Sesame Workshop Trying To Have It Both Ways(Bert/Ernie issue)

[CensoredAlso]

The issue I see, really the only issue is when one's religious beliefs leak out of the home or church and into the day to day lives and rights of other people

The real problem is lack of education. The Bible is an ancient book from an ancient world and the majority of Christians don't have a clue of the history or context behind it, why it says the things it does and, in this case, why some things may not apply in the modern world. And when Christians do attempt to educate themselves, they're accused of "picking and choosing" or even outright ignoring God's words (ironically these accusations come from both religious and atheist people, lol). But I don't believe God gave us brains by accident. He wants us to ask questions. Think before we believe. Otherwise again, he'd be no better than the Greek gods who just demanded worship because they were powerful.

 

[Drtooth]

The issue I see, really the only issue is when one's religious beliefs leak out of the home or church and into the day to day lives and rights of other people. Like when the LDS stepped out of Utah and into California and spent 29 million dollars to ban gay marriage, using all sorts of trickster scare tactics and such. Or as stated when countries have unforgiving anti gay laws because of their beliefs. Otherwise I wouldn't even care, as I believe all people have the right to practice and believe whatever they want.

That just burns me up. That's 29 Million they could spend to feed the homeless and help the unfortunate... REAL Christian deeds. These religious organizations that spend a fortune buying our government (The Catholic Church is guilty of this too) SHOULD lose their tax exempt status... of course, like big corporations, they'll wind up spending twice as much defending their lack of tax paying than they would by paying the darn taxes to begin with.

I hate to be that guy, but I have so many problems with what Mormonism values as beliefs... that whole black people are cursed because they didn't fight some crazy Star Wars battle or something based on notes someone found that only he could see. I really hate the thought of bashing their religion, and I'm not proud for what I have to say, but that Family Guy cutscene is my exact view on that. It is a very faith based movement... everything relies on faith... but I just don't see how a real religious experience doesn't lead us to ask questions and change things to fit a modern lifestyle reasonably. Not to mention the far far end of Mormonisim IS a cult that's extremely hedonistic and full of child molestation. I'm completely fine with sexual orientations, but child molestation is barbaric and monstrous. And it's a sick crime that we keep letting that happen whether its religious figures or kid's coaches (a disturbing epidemic... the Jerry Sandofski trial just brought it to light nationally... seems every day I find out a local coach has child porn on the News).

I really don't want to paint that religion with a brush at all, and I am deeply ashamed of what I said, but when people believe something others don't and force it into the mainstream like that because they think its saving themselves or something... all in lieu of actual Christian teachings that promote helping people, and wasting all that money to boot... it's just disgusting.

 

[CensoredAlso]

child molestation is barbaric and monstrous. And it's a sick crime that we keep letting that happen whether its religious figures or kid's coaches (a disturbing epidemic... the Jerry Sandofski trial just brought it to light nationally... seems every day I find out a local coach has child porn on the News).

The Sandusky story brought to light that this isn't a problem that can only be found in religious institutions, despite the many people who have tried to paint it that way. Any organizations that involve being around children are at risk of hiring the wrong person. Though on the other hand, from what I've read a large number of these cases involve families members, rather than people outside the home. It's very difficult to pin down and therefore quite horrifying.

Still it's important to point out that these stories get in the news because they are rare (thankfully), not because they are common.

 

[Drtooth]

The Sandusky story brought to light that this isn't a problem that can only be found in religious institutions, despite the many people who have tried to paint it that way. Any organizations that involve being around children are at risk of hiring the wrong person. Though on the other hand, from what I've read a large number of these cases involve families members, rather than people outside the home. It's very difficult to pin down and therefore quite horrifying.

Still it's important to point out that these stories get in the news because they are rare (thankfully), not because they are common.

