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Christian preacher arrested for saying homosexuality is a sin

Read the post wherein I gave my opinion upon what happened. My remarks about offensive speech are principle, not necessarily about that particular instance.

I think that's where we diverge. I don't think there's an obligation by society as a whole to protect someone's feelings. I don't think people should run around being offensive but I don't think people should walk around with an expectation that their being offended is some violation.
 
I posted it because it was part of the larger argument - WHY WAS THEH PREACHER ARRESTED?

Is it really so hard for you to understand that the preacher was arrested because the UK limits hate speech?

I don't support the concept of hate speech. I believe in almost absolute freedom of speech.

But I also think that "biblical truth," particularly in this instance, is an oxymoron.

Now, suddenly folks have pounced on whether or not I believe as the Preacher believes.

Well, fact of the matter is I do.

Well, color me astounded.

But I do know that homosexuality and being effiminate is a sin in the eyes of God. And so, if asked I will stand by that.

That's awesome. Your beliefs are dumb.

I'm just trying to explain my point of view and how things tend to get turned around the moment God, religion or one's religious believes suddenly enter the conversation.

Yeah. You see it as absolute truth, I think it's more than a little ridiculous and subjective. When I challenge your beliefs, you get butt hurt and feel persecuted.

Get over it. You put your beliefs out there, some people aren't going to like them. That's how free speech works. You get a chance to have your say, other people have the same chance to say your say is stupid. Free speech does not mean a mutual admiration society. It means that someone may very well be offended by what you say, and offend you in turn. Free speech can be complicated like that.

The end.

But no one has argued whether or not the preacher was wrongfully arrested based on a law that had nothing to do with the charges brought against him

That's because he wasn't arrested in the U.S., and the arrest isn't illegal based upon British law.

And not once have I attempted to push my religious believe on the matter on anyone else.

That's right. You just posted biblical truth here, and those of us who think that a monkey could have typed something equally good had our chance to post our version of truth here. And now you're sad.

sad_panda_by_ra3ndy.jpg
 
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A long, rich tradition in the U.S., I might add. And our politicians used to kill each other over minor insults. Because we're badasses.

I'm all for bringing dueling back. In fact, I think it is essential to regain some of the civility that we have lost as a society. People might be a little more careful about what they say if they have to face the barrel end of a gun for saying it.
 
I think that's where we diverge. I don't think there's an obligation by society as a whole to protect someone's feelings. I don't think people should run around being offensive but I don't think people should walk around with an expectation that their being offended is some violation.

I can actually see the point you are making, and often people are just too thin-skinned. But there are good reasons for hate-speech laws (which are just an extension of incitement to violence laws,) and I prefer to live in a society where some nutter is not allowed to broadcast what he likes, irrespective of its effect upon others. Autres temps; autres moeurs, I guess.
 
I'm all for bringing dueling back. In fact, I think it is essential to regain some of the civility that we have lost as a society. People might be a little more careful about what they say if they have to face the barrel end of a gun for saying it.

I can't really agree with that at all.
 
I'm all for bringing dueling back. In fact, I think it is essential to regain some of the civility that we have lost as a society. People might be a little more careful about what they say if they have to face the barrel end of a gun for saying it.

You MUST be southern. ;) And I don't mean that in a bad way.

I wonder if sad panda will someday get me shot.
 
ROFL. Make that the Braves.
 
You MUST be southern. ;) And I don't mean that in a bad way.

I wonder if sad panda will someday get me shot.

Nope, born and raised in Wyoming, where people usually have the common decency to put up or shut up.
 
Is it really so hard for you to understand that the preacher was arrested because the UK limits hate speech?
No. It's not hard for me to understand that at all because it was the basis of my argument in the first place. But like I said, you didn't bother to read my post in its entirety. You stopped at the point where I illustrated that what the preacher said was based on Scripture and that's all you saw and it pissed you off that anyone could once again show you where the Bible clearly shows where homosexuality is a sin. To your point of view, that's passing one's religious beliefs on someone. But I've done nothing of the sort.
Your beliefs are dumb.
Why? Because it doesn't conform to your way of life? Because at some point in your life someone misused you based on his/her religious beliefs? Sorry, but don't hate me for someone else's wrong-doing.

Yeah. You see it as absolute truth, I think it's more than a little ridiculous and subjective. When I challenge your beliefs, you get butt hurt and feel persecuted.

First off, I don't believe everything I've read in the Bible and I certainly don't apply alot of the Old Testiment beliefs or rituals in my life. That would be dumb. If I had to slaughter cattle for every sin I've committed we wouldn't have cows! :2razz:

Second, I don't see an absolute truth to Scripture. There are things I've argued in opposition to my church ministry all the time, but Christianity happens to be the one religious I've studied that I feel confident enough in that I believe helps me to lead a better, happier life. If you have no religious faith, well...that's your business and your right. But I won't condemn you for it as you apparently are doing to me and others who do have religious values.
Get over it. You put your beliefs out there, some people aren't going to like them.

And I'm fine with that. The only time I get upset with anyone here is when they take my words out of context or attempt to belittle me as you're attempting to do.
 
I believe silly "christian" preachers do stupid things just to get themselves arrested so they can scream about being arrested for preaching. The head lines will read "Christians arrested for praying" but when you read the story, you find they were sitting in the middle of the street and they were really arrested for blocking traffic and disorderly conduct. How do you deal with fanatics like that?
 
So you believe the anal cavity is a sexual orifice rather than the orifice for expelling waste?

So obviously you don't believe in oral sex either, correct?

Oh....and isn't a vagina also used for expelling waste...as is the penis?
 
I believe silly "christian" preachers do stupid things just to get themselves arrested so they can scream about being arrested for preaching. The head lines will read "Christians arrested for praying" but when you read the story, you find they were sitting in the middle of the street and they were really arrested for blocking traffic and disorderly conduct. How do you deal with fanatics like that?

Yeah except that doesn't appear to be at all what happened in this case if you read the article.
 
Dale McAlpine was charged with causing “harassment, alarm or distress” after a homosexual police community support officer (PCSO) overheard him reciting a number of “sins” referred to in the Bible, including blasphemy, drunkenness and same sex relationships.
...
Wow. Welcome to politically correct fascism, can I take your order?


He was arrested and charged with using threatening words and behaviour, i.e. NOT hate speech and NOT for saying homosexuality is a sin, even if that was part of the content of his outburst. Harranguing, street-preachers are a frequent feature of British street life, you can hear them anywhere and they say what they like, usually stuff that comes from the nuttier and more extreme end of the Christian canon. If they stick to opinion they have no problem. When they become abusive, threatening or seditious, they cross the line and action may be taken against them.

I'm sure that you and many of your friends on DP might find the limits of free speech in Britain and other western countries not as wide as those protected by the US constitution and legislation. So what? These are different countries we are discussing here, different constitutions , different cultures. Perhaps in Britain people are more closely called to account for what they say; British politicians are certainly held more accountable for the claims they make than American politicians are. Libel laws are also much stricter. But, y'know, diff'rent strokes...
 
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Yeah except that doesn't appear to be at all what happened in this case if you read the article.

Read the article by all means, but also bear in mind that it comes from a newspaper that opposes gay rights and sexual equality and has an agenda to make political capital out of anomalies in the system.
 
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