Is It Me, Or Is There Rich Irony In Lord Carey Characterising Christians As An 'oppressed Minority'

[sp1814]

...especially as the church has for hundreds of years, has being doing exactly that to gay people?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-21979034

Could this be a great example of 'well, now the shoe's on the other foot'?

[Zacs-Master]

The church is full of irony. Religion is becoming more and more marginalised and irrelevant in today's society. The church knows it is on a downward spiral and craves publicity. Of any kind.

[ChillDoubt]

This coming from a man who sees his Synod repress women and homosexuals.

People in glass houses?

As Ricky Gervais might say, I pray to god that one day we'll live in a secular society.

[Gromit]

I think the irony is that when he was in charge he did not grow the church yet he is bemoaning its dwindling influence.

Christians are no more an oppressed minority than are Trekkies or ufologists. They choose to believe something which to other members of the community is fantasy. If they are oppressed, how come the House of Lords is full of Bishops (who I didn't elect or want)? The truth is they are not oppressed, and I doubt Carey has any understanding of what that is like.

The church and homosexuality is a very complex issue. Certainly, the church has not promoted homosexuality, but it hasn't really oppressed them either (except in a few extreme cases).

I think it is stetching it to try and connect the two.

[douglas9401]

I smell a hobbyhorse.

[craft1948]

Yes sp.........it's you.

[sp1814]

douglas9401/craft1948

Absolutely. I declare an interest here. I wanted to open a discussion on this because I think that Carey is being a hypocrite.

I find it stunning that Christians can with a straight face, that they are persecuted when as far as I can tell, no child has ever been thrown out of their houses because they come out as Christian.

I don't think that Christians have suffered the same level of abuse and violence that gay people have, and gay people don't preach the evils of Christianity from pulpits every week

Basically, I think that Carey doesn't even know what 'persecuted' actually means.

Yes, I've saddled up my hobby horse...cantering around the paddock.

[douglas9401]

Christian factions abuse and oppress other Christian factions as do most other major religions.
Homosexuality's time as a mainstream feature has been, gone and is coming again.
Is there to be no progress because vocal homosexuals want their moment to shine as a downtrodden group before they can move on or will they as modern human beings accept where we are, ignore the mumbo jumbo and move on?

[sp1814]

Douglas

Eh?????

[douglas9401]

Okay, you've been oppressed, you want a 'sorry' and acceptance.

[sp1814]

Douglas

No - I want to point out the hypocrisy of Christians claiming that they are an oppressed minority when they have actively been oppressing gay people for hundreds of years.

Can you see the irony, or is just me?

Perhaps it is...

[anotheoldgit]

sp1814

You are criticising Christians for their stance on homosexuality but constantly remain silent regarding Islam's stance.

Well it is reported that Christianity in this country will be a minority religion in not too many years time, then homosexuals and others will know what it is really like to be oppressed.

[rojash]

Dear old AOG completely missing the thrust of the post again, so that he can bring one of his (many) obsessions into the discussion.

sp1814 is not criticising Christians for their stance on homosexuality, he is point out that they, having oppressed that particular minority (and other minorities, come to that), are now whining about being an oppressed minority. themselves.

[lcg]

i can see the irony.....but with the church, it has always been a case of 'do as i say and not as i do' hasn't it? biggest bunch of hypocrites going, and completely out of touch with society. yet, the church are able to publicly claim some really non-pc/dodgy stuff and do not get vilified for it as others do: i.e. about gay people, not using contraception (despite aids in africa and other std's etc.). anyone else comes out with that sort of stuff and everyone is hopping up and down.....but if a man in a dress says it - that's all fine and dandy x

[naomi24]

SP, no it isn’t just you – and it isn’t just Lord Carey either. The religious are quick to condemn, but faced with criticism are rarely slow to act the victim and cry ‘foul’.

[anotheoldgit]

rojash

/// sp1814 is not criticising Christians for their stance on homosexuality, ///

*** I want to point out the hypocrisy of Christians claiming that they are an oppressed minority when they have actively been oppressing gay people for hundreds of years. ***

Seems awfully like it to me.

[naomi24]

AOG, it could be seen as a criticism, but you're completely missing the point of principle that SP is making.

[anotheoldgit]

naomi24

/// AOG, it could be seen as a criticism, but you're completely missing the point of principle that SP is making ///

No I am completely aware of the point of principle that sp is making, I was simply addressing his constant criticism of Christianity, while ignoring Islam's stance on homosexuality.

/// No - I want to point out the hypocrisy of Christians claiming that they are an oppressed minority when they have actively been oppressing gay people for hundreds of years. ///

[naomi24]

AOG, perhaps if a Muslim cleric had said something similar to Lord Carey, SP would have criticised that – but none did - so he didn’t. If you haven’t missed the point, why not address it?

[anotheoldgit]

naomi24

/// If you haven’t missed the point, why not address it? ///

I choose what I address, just the same as everyone else on AnswerBank does, so why should I be expected to be any difference?

[naomi24]

AOG, no one has suggested you're expected to be different, but you're leading the thread off track because Islam's stance on homosexuality isn't the issue here.