School can expel lesbian students, court rules

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by Kevin

Violating this rule isn't like a sit in at a lunch counter. There, you're really not violating anyone's right to do anything. Here, if you were to force religious schools to take kids who they thought were doing something immoral enough that they didn't, for their own unenlightened reasons, want around the other kids, you're infringing upon someone else's right to practice their religion.

You might value expression of sexuality above expression of religion. I don't. Lots of folks don't. Apparently, the court didn't.

It wasn't so much about expression of sexuality as it was uncertainty over their sexual orientation and perceived homosexuality. The court's ruling makes sense but that doesn't negate the fact that religious practices are challenged all the time.

Some of these religious denominations pretended that the Bible declared racism, lynching, and segregation as God's Will. Some also said that a man beating his wife was justified under God's Will and could show you a Scripture.

For those that no longer teach that, the change happened somehow and with prompting from somewhere.

[Kevin]

Originally Posted by DrPhil

Some of these religious denominations pretended that the Bible declared racism, lynching, and segregation as God's Will. Some also said that a man beating his wife was justified under God's Will and could show you a Scripture.

Blaming those practices on religious teachings alone is a bit simplistic, don't you think? Religious practice versus cultural practice gets is something of a chicken vs. egg argument. Some folks like to be able to justify their behavior with scripture.

In a sense, I think you're trying to compare 'those' religions with the teachings of the Lutheran Church. Or specifically, one particular teaching -- that homosexuality is a sin. That particular teaching has been black-letter law as far as religion has been concerned since even prior to the formation of the Lutheran Church (the school here is Lutheran). I'm not so certain that lynching, segregation, racism, etc. were ever so codified and clear in the religious teaching of that particular church or its predecessor.

What we have here is not some cultural norm being unconvincingly propped up by some shaky scripture verse. This is a religious norm which has been with us forever. Big 'ol difference, doncha think?

ETA: I'm not arguing for the correctness of this particular religious norm, but it's hard to deny it exists. In my church's case, I doubt the Pope or any of his successors will be changing this anytime soon. I do admit that theoretically, it is changeable, but the sort of change you're asking for would have to be something far more substantial than even Vatican II and at least in my mortal estimation, that ain't happening.

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by Kevin

Blaming those practices on religious teachings alone is a bit simplistic, don't you think?

I'm not blaming them on religious teachings. The people who said they come from religious teachings did.

Wherever they come from, they become ingrained in ideologies and practices. It can take a degree of rule breaking to overcome these practices. Holding a press conference doesn't always work.

[CutiePie2000]

That school will need to kick out the kids who eat shrimp & lobster, as well as the kids who wear cotton/polyester blended clothing.

I sent this to one of my (gay) work colleagues for Gay Pride Week and he appreciated it:

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by CutiePie2000

That school will need to kick out the kids who eat shrimp & lobster, as well as the kids who wear cotton/polyester blended clothing.

rut roh

[UGAalum94]

Originally Posted by CutiePie2000

That school will need to kick out the kids who eat shrimp & lobster, as well as the kids who wear cotton/polyester blended clothing.

I sent this to one of my (gay) work colleagues for Gay Pride Week and he appreciated it:

This kind of stuff demonstrates particularly kind of irony. One usually can't aspire to pull off "holier than thou" better than traditional religious leaders, and yet, people criticizing traditional religious leaders in this fashion are REALLY trying.

[VandalSquirrel]

Originally Posted by Kevin

Blaming those practices on religious teachings alone is a bit simplistic, don't you think? Religious practice versus cultural practice gets is something of a chicken vs. egg argument. Some folks like to be able to justify their behavior with scripture.

In a sense, I think you're trying to compare 'those' religions with the teachings of the Lutheran Church. Or specifically, one particular teaching -- that homosexuality is a sin. That particular teaching has been black-letter law as far as religion has been concerned since even prior to the formation of the Lutheran Church (the school here is Lutheran). I'm not so certain that lynching, segregation, racism, etc. were ever so codified and clear in the religious teaching of that particular church or its predecessor.

What we have here is not some cultural norm being unconvincingly propped up by some shaky scripture verse. This is a religious norm which has been with us forever. Big 'ol difference, doncha think?

ETA: I'm not arguing for the correctness of this particular religious norm, but it's hard to deny it exists. In my church's case, I doubt the Pope or any of his successors will be changing this anytime soon. I do admit that theoretically, it is changeable, but the sort of change you're asking for would have to be something far more substantial than even Vatican II and at least in my mortal estimation, that ain't happening.

As I posted previously, there are many different Synods for Lutherans, so please don't lump us all together. I don't want people to get the wrong idea, my flavor of Lutherans are much less likely (though not completely) to have issues with homosexuality.