How Christians Can Continue to Believe Being Gay is a Sin, but No Longer Look like Intolerant Assholes

Christians, are you sick of being persecuted for being intolerant of homosexuals? As a humanist, I care about the happiness and well-being of all life, and I have noticed that many Christians living in the United States are having a difficult time as of late. It seems fewer and fewer are listening to your warnings that your God is going to destroy America if we accept homosexuals, and now that gay marriage is legal in the U.S., it’s making some Christians look even more hateful as the majority of U.S. citizens are in favor of gay marriage. As an atheist, I know how it feels to be in the minority on an issue, it can be extremely difficult – but I have a suggestion that will allow you to still think homosexuality is a sin but won’t make you look like an intolerant asshole.

I know what you’re thinking, “But why can’t people see how immoral this behavior is, the Bible clearly says it's a sin?!?” That’s true, but fortunately, some people don’t look to ancient books to derive their morals. Some, like myself, use empathy and consequential ethics as a basis for morality. No matter how much you protest and threaten us with eternal hell, we aren’t going to change our stance (unless sufficient evidence is presented to back up your claims) and it will only make you look crazy!

If you want to be taken more seriously, I’d suggest equally being against other “sins” such as divorce and premarital sex which Christians are guilty of constantly! Or better yet, protest the sexual abuse of children that is happening throughout many Christian denominations! 

It’s pretty clear to me that Christians who overwhelmingly attack homosexuality over other sins – is because straight Christians don’t commit that “sin”. It’s easy for a Christian to speak up and feel morally superior when it’s a “sin” they’ve never committed. Non-believers and even Christians who are accepting of homosexuals can see right through this hypocrisy and you end up looking like an enormous asshole.

I know Christians struggle with the balancing of “being in the world but not of the world”; but when following religious text such as the Bible it can make one look extremely hateful and intolerant, and I know Christians don’t want to appear this way. So what can you do? The best solution is to give up using ancient books as a moral guide and replace it with reason and compassion. However, this is easier said than done for a variety of reasons.

If that is not a current option, there is another option which is TRUST IN YOUR GOD. Yes, you read that correctly! If you feel the need to continue believing an ancient myth and need a book which is said to be inspired by an “All-Mighty God”, then show some FAITH that your God exists and that He/it will judge homosexuals when the time comes. I doubt an all-powerful deity needs help condemning sinners. 

You may be thinking, “But if we let this sin continue, God will punish America for allowing this behavior!” No need to worry, when America was founded, slavery was legal, mixed-race marriages were illegal, and women didn’t have the right to vote and according to most Christians - that’s when America was great! If your God didn’t punish America then, he’s probably not going to punish us for extending freedom to gay couples.

So just leave the condemning to your deity - all the persecution you are experiencing for being intolerant will cease to exist and you’ll no longer look like an intolerant asshole.