Hotel replaces bibles with "Fifty Shades of Grey"

[En_Route]

Would you feel the same if the book was a virulently homophobic tract?

Isn't it though? 

I was just going to say that xD

Well,certainly all the Christian religions as far as I know do interpret it as classifying the practice of homosexuality as a sin. I suspect homophobia has been almost universal in all cultures until relatively recently. Scotland is due to become the first part  of the UK to legalise gay marriages and that may represent a significant breakthrough in this part of the world.

I seriously thought gay marriage was already legal in the UK.  Didn't Elton John marry his partner, or did I dream that up in some sort of magical piano and blingy sunglasses filled fantasy? (I'm not making fun; I freaking love Sir Elton.)

Same- sex couples can enter into civil partnerships which generally confer the same legal rights and obligations as marriage.

[Recusant]

I suspect homophobia has been almost universal in all cultures until relatively recently.

Many people point to certain themes in the culture of ancient Greece that seem to them to be accepting of what we describe as homosexuality. I myself find that suspect, because it involves an attempt to impose modern "Western" cultural understanding (which has been formed by many centuries of domination by Christianity) on a culture which is really alien at its heart.  

I've seen some mention of traditional Japanese culture's acceptance of homosexuality. From what I've been able to find, most Amerind cultures not only accepted homosexuality, but the "two spirit" or berdache was generally a well respected and even powerful member of the tribe.

I haven't made a thorough study of this question, because it's only of passing interest to me, but I think it's likely that one could find other cultures in which the supposed "universal" homophobia does not exist.

[Tank]

Would you feel the same if the book was a virulently homophobic tract?

Isn't it though? 

I was just going to say that xD

Well,certainly all the Christian religions as far as I know do interpret it as classifying the practice of homosexuality as a sin. I suspect homophobia has been almost universal in all cultures until relatively recently. Scotland is due to become the first part  of the UK to legalise gay marriages and that may represent a significant breakthrough in this part of the world.

I seriously thought gay marriage was already legal in the UK.  Didn't Elton John marry his partner, or did I dream that up in some sort of magical piano and blingy sunglasses filled fantasy? (I'm not making fun; I freaking love Sir Elton.)

Civil union but not 'marriage' as such which will be the case over the next few years.

[Ali]

Would you feel the same if the book was a virulently homophobic tract?

Isn't it though? 

I was just going to say that xD

Well,certainly all the Christian religions as far as I know do interpret it as classifying the practice of homosexuality as a sin. I suspect homophobia has been almost universal in all cultures until relatively recently. Scotland is due to become the first part  of the UK to legalise gay marriages and that may represent a significant breakthrough in this part of the world.

I seriously thought gay marriage was already legal in the UK.  Didn't Elton John marry his partner, or did I dream that up in some sort of magical piano and blingy sunglasses filled fantasy? (I'm not making fun; I freaking love Sir Elton.)

Civil union but not 'marriage' as such which will be the case over the next few years.

Ah!  Huzzah for full marriage then!  I always did like me some Scottish people.

[Sweetdeath]

ER,
homosexual acts as always been accepted in places like Greece, Japan, Sweden...
It has been said that the bonds between a man and a man can be considered sacred.
Even Buddhism accepts homosexual acts.

Samurai, Feudal lords, they all practiced it, even when they had wives and children.

(such as the Recusant mentioned.)


The only time it is not accepted it out of sheer ignorant, fear, and probably closeted self homosexuality.

[En_Route]

ER,
homosexual acts as always been accepted in places like Greece, Japan, Sweden...
It has been said that the bonds between a man and a man can be considered sacred.
Even Buddhism accepts homosexual acts.

Samurai, Feudal lords, they all practiced it, even when they had wives and children.

(such as the Recusant mentioned.)


The only time it is not accepted it out of sheer ignorant, fear, and probably closeted self homosexuality.

