Autism And Dementia Are God's Punishment For Gay Rights

[Kromovaracun]

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2014/01/22/chicago-gop-hopeful-autism-and-dementia-are-gods-punishments-for-lgbt-rights/

Would this person believe what they believe without religion?

[joggerjayne]

Thank goodness she's not a lesbian.

I wouldn't want to wake up with her!

Not that I'm ...

I mean I'm just saying.

[beso]

Well considering that autism and dementia were around while gays were ruthlessly persecuted for centuries it seems rather an irrational claim.

[THEMOTLEY1]

Wow, got as far as the photo, that is scary!

[jomifl]

It sounds as if she is suffering fom dementia..

[davetuc]

What a ridiculous statement from an absolute monster, Susanne Atanus! And what a bummer of a name!

[douglas9401]

She's only part of thes story though. What about the certifiable who will vote for this woman on the basis of her, and their, beliefs?

[cassa333]

So if she, or a family memebr, gets dementia will she accept God was angry with her or her family for being gay or something? or does it only happen to other people?

[beso]

The sad thing is that many will vote for her.

[andy-hughes]

I find it reassuring when people like this air their views - it increases my sanity rating - always a good thing.

[jno]

Would this person believe what they believe without religion?

That's a rather bizarre question. The bleedin' obvious answer is surely that nobody can attribute anything to God if they don't believe in God, so, er, No.

[Kromovaracun]

jno

Well, obviously she wouldn't be talking about God. But is religion the root cause of her bigotry or would she be saying something equivalent without religion?

[jim360]

What is the non-religious equivalent though? I'm not sure there is one. Even something less committal such as, "autism is a disease carried over from transgressions of a past life," is filled with religious (or at least spiritual) overtones, given that there is no physical evidence to support the idea of reincarnation.

[jno]

I'm not sure what "equivalent" could be in this case. Blaming autism on the wind or something? But yes, taking a wider view, there are plenty of superstitions about tossing a pinch of salt over your shoulder (etc etc) which seek to avert ill omen, which is what this politician is trying to do, by means that are irrational but not religious.

And more broadly still, homophobia has never been the exclusive preserve of believers, though it's fair to say they have been among the loudest voices on the subject. But many other believers, the majority I suspect, have nothing against gays or gay marriage.

[beso]

You are n denial there jno.

The Bible says homosexuality is an abomination. That is where the vast majority of idiots like this woman learnt their bigotry.

[sandyRoe]

In the olden days rivers would run red with pollution, there'd be plagues of locusts, and the hand of God would strike down the first born. She's only putting a modern slant on an old story. If she hadn't religion she'd have no grounds for her strange beliefs.
Whatever she believes, she clearly deserves to lose her deposit if she stands.

[sandyRoe]

Doesn't 'anger management' usually mean holding it all in? Better, by far, to unleash a thunderbolt. That's cathartic.

[chrisgel]

God controls the weather, she said, and tornadoes are evidence of his wrath.

She could be sat in the desert 2000 years ago and said exactly the same thing.
Maybe Darwin was wrong.

[mccfluff]

makes you kinda warm to david cameron......