Dan Savage: We can learn to ignore the bullshit in the Bible about gay people

[Firebird]

The more this guy speaks, the more I like him.

http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2012/04/30/columnist-dan-savage-stands-by-comments-on-bullst-in-the-bible/

(CNN) - Columnist and gay-rights advocate Dan Savage is standing by his comment that "we can learn to ignore the bulls**t in the Bible about gay people" at a recent conference for high school students, a line that prompted some to walk out and spurred intense online debate.

In a blog post on Sunday, Savage wrote that his remark at a conference for the Journalism Education Association and the National Scholastic Press Association was "being spun as an attack on Christianity. Which is bullshhh... which is untrue."

"I was not attacking the faith in which I was raised," Savage wrote. "I was attacking the argument that gay people must be discriminated against — and anti-bullying programs that address anti-gay bullying should be blocked (or exceptions should be made for bullying 'motivated by faith') — because it says right there in the Bible that being gay is wrong."

Some Christian students walked out of the Seattle speech, prompting another controversial line from Savage: "It's funny to someone who is on the receiving end of beatings that are justified by the Bible how pansya**ed people react when you push back."

Savage apologized for that specific remark in Sunday's blog post, writing that his word choice "was insulting, it was name-calling, and it was wrong."

One of the teachers attending the speech with his students told CNN's Carol Costello on Monday that he was taken aback by the speech and that he supported the decision of some of his students to walk out of it.

"It took a real dark, hostile turn, certainly, as I saw it," said Rick Tuttle, a teacher at Sutter Union High School in Southern California. "It became very hostile toward Christianity, to the point that many students did walk out, including some of my students."

"They felt that they were attacked ... a very pointed, direct attack on one particular group of students. It's amazing that we go to an anti-bullying speech and one group of students is picked on in particular, with harsh, profane language."

[history_geek]

Yes, it is indeed so anti-christian and offensive to say that the part about discrimination gays is bullshit

For crying out loud, some moms really need to stop preventing reality and everyday use of language in the lives of their kids. Now, if he had said "fucking bullshit"....

[DeterminedJuliet]

I love Dan Savage. He's definitely outspoken, and a bit inflammatory at times, but I've always enjoyed the work he's done.

[Sweetdeath]

Oooh, how dare Dan Savage tell people not to bully and attack human beings for something they can't help or change. How dare he tell christians to be loving and accept all types of people.

How dare he attack the good christian faith.

We need more people like Dan Savage.

[Harmonie]

I saw what he originally said, and it is all so true.

But, oh no, we just can't go around pointing out what the Bible says, nor can we point out the history of how the Bible has been used to keep minorities down and also been used as an excuse for racism, slavery, and sexism. (Because, when something is a 'religious belief' for a religion that is so integrated and accepted it gains acceptance in that society)

Of course, to many Christians I have spoken to, the Bible and Christianity are completely free from blame. They say it's just bad people. That I will never be able to understand because the Bible says the things that these bad people use to justify their hate.  There's no way that the Bible can't be at fault on at least some level. The Bible is an ancient book with an extremely outdated morality. The majority of Christians may not have realized it, but they have risen far above that morality. However, no matter what, their holy book still says everything that it does, and it's flat out asinine to cast it free from blame.