The exceptions are more numerous than I'd originally surmised. Buddhism at least in its original form is extremely compassionate , non- prescriptive and open- minded which is why I personally find much of it very appealing, shorn of any of its  inessential mystic trappings such as karma . Given that it does not require belief in a supernatural being, I'm not convinced it should be labelled as a religion but rather as a philosophy of life.

[Sweetdeath]

ER,
homosexual acts as always been accepted in places like Greece, Japan, Sweden...
It has been said that the bonds between a man and a man can be considered sacred.
Even Buddhism accepts homosexual acts.

Samurai, Feudal lords, they all practiced it, even when they had wives and children.

(such as the Recusant mentioned.)


The only time it is not accepted it out of sheer ignorant, fear, and probably closeted self homosexuality.

The exceptions are more numerous than I'd originally surmised. Buddhism at least in its original form is extremely compassionate , non- prescriptive and open- minded which is why I personally find much of it very appealing, shorn of any of its  inessential mystic trappings such as karma . Given that it does not require belief in a supernatural being, I'm not convinced it should be labelled as a religion but rather as a philosophy of life.

Well, i suppose its labeled a religion because it follows the belief in a heaven/hell. Even though the idea of reincarnation exists, you can still end up in their version of hell, based on how you lived your life; which is pretty hard core.

[Synapse]

homosexual acts as always been accepted in places like Greece, Japan, Sweden...
It has been said that the bonds between a man and a man can be considered sacred.
Even Buddhism accepts homosexual acts.

Samurai, Feudal lords, they all practiced it, even when they had wives and children.

The only time it is not accepted it out of sheer ignorant, fear, and probably closeted self homosexuality.

Bisexuality is actually quite common in the animal kingdom. I suspect the reason why modern human sexuality seems to be polarized one way or the other is because of culture than because of anything else and religion definitely has a big part in culture. There of course could be a biologically predisposed normal distribution, i.e. there are men who naturally overwhelmingly prefer men over women or men who overwhelmingly prefer women over men. But it's possible there are a lot more people naturally in the grey area than modern societies might reflect. The idea that human sexuality might be more plastic than we assume is an issue that isn't getting the amount of research attention it deserves.

Anyway, more on topic, shouldn't they provide more classical texts? That way they don't have to change the books every now and then. Or maybe a travel guide on interesting places/ popular hangouts nearby. Although less Bibles is something I can support.

[OldGit]

If the Giddy people have real faith in their book, they could subsidise the hotels to lay on a paid Bible channel on the room TVs, and leave porn mags in the drawers.  This will obviously work.

[Asmodean]

Sweden...

Yes, about that...  ???

[En_Route]

ER,
homosexual acts as always been accepted in places like Greece, Japan, Sweden...
It has been said that the bonds between a man and a man can be considered sacred.
Even Buddhism accepts homosexual acts.

Samurai, Feudal lords, they all practiced it, even when they had wives and children.

(such as the Recusant mentioned.)


The only time it is not accepted it out of sheer ignorant, fear, and probably closeted self homosexuality.

The exceptions are more numerous than I'd originally surmised. Buddhism at least in its original form is extremely compassionate , non- prescriptive and open- minded which is why I personally find much of it very appealing, shorn of any of its  inessential mystic trappings such as karma . Given that it does not require belief in a supernatural being, I'm not convinced it should be labelled as a religion but rather as a philosophy of life.

Well, i suppose its labeled a religion because it follows the belief in a heaven/hell. Even though the idea of reincarnation exists, you can still end up in their version of hell, based on how you lived your life; which is pretty hard core.

Karma doesn't really work like that, because it is an ongoing process where actions continuously reshape awareness. So it's not a question of being doomed eternally. Bear in mind also that Western notions of the ego or separate, independent self do not apply either. The key insights of Buddhism in any event do not depend on
Karma, and one of the distinguishing marks of Buddhism is that in its original form anyway it is anti- dogmatic. You are free to accept or reject those parts of it you so wish on the basis of your own reflection and experience; what you are urged not to do is to accept anything on trust or rely blindly on authority including that of Buddha himself.  So you can regard Karma as a metaphor or as a means of broadening ones perception of the individual as no more than a ripple in an ocean or simply disregard it. I am not evangelising on the part of Buddhism and I don't subscribe to its mystic elements but it is petfectly possible to be a full- on atheist and adopt much or most of its philosophy.