The stories of coaches are a little more common than you think. Just not the Sandusky type prestige and press, it's on a far more local level. Why background checks aren't common place to begin with when directly working for kids is beyond me. You get a much more thorough and relentless filter trying to work at a freaking Starbucks than you do being around kids. But it seems, almost bi-monthly (alternating, not twice a month) that I hear of misconduct by a local coach.

 

[beaker]

The Sandusky story brought to light that this isn't a problem that can only be found in religious institutions, despite the many people who have tried to paint it that way. Any organizations that involve being around children are at risk of hiring the wrong person. Though on the other hand, from what I've read a large number of these cases involve families members, rather than people outside the home. It's very difficult to pin down and therefore quite horrifying.

Still it's important to point out that these stories get in the news because they are rare (thankfully), not because they are common.

For some reason it became a pandemic with (more Irish background than Italian Roman background) Catholic institutions. The statistics on Catholic related sex abuse crimes is staggering, even from their own internal investigations. I don't even have a theory as to why it is, but it's interesting as I have come to think of Western Catholics as much more pragmatic, philosophical(and I hate to say) more intelligent when it comes to theosophical interpretation and debates than most post reformation Western Christians...hence, once again showing that the institution doesn't always reflect on the people. I'm against unwarranted written attacks, like people calling Pope Benedict a nazi or saying he knew and covered up all this stuff. There's so many levels it has to reach before it gets to the top of the Vatican, but clearly there had been an unspoken conspiracy of silence for a long time.

The Sandusky allegations are out of hand, especially the new grand jury findings. The media drove Michael Jackson to suicide pretty much with false allegations, yet we have hardcore examples of this monstrous stuff going on in much more esteemed places.

It's tough, as I want there to be a very open and trusting society...it sucks to have to raise kids to be paranoid. In the 80's as a child I was dropped off at public places and allowed to wander for hours(my choice) and I loved it. so much has changed.

 

[CensoredAlso]

For some reason it became a pandemic with (more Irish background than Italian Roman background) Catholic institutions. The statistics on Catholic related sex abuse crimes is staggering, even from their own internal investigations. I don't even have a theory as to why it is

Well my theory is the organization is entirely too authoritarian and certain people at the top freaked out about possible scandals instead of doing the right thing to begin with and turning people in.

 

[Drtooth]

The Sandusky allegations are out of hand, especially the new grand jury findings. The media drove Michael Jackson to suicide pretty much with false allegations, yet we have hardcore examples of this monstrous stuff going on in much more esteemed places.

Michael Jackson was a special case. I don't think he actually did anything, but something happened once in the 90's, and then greedy turds started sending their kids to Michael Jackson and then they came up with false accusations so they could get the same hush money that one family demanded in the 90's.

Still, I keep hearing about local coaches and their child porn. There NEEDS to be accountability there.

 

[CensoredAlso]

Michael Jackson was a special case. I don't think he actually did anything,

We may never know now but I do think it's at least a possibility that Jackson was just naive, as oppose to criminal. Accusations don't automatically equal guilt and neither does court settlements.

 

[GonzoLeaper]

Of course he's passing judgment. He's labeling certain actions as wicked; that is a judgment call. And only God is allowed to do it. Not you. You can't just say "I'm simply affirming God's word." There's no loop hole here. God wants you to worry about your own failings and not point out why you think others are wrong

I don't believe The Bible contradicts itself and I don't see any issue of making a loophole. God definitely wants Christians to tell other Christians when they are in sin. And God also calls on Christians to preach the Gospel in all of the world- part of that is pointing out the reason why we all need Jesus as Savior- because we all have done sin. And homosexuality is part of that.
But I do agree that we don't need to get bogged down on one issue- there are numerous ways that we all fall short of God's glory and His standards. And that is why we need His grace and forgiveness that turns us from scarlet to white as snow.

 

[CensoredAlso]

God definitely wants Christians to tell other Christians when they are in sin.

"Judge not, lest you be judged."

"You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye"

"Let the one among you who is without sin caste the first stone."

And homosexuality is part of that.

But again how does my being attracted to a man make me a good person?