Christian Says the Bible Doesn’t Instruct Christians to Deny Anyone Rights – Doesn’t Think Gay Couples Should Have the Right to Marry

This is a conversation that took place on the Discovering Reason FB page. The image you see below was posted which started the conversation.
The conversation has not been edited for grammar or spelling so that no one can claim it was "taken out of context" or edited in anyway.

Christian) This post seems to contradict the spirit of the last post where NDT celebrates independent thought. Should your readers accept you telling them what to think and not to think?

The post he is referring to said, 

"Knowing how to think empowers you far beyond those who know only what to think." 

- Neil deGrasse Tyson

Discovering Reason) Of course they shouldn't, they should follow the evidence. And if the evidence suggests that this post is wrong, I'll be happy to change my mind.

However, the Bible is full of verses that support this post. Do you have any evidence to show it is wrong? If so, I'll be happy to take down the post and re-post your evidence. Just please don't cherry pick verses and leave out the ones about killing non-believers or enslaving other nations.

Christian) You won't find anything in the new Testament that instructs Christians to deny anyone's rights, except themselves. The historical context of 1st century church doesn't even allow the possibility of Christian influence on politics.

But that's besides the point. Even if you were correct, you've still told your readers what to think.

Discovering Reason) Well trust me, my "readers" have a mind of their own and think for themselves. If I were to say something they disagreed with they would have no problem questioning it or simply dismissing it outright.

But it says in 1 Corinthians 14:34 " Women should remain silent in the churches. They are not allowed to speak, but must be in submission, as the law says."

Sounds like a denial of free speech based on gender...

But why do you not want to make that same claim about the OT?

Christian) That's correct. The passage you cited was a Christian passage, directed to a Christian church. Paul did not tell the Corinthians to go to the town square and stop women from talking.

Likewise with the Old Testament. It was written to Jews, contains eternal moral principles, but lays no lasting cultural or civic burden on Christians. That's the whole point of the New Testament books of Hebrews and Galatians.

Discovering Reason) Well I disagree with your interpretation, but I wish more Christians viewed it is as you do. Because many Christians quote the Bible when they are arguing that gay marriage should not be legal. I'm glad to hear you think they are all wrong and hope you are on their pages debating this with them and fighting for the rights that they are trying to deny.

Christian) You’re moving the goal posts, my friend. I never said a word about gay marriage. I just noticed the back to back posts: one in celebration of free thought, the next clearly designed to indoctrinate.

Discovering Reason) Not at all moving the goal posts! I understand you think they contradict each other, and maybe I shouldn't have used the phrase "Let's stop thinking" but the post is accurate.

I'm just congratulating you on not wanting to deny gay couples the right to marry. We may disagree on whether a deity exists, but at least we can agree on that. You do want gay people to have the right to marry, yes?

Christian) You don't seem to know what moving the goal posts means.

You took the liberty of defining the word "Christian" based on a contemporary issue. Let's go back to the source to determine what the word means. I hoped to draw attention to your line of reasoning and away from the emotive nature of your post. By offering me another emotionally charged question, you are showing that you aren't comfortable with your reasoning from a logical standpoint. But I'll play this along.

From a purely philosophical standpoint, we have to recognize that often times protecting the rights of one group necessarily infringes on the rights of another. Take the recent court cases concerning bakers and florists...the court is painted into a corner because either way they decide, someone's rights will be denied. It's hard to choose between gay couples and florists, but I believe the rights of children trump the rights of adults. Specifically, every child should have the right to be raised by both parents. Obviously that can't always be the case, no matter if we're talking about gay or straight marriage. But if the government is in the business of protecting rights, it should be the rights of children first. So to answer you directly, no I don't think the government should endorse gay marriage. But one need not rely on a religious argument to see the logic of that position.

(leaves this link)

Dear Justice Kennedy: An Open Letter from the Child of a Loving Gay Parent

In other words, this isn't an issue of Christians trying to deny the rights of others. It's an issue of recognizing whose rights are more important: children or adults? Based on your support for gay marriage, I could just as easily accuse you of attempting to deny the rights of children. But that would be somewhat sophomoric.

Discovering Reason) That is absurd! Some gay couples don't even want children. If that were really your position - you would say gay marriage should be legal but they aren't allowed to raise children.

Which if a gay couple were to have a child it would most likely be by adoption, which in that case the child needs parents and you are denying them a couple that will love and raise them.

(Yes, there are other ways they could have a child, but if it was really about children's rights you could make them illegal.)

This ended the conversation between us, however, he did respond to the excellent comment below, completely ignoring my response.

Click here to see original post.

Conclusion

Clearly the Bible denies rights to others, but seeing an image that points this out is unsettling for a Christian - and prompted the Christian to defend his deeply held irrational beliefs. He claimed his position on gay marriage was purely secular, but it is clear (based on his poor argument and lack of effort to find a solution so that gay couples can have the same right to marry as he does) that his position stems from his Biblical beliefs, and is trying to make it appear rational.