Let’s just stop all this fussin’ and a-feudin’
February 5, 1999
Lately, I’ve noticed that I don’t get many letters in response to my column.
So, I decided the thing to do would be to write about Christians, or homosexuals or something of that nature.
That seems to be what all the letters are about these days. Hey, I’m a man of the people. The people want God vs. Homosexuals. I’ll give it to them.
At this point I suppose I’ll have to decide whether I’m pro-God or pro-homosexual, because Lord knows you can’t be both. At least, that’s what the consensus seems to be on this campus. At least among people inclined to write letters.
So basically, the pro-God argument seems to be that the Bible is the infallible word of God, and everyone who hasn’t realized that best repent before judgment day.
Then, of course, there is the counter argument which basically tries to explain how either homosexuality is natural or the Bible is bunk or something in between. Is this even an argument? The resounding answer is no.
What we have here are a bunch of people who aren’t even having the same argument. Are religion and sexuality butting heads? No.
This is a classic example of two groups with fundamentally different views trying to do battle when they share no common ground.
If I have to read another letter where someone quotes the Bible to help make his or her point, I’m going to vomit. Vomit blood.
Not everyone, and least of all the ones these people are trying to reach, believes that everything in the Bible is even true. On top of that, the ones who write expressing the “Christian” viewpoint suffer another flaw.
There are hundreds of millions of Christians worldwide. It is ludicrous to suggest that there is one united view coming out of a group so large. So these poor souls may not even share common ground with their fellow “Christians.”
At the same time, I don’t think it’s worthwhile to try to dissuade someone with unwavering faith in the Bible. Even if I don’t agree, I respect that decision because I’ve seen people with that viewpoint lead very serene lives. I am a huge advocate of any type of faith that can provide that.
I have seen the same sense of peace in people forced by society to live as heterosexuals, who have finally and openly embrace their homosexuality. They enjoy a sense of peace and belonging they couldn’t before.
Isn’t that what everyone is looking for: peace, understanding, security? What is so base about any of these desires?
And who has the audacity to say which medium is appropriate to attain these?
The issue here becomes one of acceptance. Regardless of what your point of view is, you can either choose to accept people on this earth or not.
I said earlier that I approve of any medium which provides peace and satisfaction. But to judge everyone by standards established by your particular beliefs is unfortunate.
One of the most noble gestures in human interaction is to agree to disagree. Sometimes, when we don’t have any common ground, that is what we must do.
If the Bible is your blueprint, fine. But don’t point fingers at people who have chosen a different path.
If you believe otherwise, there is no point in trying to point out flaws in the Bible. Either you have faith in it or you don’t, and that’s all there is to it.
So if you are sitting at home, pen in hand, ready to set the record straight, do me a favor: don’t.
I hate to break it to you Johnny Pissandvinegar, but you’re not going to say anything that hasn’t been said before, and you’re not going to move any mountains.
Ben Godar is a junior in sociology from Ames. He loves almost all the people of the world.