There are two terms that eventually come up in any sustained dialogue on the morality of homosexual practice or homosexual marriage: One is bigotry and the other is homophobia. These terms are brought together emphatically in the searing appellation bigoted homophobe. For educational purposes, I would like to explore this personal question: Am I a bigoted homophobe?
To be honest, I have not always been familiar with this terminology. When I was growing up, these simply were not words used in my family. So to answer this question, I will need to turn to an English dictionary. I have two such resources within easy reach: first, the online definitions available at Dictionary.com; second, a hard-back edition of Webster's II New College Dictionary.
To simplify this question, I will split the terminology and address the adjective before the adverb. So first: Am I a homophobe? One can only assume that a homophobe is someone who is homophobic, or has the condition known as homophobia, which is so defined:
So, back to me: I am not afraid of homosexuals, at least on a physical level. Frankly, I cannot ever recall meeting a lesbian or a gay person who looked tough enough to be a threat to me, though there probably are some out there somewhere. Do I feel threatened by homosexuality somehow? Not directly. Just because somebody else is homosexual, this does not mean that I have to be homosexual or that I have to like it.
Certainly though, I feel that homosexuality is a threat to society. I am afraid of what homosexuality will do to our country, namely, destroying the family unit, confusing gender roles, and ultimately bringing us under the wrath of the Almighty God. On the last point, I will state that from the very beginning of history (see Genesis 1) God has created human beings as male and female, and he has made it abundantly clear that his intention is for human sexuality to be enjoyed only between male and female, consummated within the sacred boundaries of marriage. When a nation embraces homosexuality, they effectively shake their fists in the face of God, and eventually he must judge that rebellion.
Do I have contempt for homosexuals? That is something of a complex question. One the one hand, I desire the best for homosexuals, specifically that they turn away from their homosexuality, find forgiveness from God through Christ, and come to experience the joys and pleasures that can be found in living a pure, heterosexual life-style. On the other hand, it is not always easy to separate my view of a person from lifestyle choices he or she chooses to make, or the philosophy he or she chooses to advocate. I certainly have a strong contempt for homosexuality. So is it also possible that I have some contempt for the people who not only embrace homosexuality in their personal lives, but also boldly promulgate their views, either loudly from the roof tops, or through displays of sexual innuendo in public places? Probably so.
But we see now that the definition of homophobia itself is stacked, for it casts a very broad net. Those who use the term casually never define specifically what they mean by terms like "fear" or "contempt," nor do they take into consideration the various motives that might inspire a person to stand in opposition to the practices and teachings of the homosexual movement.
So let us move on to next question: Am I bigot? Unfortunately, this question is even more muddled than the last. Let us work here with the definition of bigot provided by Dictionary.com:
Furthermore, the term intolerance itself is a difficult word: So we go back to the dictionaries:
Then we touch on permissiveness. On the one hand, I am permissive toward my opponents in that I respect their right to have opinions. On the other hand, my core beliefs compel me to argue that those opinions are both wrong and harmful. Likewise, the homosexuals assert that it is wrong for me to speak out against homosexual practices, even though that is my opinion!
As you have no doubt realized by now, the purpose of this article was never to clear up the question of whether or not I am a bigoted homophobe. The purpose rather is to demonstrate that the phrase bigoted homophobe is a murky, confused, and loaded construction. Despite all its emotional baggage, the label really communicates nothing about the subject, nor does it bring us any closer to the essence of the debate.
The terms bigot and homophobe have no fitting place in a debate over the morality of homosexuality. Nevertheless, the moment we step into the dock, it is assumed that bigotry is an established crime, that homophobia is a social disease, and that it is our responsiblity to exonerate ourselves from these burning accusations. I say that it is high time we throw off the chains of this terminology, imposed senselessly on us by our liberal opponents. Instead, we should shift focus onto the substance of the matter: understanding what is right and what is wrong.
To be honest, I have not always been familiar with this terminology. When I was growing up, these simply were not words used in my family. So to answer this question, I will need to turn to an English dictionary. I have two such resources within easy reach: first, the online definitions available at Dictionary.com; second, a hard-back edition of Webster's II New College Dictionary.
To simplify this question, I will split the terminology and address the adjective before the adverb. So first: Am I a homophobe? One can only assume that a homophobe is someone who is homophobic, or has the condition known as homophobia, which is so defined:
Unreasoning fear of or antipathy toward homosexuals and homosexuality. (Dictionary.com)That is a rather inconvenient set of definitions for the term, because of the broadness and ambiguities. The first definition looks for either an irrational fear, or some vague aversion. The term antipathy itself is difficult, because of its many shades of meaning, as also provided by Dictionary.com:
Fear of or contempt for lesbians and gay men. (Webster's II)
The second definition (of homophobia) requires either any general fear of homosexuals, or instead contempt, which is a stronger term than antipathy. The first definition requires that feeling be directed toward both homosexuality and homosexuals, while the second specifies only homosexuals. So from the start no clear distinction is made here between attitudes toward homosexual practices and attitudes toward the homosexuals themselves.1. a natural, basic, or habitual repugnance; aversion.2. an instinctive contrariety or opposition in feeling.3. an object of natural aversion or habitual dislike.
