A Question On The Faith

[jazzytakara]

My boyfriend (who is agnostic) went to mass with me this morning. He is logic and facts based towards all aspects of life, so there are some aspects of Christianity and Catholicism that he struggles with believing and understanding. So as a result of today's mass he was left with many questions and an almost negative reflection on the event, and my own lack of knowledge was only enough to ease some of his concerns, thus I told him I would take it to the scholars and priests of Phatmass. His questions were as follows:

The homily was on not discriminating today, my boyfriend asked me why homosexuals are discriminated against, as finding love is something that makes everyone happy, should they not be allowed to marry the people they love. Why should we believe what the Bible says, as anyone could have written it. (I only have a basic idea, and I struggle with this too as I came from a liberal protestant church)

Secondly at many times in the mass today, there was mention of how those who believe will be safe nothing will harm them, the Lord will protect them. However, with his mom struggling with terminal cancer (and being a wonderful person who still suffers), the fact that she may die of cancer makes him disbelieve in Christianity as people suffer and die from horrible illnesses and injuries everyday. Awful things happen to people, such as rape, torture, etc. For instance, we are both Canadian and Canada was just put under threat of nuclear bombs from Iran. My boyfriend is also an avid weather nerd, what about natural disasters that destroy and end the lives of millions all over the world.

[CatherineM]

Why shouldn't bad things happen to good people? Humans have been doing bad things to each other since Cain and Able. I have looked into the eyes of men on death row, and I can tell you a few things about them. They are still human beings. I never met one that was both sober and sane when they committed their crime. Healthy people don't have the need to hurt other people. In my experience, there are lots more hurting people in the world than healthy ones. That's what Christians are supposed to do. Prevent harm when when we can, fix it when it's already happened. Sometimes one person at a time.

As to gay marriage, again we should be in the business of preventing harm. How are we discriminating against someone by trying to prevent them from hurting themselves? I've had scores of gay clients over the years. All nice people, but not happy and healthy. That tired excuse about letting two people who love each other get married is bogus. How far do we go? What if the two people in love are brother and sister? How about father and son? How about a 60 year old and a 10 year old? How about three people in love?

Oh yeah, and the whole discrimination stuff is also bogus. I have never seen a person who considers themselves to be gay turned away from a Catholic Church. They are as welcome as anyone else is. So how exactly are we discriminating?