[markmcdaniel]

I suspect homophobia has been almost universal in all cultures until relatively recently.

Many people point to certain themes in the culture of ancient Greece that seem to them to be accepting of what we describe as homosexuality. I myself find that suspect, because it involves an attempt to impose modern "Western" cultural understanding (which has been formed by many centuries of domination by Christianity) on a culture which is really alien at its heart.  

I've seen some mention of traditional Japanese culture's acceptance of homosexuality. From what I've been able to find, most Amerind cultures not only accepted homosexuality, but the "two spirit" or berdache was generally a well respected and even powerful member of the tribe.

I haven't made a thorough study of this question, because it's only of passing interest to me, but I think it's likely that one could find other cultures in which the supposed "universal" homophobia does not exist.

It appears that homosexuality was not only practiced, but, was pretty much mandatory in Sparta.

[En_Route]

I suspect homophobia has been almost universal in all cultures until relatively recently.

Many people point to certain themes in the culture of ancient Greece that seem to them to be accepting of what we describe as homosexuality. I myself find that suspect, because it involves an attempt to impose modern "Western" cultural understanding (which has been formed by many centuries of domination by Christianity) on a culture which is really alien at its heart.  

I've seen some mention of traditional Japanese culture's acceptance of homosexuality. From what I've been able to find, most Amerind cultures not only accepted homosexuality, but the "two spirit" or berdache was generally a well respected and even powerful member of the tribe.

I haven't made a thorough study of this question, because it's only of passing interest to me, but I think it's likely that one could find other cultures in which the supposed "universal" homophobia does not exist.

It appears that homosexuality was not only practiced, but, was pretty much mandatory in Sparta.

I wonder if they had a Straight Rights Movement there?

[markmcdaniel]

I suspect homophobia has been almost universal in all cultures until relatively recently.

Many people point to certain themes in the culture of ancient Greece that seem to them to be accepting of what we describe as homosexuality. I myself find that suspect, because it involves an attempt to impose modern "Western" cultural understanding (which has been formed by many centuries of domination by Christianity) on a culture which is really alien at its heart.  

I've seen some mention of traditional Japanese culture's acceptance of homosexuality. From what I've been able to find, most Amerind cultures not only accepted homosexuality, but the "two spirit" or berdache was generally a well respected and even powerful member of the tribe.

I haven't made a thorough study of this question, because it's only of passing interest to me, but I think it's likely that one could find other cultures in which the supposed "universal" homophobia does not exist.

It appears that homosexuality was not only practiced, but, was pretty much mandatory in Sparta.

I wonder if they had a Straight Rights Movement there?

They were to busy trying to be the biggest, most brutal fighters of there world. Homosexuality was part of building up bonds of brotherhood among fighting men.

[En_Route]

I suspect homophobia has been almost universal in all cultures until relatively recently.

Many people point to certain themes in the culture of ancient Greece that seem to them to be accepting of what we describe as homosexuality. I myself find that suspect, because it involves an attempt to impose modern "Western" cultural understanding (which has been formed by many centuries of domination by Christianity) on a culture which is really alien at its heart.  

I've seen some mention of traditional Japanese culture's acceptance of homosexuality. From what I've been able to find, most Amerind cultures not only accepted homosexuality, but the "two spirit" or berdache was generally a well respected and even powerful member of the tribe.

I haven't made a thorough study of this question, because it's only of passing interest to me, but I think it's likely that one could find other cultures in which the supposed "universal" homophobia does not exist.

It appears that homosexuality was not only practiced, but, was pretty much mandatory in Sparta.

I wonder if they had a Straight Rights Movement there?

They were to busy trying to be the biggest, most brutal fighters of there world. Homosexuality was part of building up bonds of brotherhood among fighting men.

Seems the Uk and US military were missing a trick.