims, "let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt..." Sadly, some Christians fail to follow these biblical instructions. Some Christians (or at least people who claim to be Christians) speak the truth, but speak it in such a way that it is very hateful. One prominent example would be "Westboro Baptist Church." Westboro Baptist Church is correct in declaring the Bible's teaching that homosexuality is sinful, but they are declaring this truth in such a way that it is intended to be incendiary, offensive, and hurtful. Needless to say, the Bible does not support such methods.

It is likely that in the near future, governments will begin declaring more speech as hate speech, thereby making it illegal. In some parts of the world, it is illegal to say that homosexuality is a sin. In some countries, it is illegal to declare one religion right and other religions wrong. This steady broadening of what qualifies as hate speech could eventually lead to any effort to evangelize being declared hate speech, since it would be "hateful" to tell a person that what he/she currently believes is incorrect.

What the perpetrators of this expanded hate speech definition fail to realize (or admit) is that to tell someone the truth is an act of love, not hate. Is it hateful for a teacher to tell a student that his/her answer is wrong? Is it hateful for a building inspector to tell a construction company that they are building on a faulty foundation? Of course the answer to these questions is a resounding no. However, that is precisely the illogic that is being applied to current "hate speech" legislation. Telling someone that his/her religious views are wrong is somehow hateful. Telling someone that his/her lifestyle is immoral is somehow hateful. The logic is not, in any sense, consistent with how truth is determined in other areas of society.

At GotQuestions.org, our goal is to speak the truth in love. We do not hate Muslim, Hindus, Buddhists, Catholics, Mormons, or Jehovah's Witnesses. Rather, we simply believe that these groups are making some serious theological and biblical mistakes. We do not hate homosexuals, adulterers, pornographers, transsexuals, or fornicators. Rather, we simply believe that those who commit such acts are making immoral and ungodly decisions. Telling someone that he/she is in the wrong is not hateful. In reality, refusing to tell someone the truth is what is truly hateful. Declaring the speaking of truth, presented respectfully, to be "hate speech," is in fact the ultimate demonstration

There is no such thing as hate speech; there is only freedom of speech; Christians can spout their moronic drivel as much as any other group.
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Re: "Are Christians Guilty of Hate Speech?"
« Reply #2 on: July 19, 2008, 12:59:27 PM »
Thought this was interesting (from the site gotquestions.org)

Question: "Are Christians guilty of hate speech?"

Answer: A working definition of hate speech is "speech that is intended to insult, intimidate, or cause prejudice against a person or people based on their race, gender, age, sexual orientation, political affiliation, occupation, disability, or physical appearance." If that is the accepted definition, a Christian should never participate in "hate speech." However, the problem is that the definition of hate speech is broadening over time. Proclaiming that a certain belief is wrong, or that a certain activity is sinful, is increasingly being included in the definition of hate speech.

Ephesians 4:15 refers to "speaking the truth in love." First Peter 3:15 instructs Christians to defend their faith, but to do so "with gentleness and respect." Colossians 4:6 proclaims, "let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt..." Sadly, some Christians fail to follow these biblical instructions. Some Christians (or at least people who claim to be Christians) speak the truth, but speak it in such a way that it is very hateful. One prominent example would be "Westboro Baptist Church." Westboro Baptist Church is correct in declaring the Bible's teaching that homosexuality is sinful, but they are declaring this truth in such a way that it is intended to be incendiary, offensive, and hurtful. Needless to say, the Bible does not support such methods.

It is likely that in the near future, governments will begin declaring more speech as hate speech, thereby making it illegal. In some parts of the world, it is illegal to say that homosexuality is a sin. In some countries, it is illegal to declare one religion right and other religions wrong. This steady broadening of what qualifies as hate speech could eventually lead to any effort to evangelize being declared hate speech, since it would be "hateful" to tell a person that what he/she currently believes is incorrect.

What the perpetrators of this expanded hate speech definition fail to realize (or admit) is that to tell someone the truth is an act of love, not hate. Is it hateful for a teacher to tell a student that his/her answer is wrong? Is it hateful for a building inspector to tell a construction company that they are building on a faulty foundation? Of course the answer to these questions is a resounding no. However, that is precisely the illogic that is being applied to current "hate speech" legislation. Telling someone that his/her religious views are wrong is somehow hateful. Telling someone that his/her lifestyle is immoral is somehow hateful. The logic is not, in any sense, consistent with how truth is determined in other areas of society.

