Singing from different hymn sheets 29/1/12
Sirs,
Donald John Morrison ( Letters Jan 4) and I approach our distaste of homosexuality from two differing perspectives,and appear not to be singing from the same hymn sheet. Hardly surprising really: Donald John, who I knew many years ago as a very persuasive insurance salesman is today a lay preacher in the Free Church (Continuing) so can be safely assumed not to have sung from a hymn sheet for quite some time.
I am not 'against' homosexuality,as Mr Morrison claims himself to be. Which would be a wholly unrealistic proposition, akin to stating your opposition to rain and expecting it to stop raining. Homosexuality has been and always will be a feature of the human race. A fact which won't be altered by Mr Morrison or anyone else saying they are 'against' it. What can be altered, however, is our individual response to homosexual lifestyle as it increasingly impinges on our everyday lives.
Perfectly entitled to his opinion, Mr Morrison bases his distaste of homosexuality entirely on biblical scripture, where homosexual practises are condemned as sinful. But so also are many other practises and character traits, from which none of us are entirely free. He that is without sin let him cast the first stone.
Using the pretext of biblical authority, Mr Morrison would appear to favour prohibiting all homosexual relationships. Whereas I merely ask to be allowed to distance myself from and give an opinion on homosexuality. But I readily concede that it's no business of mine to dictate to others who they share their own living quarters with whether that choice is a man, woman, dog, cat, or.....horse ( See Hebrides News story )
Though some neighbours may frown on the household horse as an appropriate 21st century
domestic arrangement, I can easily imagine a more personally distasteful all-
However, I acknowledge the right of two men to share a home and intimate relationship. But I also have a right to excuse myself from any contact with homosexual culture and give my opinion on those human behaviours I find repellent.The problem arises when those of opposing opinion insist I must conform with and give my blessing to their opinion,or keep my mouth shut.
This has nothing to do with religious beliefs, but everything to do with upholding
the right of free speech. A right which in matters of homosexuality (and religion)
is being steadily eroded in modern day Scotland. This should be of equal concern
to believers and non-
It's at this point that Donald John Morrison and I take diverging paths.The FCC lay preacher, Presbyterian and Roman Catholic clerics and many church adherents of all denominations believe they need a divine mandate and approval from Leviticus to justify their personal distaste of homosexuality. Whereas I believe my natural instinctive reaction is sufficient evidence to arrive at the same conclusion.
Although drawing that distinction,I wish the pulpit preaching, Scalpay-
Iain M Macdonald
Miavaig
Uig
Isle of lewis
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