Osler's Razor

I think it unlikely that there will be any large movement to overturn the SCOTUS decision, and more likely movement to extend civil rights (anti-discrimination) in employment and housing, adoption, etc. Those who fight a rear guard action against LGBT persons will likely experience a declining support as people find out that gays are not out there to snatch children, etc., but are among their acquaintance and have been for years, quietly!

I think the LBGT community could help accelerate this process by becoming advocates for the protection of children from molestation, making clear that there is no link between preference for a same-sex partnership and sexual attraction to children.

BTW, true pedophiles like large protestant churches that do not seem to understand how easy it is to pose as a person redeemed and to manipulate congregants to allow access to children.
 

WF-- Agreed, but I didn't know that about big Protestant churches. Overturning the decision is a near impossibility-- stare decisis still matters.

I've stayed out of the post-analysis/celebrating/gnashing of teeth for the most part. I think that the adjustment to a society that includes marriage for gay men and lesbians is not going to be as wrenching as some believe.
 

I think I understand David Brook's point. Many people who consider themselves social conservatives are caring and decent. We know a lot of them and they do real things that make a difference. David Brooks fears that they will remain closet supporters of positive social change, as they do not want attention nor be associated with long term change that is needed.

Our church would be considered progressive but does not speak out on social injustice or discrimination issues for fear of losing conservative congregants. This fear is an anchor to positive action.

America's churches are not leading and therefore are losing ground.


 

"They already subscribe to a faith built on selfless love."

When your argument is built on a premise as faulty as Brooks', well . . . you finish the sentence.

Social conservatives' reaction to the gay marriage decision and their acts of subversion and nullification are simple narcissism, self love, not selfless love.

When God starts to hate the same people you do, you've made God in your own image, not the other way around.
 

Interesting move from Baylor...

http://www.wacotrib.com/news/higher_education/baylor-drops-reference-to-homosexual-acts-in-sexual-conduct-policy/article_91d25ebb-1ccd-5738-a86a-7bbf4cf4b052.html
 

I just saw that! Definitely a step in the right direction.
 

A lot to unpack in his column. I typically enjoy David Brooks … although I often do not agree with all that he says. This column is par for the course. He makes some good points, as John points out. I am also inclined to agree with Steve’s comments. Although, there is interesting data about which end of the political spectrum gives the most to social concerns (counterintuitive to my liberal biases), I too have hard time accepting the “selfless love” part … and more so, as is too often is the case here in VA, I struggle with the way many conservative Christians seek to categorically speak for Christianity … often informed more by hate and fear, rather than by a loving God. The Episcopal tradition that I am apart of has now joined with the US Supreme court and the VA Supreme court on this issue. That is a good thing. In the past month my wife and I ushered at two same sex weddings at our church (both couples are good friends of ours); they were incredibly joyous, faith filled weddings … very love filled, Christian weddings. And very evangelical, in that they both did much, in praxis, to open the doors of the “Church.” That is a good thing.
 

A lot of conservative charitable giving is to churches, much of which never leaves the four walls.