At GotQuestions.org, our goal is to speak the truth in love. We do not hate Muslim, Hindus, Buddhists, Catholics, Mormons, or Jehovah's Witnesses. Rather, we simply believe that these groups are making some serious theological and biblical mistakes. We do not hate homosexuals, adulterers, pornographers, transsexuals, or fornicators. Rather, we simply believe that those who commit such acts are making immoral and ungodly decisions. Telling someone that he/she is in the wrong is not hateful. In reality, refusing to tell someone the truth is what is truly hateful. Declaring the speaking of truth, presented respectfully, to be "hate speech," is in fact the ultimate demonstration

Interesting issue.  I think we are seeing the birth of censorship in this country.  We have inserted all sorts of things into our hate crimes statutes here, including sexual orientation and "gender identity."  There are those who think that any opposition to certain lifestyle choices makes you a "bigot" or a "homophobe."  I can see us getting to the point where public comments about those lifestyle choices become prohibited in some way or the subject of some legal liability.     

Then you have dum dums like this guy:  http://www.getbig.com/boards/index.php?topic=223311.0

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Re: "Are Christians Guilty of Hate Speech?"
« Reply #3 on: July 19, 2008, 07:29:10 PM »
The more freedom Christians have to spew their nonsense, the better, as smart people will immediately recognise its silliness.
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Re: "Are Christians Guilty of Hate Speech?"
« Reply #4 on: July 28, 2008, 08:50:17 PM »
Thought this was interesting (from the site gotquestions.org)

Question: "Are Christians guilty of hate speech?"

You tell me...

w

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Re: "Are Christians Guilty of Hate Speech?"
« Reply #5 on: July 28, 2008, 11:57:20 PM »
You tell me...



Definitely good Christians there...and I mean it.
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Butterbean

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Re: "Are Christians Guilty of Hate Speech?"
« Reply #6 on: July 29, 2008, 05:14:38 PM »
You tell me...


Who are you talking about?  Franklin Graham, Pat Robertson and that other guy...no I don't hear any hate speech from them.

Those Westboro nutjobs?  Yes, they seem guilty of hate speech from what I've seen and heard of them but I don't know that they are actually Christians...whether they are or not they are some def misguided individuals.
R

wavelength

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Re: "Are Christians Guilty of Hate Speech?"
« Reply #7 on: July 29, 2008, 11:29:54 PM »
Bill likes to get the weirdos on his show to own them and demonstrate how 'liberal' he really is.

Butterbean

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Re: "Are Christians Guilty of Hate Speech?"
« Reply #8 on: July 30, 2008, 06:48:48 AM »
Bill likes to get the weirdos on his show to own them and demonstrate how 'liberal' he really is.
Yeah, interesting how he tries to group those 3 men together w/the Westboro wackos.  Apples and oranges.  I'm not familiar w/who the third man is but I'm pretty certain that Pat Robertson and Franklin Graham would never say that God hates homosexuals etc. since that is not what the bible teaches.

If anyone thinks the "protests" the Westboro people participate in represent Christianity they are mistaken.
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Re: "Are Christians Guilty of Hate Speech?"
« Reply #9 on: July 30, 2008, 11:56:15 AM »
Yeah, interesting how he tries to group those 3 men together w/the Westboro wackos.  Apples and oranges.  I'm not familiar w/who the third man is but I'm pretty certain that Pat Robertson and Franklin Graham would never say that God hates homosexuals etc. since that is not what the bible teaches.

If anyone thinks the "protests" the Westboro people participate in represent Christianity they are mistaken.

I'm sorry to say that Pat doesn't strike me as very enlightened either.  :-\


Butterbean

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Re: "Are Christians Guilty of Hate Speech?"
« Reply #10 on: July 31, 2008, 06:50:38 AM »
I'm sorry to say that Pat doesn't strike me as very enlightened either.  :-\


:-\

I guess at least he didn't say God hated the guy  :-\
R