So, back to me: I am not afraid of homosexuals, at least on a physical level. Frankly, I cannot ever recall meeting a lesbian or a gay person who looked tough enough to be a threat to me, though there probably are some out there somewhere. Do I feel threatened by homosexuality somehow? Not directly. Just because somebody else is homosexual, this does not mean that I have to be homosexual or that I have to like it.
Certainly though, I feel that homosexuality is a threat to society. I am afraid of what homosexuality will do to our country, namely, destroying the family unit, confusing gender roles, and ultimately bringing us under the wrath of the Almighty God. On the last point, I will state that from the very beginning of history (see Genesis 1) God has created human beings as male and female, and he has made it abundantly clear that his intention is for human sexuality to be enjoyed only between male and female, consummated within the sacred boundaries of marriage. When a nation embraces homosexuality, they effectively shake their fists in the face of God, and eventually he must judge that rebellion.
Do I have contempt for homosexuals? That is something of a complex question. One the one hand, I desire the best for homosexuals, specifically that they turn away from their homosexuality, find forgiveness from God through Christ, and come to experience the joys and pleasures that can be found in living a pure, heterosexual life-style. On the other hand, it is not always easy to separate my view of a person from lifestyle choices he or she chooses to make, or the philosophy he or she chooses to advocate. I certainly have a strong contempt for homosexuality. So is it also possible that I have some contempt for the people who not only embrace homosexuality in their personal lives, but also boldly promulgate their views, either loudly from the roof tops, or through displays of sexual innuendo in public places? Probably so.
But we see now that the definition of homophobia itself is stacked, for it casts a very broad net. Those who use the term casually never define specifically what they mean by terms like "fear" or "contempt," nor do they take into consideration the various motives that might inspire a person to stand in opposition to the practices and teachings of the homosexual movement.
So let us move on to next question: Am I bigot? Unfortunately, this question is even more muddled than the last. Let us work here with the definition of bigot provided by Dictionary.com:
A person who is utterly intolerant of any differing creed, belief, or opinion.Ah, but now we have only traded one ambiguous word for an unworkable definition. For if being a bigot means being utterly intolerant of any differing creed, belief, or opinion, then to avoid the label, one must be at least somewhat tolerant of every differing creed, belief, and opinion. If such be the case, then the homosexual is as guilty as I am, for he himself has shown intolerance toward my belief that homosexuality is wrong and should not be practiced.
Furthermore, the term intolerance itself is a difficult word: So we go back to the dictionaries:
Lack of toleration; unwillingness or refusal to tolerate or respect contrary opinions or beliefs, persons of different races or backgrounds, etc. (Dictionary.com)Of course, both definitions involve their counter-term, tolerance, so we must investigate that word as well:
Unwilling to tolerate differences in opinions or beliefs, esp. religious beliefs (Webster's II)
A fair, objective, and permissive attitude toward opinions and practices that differ from one's own. (Dictionary.com)Now we descend into a host of interesting conflicts and contradictions. Let us say that toleration means to have a fair, objective, and permissive attitude, et cetera. Personally, I have heard of fair practices, but never a fair attitude, so I will leave off that discussion. As far as objectivity is concerned, it is clear that in the debate regarding homosexuality, neither side is truly objective. Everyone on my side of the debate is obviously against homosexuality. Many of the people on the other side of the debate are people who want to practice homosexual life styles. Then there are the heterosexuals who take the side of the homosexuals, arguing that it is wrong for me to condemn homosexuality. Clearly everybody takes up a position for something and against something, and everybody has personal preferences for some kind of sexuality, and so the myth of objectivity disperses, like the vapor that it is.
Recognition of and respect for the opinions, practices, or behavior of others. (Webster's II)
Then we touch on permissiveness. On the one hand, I am permissive toward my opponents in that I respect their right to have opinions. On the other hand, my core beliefs compel me to argue that those opinions are both wrong and harmful. Likewise, the homosexuals assert that it is wrong for me to speak out against homosexual practices, even though that is my opinion!
As you have no doubt realized by now, the purpose of this article was never to clear up the question of whether or not I am a bigoted homophobe. The purpose rather is to demonstrate that the phrase bigoted homophobe is a murky, confused, and loaded construction. Despite all its emotional baggage, the label really communicates nothing about the subject, nor does it bring us any closer to the essence of the debate.
The terms bigot and homophobe have no fitting place in a debate over the morality of homosexuality. Nevertheless, the moment we step into the dock, it is assumed that bigotry is an established crime, that homophobia is a social disease, and that it is our responsiblity to exonerate ourselves from these burning accusations. I say that it is high time we throw off the chains of this terminology, imposed senselessly on us by our liberal opponents. Instead, we should shift focus onto the substance of the matter: understanding what is right and what is wrong.
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